The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-10
The LAST OF
The BEECnERS
ISABELLA BEECHER HOOKER
VISITING MRS ANTHONY.
Wife of Sixth Descendant Of Found
er of Connecticut and Sister Of
Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet
Beecher Stowe Guest of the Mu-
nicipal League Convention.


nicipal League Convention.
In a pleasant little garden on Mad
son street yesterday morning two old
ladies were strolling, schoolgirl fash
ion, with arms lovingly flung about
each others shoulders. One of them
was Susan y. Anthony, the other was
her guest, Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hook
cr, of Hartford, Conn. daughter or
the Rev. Lyman Beecher. sister or
Henry Ward Beecher and of Harriet
Beccher stowe. TO Mrs. stowe. IN
deed. Mrs. Hooker bears a marked re-
semblance. She will be so years old
Feb. %, 1902.
"The last of the Beechers," such Is
the distinction which now belongs to
Mrs. Hooker and by which she was
introduced yesterday to Post EN-
press reporter. About a year ago. the
Rev. Thomas X. Beecher died at Ell
mira. Within Il week after his death
there passed away on the same day
another brother and a sister, Charles
Beecher, of Georgetown, Mass. and
Mrs. Mary Foote Perkins, of Hartford.
The Rev. Lyman Beecher, it may be
recalled was married three times.
Mrs. Hooker is daughter by the last
Mrs. Beecher, and she is now the only
surviving member of that illuStrious
family.
II suppose you expected to see quite
young woman?" remarked Miss An
thony facetiously to her visitor, after
introducing Mrs. Hooker.
"Why. Susan" eXpostulated her
guest with a quaint little smile. ."aren't
we young people? What do you mean
by imputing age to such as we?"
True. the fingers of time have set
their inevitable imprint upon Mrs.
Hooker but her eye is not dim nor
her natural force abated. There Is
elegance and dignity in every pose OF
her slight figure; her step is firm, her
glance is keen and penetrating, her
features. beautiful as a girls are
comely in the strength and repose of
old age. When she writes. it is with
a bold and unwavering hand.
WHO JOHN HOOKER WAS
John Hooker Mrs. Hooker's hus-
band, died last February He was
sixth in direct descent from the Rev.
Thomas Hooker. who in 1885 led his
little flock across the wilderness from
Newtown. North Cambridge, Mass,
and founded the city of Hartford, in
the valley of the Connecticut. Up to
the time of his death. John Hooker
bore the distinction of being the old
est living member of the Connecticut
har. In earlier years he was asso-
ciated in his law practice With Jo-
seph r. Hawley, now United States
senator from Connecticut. In 1856 he
was appointed reporter of the de-
csions of the Supreme court of Con-
necticut. and held that position un-
der seven consecutive justices, until
he retired in 1894. Innumerable
tributes have been paid to the purity.
loftiness and unselfishness of his
character. Though nearly all his life
associated with aspiring politicians
he never became one of them. Twice
Il position on the Supreme bench OF
Connecticut was in his grasp IT the
least eXertion on his part had been put
forth to take it, but he refused to make
that exertion. Nevertheless more of
his life work is traceable on the
statutes of the state than in many of
those whose names We're blazoned
brightest on its annals. The esteem
in which he and Mrs. Hooker We're
held was manifested at the celebration
OF their golden wedding in August.
1891. Among the guests present on
that occasion were the late Senator
William NJ. Evarts, who had been y
classmate of Mr.. Hooker at Yale;
William Lloyd Garrison, Rev. Charles
i. stowe Susan E. Anthony and
Rachel Foster Avery. Loving letters
We're also received from Robert Coll
YER Senator Hawley and Frances
Willard.
Mrs. Hookers friendship with Miss
Anthony began very early in the lives
of both of them. When Miss Anthony
celebrated her fftieth birthday. on
February Is. 1870, Mrs. Hooker read
a poem, written for her by her hus-
band. which she still has in her pos
session and showed To her visitor yes
terday.
MRS. HOOKER'S PUBLIC WORK.
Mrs. Hooker. herself, has been presi-
dent of the Connecticut Woman Suf-
fiage association since 1859 A notable
address delivered by her on the con-
stitutional right of women to vote, has
become one of the classics of the wo-
man suffrage cause and thousands of
copies of it have been printed and dis
tributed in this country. Mrs. Hooker
has always been much in demand as a
platform speaker her readiness of wit
and elegance of diction being conspicu-
Gus characteristics
Il have never known what 1t meant
to be fearful before an audience" said
she TO her visitor yesterday. I'm fact,
1t has always been a perpetual source
of delight and inspiration to me to
have large audience before me.
can never think so cosently or so read
lily as when | am on my feet facing
people, THIS characteristic | am in
clined to think, is a distinct Inheritance
TO me from my gifted father. AS a
little girl l was always thinking out
my ideas before imaginary audiences.
So habitual and so real had this men
tai phenomenon become to me that
when | faced my first audience l was
surprised to feel that the situa tion was
the most natural one i'm the world for
Inc and that ] was without a particle
of elf-consciousness
"Well, ] never went before an audi
ence yet commented Miss Anthony.
without feeling sense of fear and
especially in my later years it Just
seemed as though | could never omen
my mouth before people again"
Soon after this the converse ton ran
upon the recent bill passed by the New
York legislature, enfranchising women
property holders in the country dis
tr!cts.
a A II n -