Blue-grass blade., 1908-07-12
(By Josephine X. Henry0

"Marilla is the High Priestess of Free
thought in America. '-Elbert Hubbard
In the Philstine of September, 1905, its
Editor. Ebert Hubbard, who Yields the
strongest pen in the field of journalism
since the passing of the immortal Saladih.
pays a splendid tribute to the subject of
this sketch, whose ability and long service
to the causes of Liberty and Justice, make
her easily the greatest living American
woman. This tribute by the great jour
nalist and ora or sparkles with wit and
pathos, and the genius of the writer brings
out in bold relief the true character or this
woman who is
Large as mankind in her splendid HUI
mainly.
Large in it's record the work she has
donc." Marlla NJ Kicker has reflected great
credit on the historic State CT New Hamp-
shire, by being a native of that State and
many of its statesmen. jurists, and orators
had to look to their laurels after Marlla
appeared.
The date of Marilas birth is unknown
and it may have taken place in prehistoric
times. But whose business is that? The
world has only time to give thanks that she
here and is doing valiant service to the
human race in freeing it from slavery,
superstition and injus ice Fra Elbertus'
SAYS Marilla is ninety-fCur years old, that
she was married one thousand years ago,
and that she became a widow at twenty
eight II would he unbecomng in me to dis.
pute with this learned journalist on this
ques ion. 1t may be that Fra Elbertus'
was there when Marilla's birth was record
ed in the family Bible and who knows but
he was the best man at her wedding
Marilla and Fra Elbertus" These two,
they are indeed stars of the first magnitude
in the literary armament and when their
light ceases 10 shine an eclipse will take
place in the world of thought.
1t was most fitting that so fine tribute
TO Marilla and her life work should have
been written by the editor of the Philstine,
l. seems to me that in his mental explora-
tions Fra Elbertus must at times, cry out,
Alice where art thouy" and Alice Hubbard
with her splendid intellectually and mental
noise generously responds and brings him
fresh inspiration to hold entranced million
readers of the wandering little Philis inc
that sheds its light On land and sea Surely
no man could do this without the inspira,
tonal influence of grand woman. Marilla
NJ. Kicker was born and reared on a farm
i'm New Durham New Hampshire Her
father was Jonathan b. Young and her
mother Hannah ID. Stevens. Her father was
a man of splendid mind and attainment s,
bread and liberal minded and Freethinker
and woman suffragist from the first, with a
mental integrity and rugged honesty as
rock ribbed as the mighty mountains of his
native state. He was a distant relative of
the noted Brigham Young. Her mother was
a devCut church woman, she had four chill
dren Three of the children always at
tended church with her on Sunday but Ma
rlla positively refused to go. She stayed at
home with her fa'her who was her chum
and cCmrade, and, in the summer they
spent the Lords Day" sailing the cattle,
looking after the fences, etc. Marilla was
indeed a child of nature, she says as a child
she could run faster climb trees quicker,