The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
HARRIET LIVERMoRE.
She Was the First Woman to Adj
dress Congress.


/ dress Congress.
| Probably no more remarkable wunnan
existed and died in the past century than
Harriet Livermore. though little is known
OF heE to persons who would find a study
of her life revealing eomplexity of traits
or characteristics that many a novelist
| would hesitate to ascribe to fictitious
| character.
| From her cradle days she was never at
ease. because of her impetuosity. and her
| disposition was never under control She
was naturally generous. and was ever
ready to confess her faults and seek for
| giveness.
| In her young womanhood she was fine
| looking. of medium height and unusually
| graceful. and had a fair complexion. hair
yard and quarter in length. black and
| glossy. and large black eyes. shaded by
| heavy brows.
| The very devout manner in which she
| taught her pupils to repeat the Lords
| Prayer and the one hundred and nine
! teenth Psalm in concert was never for
! gotten by them With closed eyes and in
| a voice as soft and low as that OF an angel
| she impressed the recitation upon them.
| But woe to the unfortunate scholar who
| incurred her displeasure. Her rage was
| SO sudden and intense. and her blows so
| severe, the return to the next session was
! most dreaded. Because of her accomplish
ments and social position she was contin-
| ued as a teacher She taught her girl pu-
pills needlework and embroidery OF her
own exquisite designs. and specimens Of
her and their work are still extant in the
families of some of her scholars.
In January, 1921, says the Boston
Transcript" she addressed the assembled
Congress in the Hall of REPRESENTATIVES
on religion. the President and secretary
being present. She is said to have sung
| melodiously. her softest notes filling the
vast room. Her preaching was also
| thought to have been eloquent and effec
| tive. She was the first woman that ever
publicly spoke within the Congressional
halls. subsequently she spoke there in
three other Administrations.
Turk once offered her his arm as es-
cort, which she refused with scorn, say
! ing, Christians have no dealings with the
Turks"
In May 1882. Miss Livermore went to
the Far West ana spent year, principal
ly among the Indians at Fort Leaven-
worth. Kansas, travelling 5000 miles. most
of the distance through the wilderness
She wished to be of service to them, as
she felt that they were of Israel, and
| would yet be restored to Jerusalem, and
intended to spend her life among them,
but as the Commissioner on Indian AZ
fairs objected, her project had to be
abandoned.
John G. Whittier says that in 1888, Miss
Livermore stayed at his boarding place
in Philadelphia for several days. and he
assisted her in securing an audience to
a lecture OIL her foreign travels. which
| netted her about $780,
She spent. some time among the Dunlkers.
and was regarded by them as a gifted
Christian minister. Her labors were bless
ed everywhere. Her first sermon in Phil
| aedlphia was delivered in a Dunkers
| Church. and it was the means Of the con-
version of Sarah Fighter. who subse-
quently married Rev. Thomas Major. and
| for forty years preached the gospel
On returning ia 1862. from her last voy-
years supported by her relatives and
| friends to whom she became so trouble
some that. November 13. 1867. her nephew
placed her in the Blockley almshouse in
West Philadelphia, where she died four
months later. March 80. 1858, at the age
| of eighty Property had been left for her
| in trust. but by unfortunate investments
the trustee had lost it.
| Miss Livermore's friend, Mrs. Margaret
F. Worrell. caused her remains to be
| brought TO her home in Germantown,
| and, after a simple service by few of the
| friends of other days. had them inferred
| in her lot in the Dunkers' cemetery. The
grave is unmarked, but strangers point out
| the mound under which The Pilgrim
| Stranger" awaits the coming Of her King.
| Her last days were marked by the same
traits of character that had been promi-
| nent in her earlier years. but she had
grown impatient with age. Her virtues.
| it is said, far exceeded her faults. and in
| spite of her eccentricities she accom-
| plished much good in the service of her
Master.
She was indeed a singular and remark
| able woman. more pitiable than censur-
| able. No one knows what fierce and I'M
successful struggles she had to overcome
| the violence of her peculiar disposition.
! A writer has said: Half insane half
| weird and wholly willful. a virago and
a vixen in one person. she was, in
sense the poet never thought of:
commixture strange of heaven, earth hell.
without the first of the three elements"