Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-07
Wants Release.

attained Considerable tame during the
past few year, a. 4 Populi>t orator, has
filed Il pctitiOn for divorce from her
husband, a commodity that few people
ever knew she possessed. Mrs. Lease s
first year, Of married life, IT seems,
were passed over washtub to provide
for the family support, while her hus-
band made partial contribution to
that fund from sale OF drugs; but
Kansas having healthy popu alton
and the Maine law" not being in
force III that State, his portion was
quite small. Mrs Lease was not I'M
aware, however, that she possessed
some talent in an oratorical way, hav-
ing occasionally discussed topics on
economies at club meetings Of her
neighbors. She was persistent read
er, and besides becoming familiar with
the lcAdin. W. rks on political econ
omy, she kept pace with the logic OF
events by constant perusal of the
newspapers. She read ard studied at
night, after n hard days work, ending
with putting her four children to bed.
AS they grew up, they became inter-
ested in her readings and she formed y
class and impaired useful instruction
to the accompaniment OF the rub-a-dub
of the dashboard and the sizzle of the
| flat-ron.
Mrs. Leases latent oratorical ability
was first demonstrated in 1883, during
the Union Labor campaign, and was a
surprise to her neighbors and herself.
She had been on the street during a
rain shower, when she found shelter
in hall, where public meeting was
being held. 1t seems that the meeting
Jagged for speakers, and in the emer-
gency somebody called for Mrs. Lease
to address the meeting, and the call
became demand. The lady hesitat-
ingly complied, and seems to have been
in mood to touch the popular chord.
Her speech was a brilliant success.
Her mission was then and there deter
mined, and the command of Destiny
to "Come up higher" was given and
complied with. Mrs. L. has ever since
been on the lecture platform and been
power for good. 1t was she who was
deputized to follow up John ]. ingalls,
in 1890, and it was to her labors more
than any other one cause that he was
unsuccessful in that campaign. Three
years afterwards she was appointed a
member OF the State Board of Chari-
ties, the only woman who has ever
been member of that board.
In 1895 she espoused the cause of
the Republican party and was on the
same side in the national campaign
just closed. She now resides in New
York city with her four children, all
This is, in brief, as much as is
known of the life of a remarkable wo.
man. She is entitled to hearty COM
mendation, in place of the sneers and
slurs cast upon her by some who were
eager enough, month ago, to accept
her services in behalf of the admins.
tration party.
Even Oily INDUCES in what Artemus
Ward would call bitter sarcasm" over
the petition Of Mrs. L. for release from
an incubus to her exalted sphere in
life. He thinks she would have filled
her mission better as a drudge, over
the washtub and stove, than by teach
ing her children at odd spells, supply
ing them largely with food and raj.
ment by hard labor with the days les
son pinned upon the wall, and finally
evoluting into an apostle of Republi-
canism! 1t may be that her last move
detracts great deal from her former
endeavor, but we are willing to forgive
that for the good she has done and
the bright example she has set for wo-
mankind.