Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19
Mrs. Stevens Donle Lite.
How the National President of the Womans Christian
Temperance Union Lives in Her Quiet
Home at Portland Maine.

ard although he has passed into the
| canine Elysia his carved wooden counter
| Part is ever present on the study desk.
| From Geneva, Switzerland, this exquisite
| carving was sent Mrs. Stevens by friend
who knew of her fondness for Sultan.
The most famous of Mrs Stevens pets.
| also dead, was her horse Madge, who, as
the rcformer told me, ''iu twenty-five
years travelled $4,000 miles for temper
| pied the position OF prominence that is
now hers that Madge lived her nee In
those days Mrs. Stevens did much local
work. driving about Maine. delivering
addresses leading temperance meetings
aiding in any way the cause Of the white
ribbon.
Hanging In the entrance to the study is
a handsome whip mounted In gold and
pearl and white ribbon head stall. They
were presented to Mrs Stevens by the
late Gen. Neal Dow. Il always carried
the whip in sleigh or carriage to be used
In the case of an emergency said Mrs
Stevens, but the emergency never came
MaGge was never struck, never clipped,
never locked. The white ribbon she wore
at Pet show and she was the greatest
pet there
A splendid photograph of Gen. Neal
Dow, given her by the famous temper
ance leader on his eightieth birthday, oc-
cupies a position of prominence on the
study walls. In a corner stands a statue
of the late Frances Willard carved and
presented to Mrs. Stevens by Lady Henry
Somerset.
Among other Interesting articles in the
study is beautifully wrought basket
given to Mrs. Stevens by the Hopi In
dams when she was at Los Angeles. 1t
Is made from the roots Of trees and 1s
very valuable A masterpiece of her col
lection is declaration of the principles
Of the w. C. T. u. executed entirely by
hand in pen and ink work Of varied col
ors representing many hours of PAINS
taking labor. 1t was done by an unfor-
tunate in western prison who gave it
to Mrs. Stevens in appreciation Of help
full interest she had taken In him. An
other prisoner sent her handsomely in
laid box, his own handtwork.
little remembrance highly priced is
souvenir card sent Mrs. Stevens by Lord
Carlisle, husband of the Countess Carlisle.
president of the Worlds w. c. T. u. Lord
Carlisle had the card designed by the IA
nous artist Batten for the British w. c. T.
U. There is an artistic sketch on It and
pledge.
The living room, adjoining the study, is
full Of interest to the visitor. The mantel
over the fireplace and the molding at the
top Of the walls are hand carved. large
black kettle hangs on a crane In the fire
place To one side is spinning wheel all
wound with fax, while facing the big logs
reposes an antique baker
You might be interested to know that
baker is over one hundred years DID, said
Mrs Stevens. Last Christmas / lad my,
housekeeper mix up some biscuit and cook
them in 1t by placing 1t in front of the blaz-
ing logs. And let me tell you, no modern
cook stove ever turned out finer, lighter bis
cult than those were" o.,
Another interesting article on the hearth
stone was a foot warmer. when l was a
little girl my folks filled that with live
Goals and took 1t to church with them"
said Mrs. Stevens. The churches were not
heated in those days. and the older people
always used these primitive warmers. / re-
member of a girl friend telling me that
she once froze her toes while sitting through
a sermon because she did not have foot
warmer. as did the older folks"
Mrs. Stevens husband Is in full sympathy
with her in her temperance work. He takes
pride in having his ward vote right on all
questions which have to do with prohibition.
Her only child, Mrs. William Leavitt, jr.
lives across the street from Mrs. Stevens
and is also an active temperance worker
and club woman, too.
Mrs. Stevens closest and dearest friend is
Miss Anna Gordon, vice presidents large
of the national organization. They have
been almost constantly together since Miss
Wizards death nine years ago.
Mrs. Stevens has a personal charm Of
manner and a magnetism which are char
acteristic of born leaders. Even those who
cannot agree with her In all her views re-
spect her sincerity. She has the courage of
her convictions. and temperance never had
an ADLER woman ally.