The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-06-25
American Girl Puts Duty, as She
Sees II, Before life Of Lux
ury and Ease.
Really Remarkable Career Of Mar
garet Nc MILAN, the Friend Of
England's Unfortunates.
Powerful Figure in British Public
Life---Soon to Visit America
to Attend Meeting.


MILAN, an American woman living In
London, has deliberately turned hel
back on wealth and social distinction
In order to espouse the cause of the
poor.
Though little has been heard OF heI
Through the newspapers in the United
States, she is today one of the most
powerful figures in British public life
She has literally fought her way ur
against almost overwhelming odds, &C
complishing reforms-especially in re
lation to child-life-which few poll
ticians, even when backed by parties
have attempted.
Miss Mcmillan will soon visit Amer,
lea to attend an important interna.
tional congress at Washington.
AS the remarkable story of her life
has not hitherto been told, the writer
recently interviewed her at her home
in England, 1877 George lane, Lewis
ham, near London.
Though Miss Mcmillan was born in
Westchester county, New York, you
would scarcely suspect her of being
an American.
Both her parents hailed from the
Hand of the thistle. Her father emf
grated to the United States and took
up his residence in New York in the
early Cos, where he died shortly after
the Civil war. leaving his family in
precarious financial circumstances,
having suffered heavy losses in the
conflict. The mother returned to her
Fathers house in Inverness, Scotland,
where after few years she also died.
1t was after her grandfather's death
and that OF her mother that Margaret
Mcmillan found herself practically
alone In the world. She was only in
her sixteenth year and 1t was neces-
sary for her to seek her livelihood.
She soon went to Switzerland, and at
nineteen engaged in teaching pupils
Aolder than herself. She acquired at
an early age complete mastery of
French and German.
Switzerland has always been the
home of political refugees, and she
met number of advanced" radical
thinkers. Later, while still at an i'm
questionable age. she came in con-
tact with one of the most remarkable
leaders among women of that time
Louise Michel She even taught in
London at a school conducted by
Mime Michel.
! The Russian government had its eye
'on this school and sent one of its
most able detectives to obtain q stu
..tt H. Ill
place behind its portals. No one at
the time suspected that the humble
teacher Of French at this establish
ment was the famous-or rather -infa-
mous--spy Coulon, through whose ef-
forts full reports wereN sent to Russia.
Ultimately the school was broken up
and closed, mostly as the result Of
this espionage.
Though in touch with Russian suf-
ferers and learning the meaning of
poverty by actually mingling with the
jewellers in the abyss of London mis-
cry, Miss Mcmillan was all the while
earning her daily bread by teaching
in one OF the wealthiest English fam
lilies. Her knowledge of French,
German and music and her superior
abilities brought her services much in
demand.
She experienced no difficulty in ma
king friends among the very rich and
began to lead. as 1t were. sort of
double life. She used to go down to
the docks and address the dock la
borcrs, attended the Democratic club
in Essex street and even went to
the extent of addressing socialistic
meetings in Hyde park. Possessed
of a magnetic personality, no one who
knew her failed to become instantly
interested
A Rich Lady Her Patron.
In fact, II was through her contact
with a very wealthy woman at this
time that one of the most tragic cpl
sodes of her life was enacted. Miss
Mcmillan entered into her service as
secretary; but she had not been with
her employer long before the two be-
came close friends. Margaret did not
attempt in the least to conceal her
views on social questions; but, how
ever insistent and earnest she APP
peared in the work of reform, the
titled lady, possessed Of immense
riches. could not realize that her
protege could really mean half OF
what she advocated. With the enor-
nous income of 100000 a year. liv-
dng in palace. and moving in the
highest circles of the English nobil-
fly, this woman could not conceive
of anyone seriously championing the
cause Of the poor and downtrodden.
Like the French princess. she failed
TO understand why the people could
not eat cake II unable to find bread.
Miss McMillan's wealthy friend re-
garded her aspirations as sort of
"fad." the natural and evanescent en-
!thusiasm Of youth, which. like the sea,
sons, would pass away. She treated
Ithe whole matter in the light Of .
hug joke.