The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-16
Her Career in the Lecture Field. on Temperance, on Woman Suffrage And Educational MatterS---In
 Mid-Ocean. Two Montgomery Girls Compliment ed-social Affairs and Per
 sonal Items.
BY MRS. J. M. DE coTTEs.


 CTS on the subject of Woman's Suf- frage in the State of Alabama and they who had the privilege of listening to her on last Monday will long remem- Der the scene at the Capitol that day remember it when, perhaps, the little tots of femininity who got restless dur ing the address will be exercising the rights for which she was pleading. I say perhaps"
 Miss Griffin Is a woman of culture and rehnemant, whose life has been devoted to work for the good of others. With broad interests and constantly rising point of view, she has always led in the way that seemed to her best. She has had the courage of her con- victions. and the most untiring pa- tience to await results, without criti- cism of those who differ with her. Miss Griffin spent several years of her earlier life as teacher here, and many citizens of Montgomery once her pupils. who heard her on Monday when she spoke for the en- franchisement of women no doubt re- called the time when she set their feet in the straight path. She stepped from the school room as pupil into the school room as teacher. and the same spirit of reform manifested before the Ala bama Constitutional Convention in- stigated her against many irregularities that then existed in the schools.
 Though Miss Griffin has remained un- married, she has given evidence that "Motherhood' is a large-perhaps the largest-part of her nature. She has reared two nephews and several nieces, of whom she is justly proud, and whose after-lives show the influence she had In the forming of their characters.
 In the Temperance Field.
 About 1885 Miss Griffin became great ly interested in the temperance move ment. She recognized the value of mon of drink, and enlisted under the banner of Frances Willard. whose mot to was For God and Home and Ma tive Land" She has spoken with the enthusiasm and eloquence of her sil- very tongue concerning the legalization of the liquor traffic and against the law that supports the distraction of homes, until nearly every State in this Union knows the unique power of Frances Grifin's wit, wisdom and pa- thos; for she has obeyed the cause of the temperance organization which car ried her from Massachusetts to the Rio Grande: from Dakota to- Florida.
 In Mississippi.
 Miss Griffin is not the proverbial prophet without honor in her own country. It is on record that once in Greenville. Miss. after she had spoken dedicate the new court house with an additional speech. Long before the hour the house was crowded beyond standing room, and Mississippi men and women gave her a glorious recep- ton, evidencing their endorsement of what Is said to be the best speech of her life.
 In Texas.
 When Miss Griffin braved the Texas legislature in order to induce the scien- tific temperance instruction in their schools. a gallant CD Texas politician arose to prevent the subject from be- ing pResented to the Committee Dn Ed ucatiSn by saying that he did not 'in- tend that the shOrt-haired women of Texas should take possession of this legislature;" but when 1t was at last decided that Mis- Grimm hould be aI- lowed A6 address the members, she re- sponded by saying, T am not short haired and God has so favored me that I am not even a Texan" The scientif- ic instruction went through.
 At Grand Rapids.
 1t was in the annual convention of the Woman's Suffrage Association held at Grand Rapids that Miss Griffin first appeared as an accredited suffragist, but her mind had long been settled as to the necessity of women having the ballot, if they would succeed in abol- ishing saloons or clearing a path in which the boy can walk to decent man hood. She decided that the best work of her remaining life-if 1t should take go long-would be spent in efforts to attain this end. Her speech the first night of her appearance was received with the greatest enthusiasm and at every evening meeting afterward a speech from Miss Griffin was clamor- ousIy demanded by the audience. The only way she could escape was by be- ing absent from the meeting.
 Susan B. Anthony with her crown of | eighty years upon her head was chair man of the meeting. She had spent | fifty years of her life in advocating Ie- forms in which Miss Griffin vas now to take a part. "The freedom of the | slave nad been accomplished. but the l emancipation of woman was the work | for the near future"
 In Mid-ocean.
 During her recent voyage to Europe, | the 4th of July dawned upon Miss Grifln in mid-ocean. The patriotic | Yankee was greatly in evidence. and | 6 celebration was arranged to which | all patriots contributed. Admiring | friends suggested Miss Grinin's power of speech. She refused to take part, though her name had been put on the until the orator whose name hers grew a0 zsrE Ratrtotie.