The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-17


 vista. she almost saw the pearly gate | of Heaven.
 It was here she was nursed In lib & erty's cradle and acquired that futur' vigor character which is stamped rare 1 lyk except upon those who come iron near to nature's throne.
 Surrounded by such inspiring scenes alone in companionship. except sucl as the immediate family supplied witt its sacred communion of pure fellow ship. this child of the prairie fores first felt then and there that she wal destined to play. an Important rolt In life's active drama. Referring to the pleasant memories | aroused by the happy days of this simple pioneer life. Miss Willard said Tt was . beautiful childhood. Lons | years have left their writing on mJ l brow, but yet the freshness and tn, | dew-fed beam of those young morn. l ings are about me now. Whenevei l may dwell, no place can be so com pletely embaImed in my heart ss For | est Home.p Prize E.sayist. From that peaceful habitation that | served both as "a refuge and shrine at only sixteen she sent out an essay l on Country Hones- that was easily awarded the prize.
 She was graduated from the North western Female College at Evanston her future home. at the head of her class. the editor of the college paper and there manifested evidences of that natural leadership which was to char scterize her whole future life. Bidding adieu to her alma mater, she chose first the noble profession of teaching, for which she was most ad- mirably equipped and adapted.
 For fifteen years. with the exception of several. spent in travelling in Eu- rope and the Holy Land, she devoted her time and talents as an instructress iHs and president of. female colleges. On one occasion when asked why she resigned her position. she repiied: "Dr. Fowler the president of the in- stitution, has the will of Napoleon: have the will of Queen Elizabeth. When an irnmovable meets an inde- structible object something has to give way."
 In 1874 she declined fattering offer to teach, preferring to identify herself actively with the temperance cause as President of the Illinois W. C. T. U., ana bade a last farewell to the acad- eniic robes In educational work in which she had been so signaliy suc- cessful, to enter upon her future life work in which she was to electrify au- diences. and give added volume to the springs of joy and hope and peace.
 Her maiden efforts in. the cause of the white ribbon were made in ad- dressing meetings in the most hard ened sections of Chicago.
 It was a gratuitouss work on her part, truly a, labor of love- and in con. sequence she was virtually an object of charity to her nearest friends
 She exchanged the attractions of her own fireside flor the capitulation of thirst for drink and vice in hundreds that yielded to reformation; for in that charming and ,intuitive personality she carried the keys that readily unlocked the hidden recesses of human hearts and affections,
 In recognition of her stupendous achievements. in 1873 she was elevated to the presidency of the National ,wo- mans Christian Temperance Union.
 AS >NatlonnI President. As the executive head of this mer- itorious society," she graced with her presence every State and Territory, or- ganizirg new unions, and ,arousing in- creased interest in the old
 Her splendid energies agiow with unbounded enthusiasm, and her per. suasive logic aire with matchless or. atory, gave a boundless sweep to her efforts and encircled the globe.
 She conceived the Worlds woman's Christian Temperance Union, and as ita chief executive lectured abroad with crowning success. . v
 While she possessed the .frmness of an iron will, she never lost that innate tenderness and gentIeness that char. acterize the true and perfect woman.
 Her energy and endurance were alike remarkable. S Although she lectured more extensively than did any person in her day, whether man or. woman. she yet found sufficient time as eoftor and as author to produce voluminous writings of decided literary merit.
 She found the temperance union com paratively weak: she left it and the Loyal Temperance Legion with a com btned membership of more than half a million souls; the most extensive and influential organization, of women and children that the world has ever known.
 You need not go further than the confines of our own beloved Alabama 70 md the, eyer-present fruits of that mighty influence.
 The news of her death in New York on February IS, 1898, convuIsed in tears a world which had been to her so great a debtor.
 GloriOas Wifh Lapse of Time.
 On this the tenth anniversarv of he, death. sas we take Retrospective vieys for a decade, we discover that her vir. tues shine even more gloriousIy with the lapse of time.
 Alexander the Great. after connusr.. ing world, died in disappointment because there were no more worlds to conquer. $ '-A-~ "
 The greet Napoleon changed the man or whole continent. and died an exile on small. insignificant island.
 They each established the reputation of being the greatest conquerors in a thousand years. but what were fine ra- suits of their brilliant prowess9
 They left sorrow and despair among thousands widowed and fatherless while sacrificing the lives of the.r feI- lowmen on the field of battle.
 beho old, a, ,conquering woman! She too. left her impress upon continents. instead of despair. she brought hone: instead of death, she brought life.
 Whittier has beautifully said of her: she knew the power of banded i'll And organized for doing good. The worlds united womanhood."
 With reference to organization. she would say: Alone, we can do little. separated. are the units of weak ness; aggregated, we become batteries of power"
 ' Miss Willard has the unique distinc- tion of being the only woman whose consideration has exclusively occupied for day the attention of both branches of Congress; along with the statues of caIahrdtiaa a q