The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-06-28

school commencement. Her subject
was "Heroines of American History"
ION the pages of ancient history,
there is scarcely line given to the
heroic deeds of women. In the an
nails of Greece, the wife of a philo-
sopher has obtained place, through
many trials, and Rome has slightly
lifted the veil from the mother of
the Gracchi. Among the pagans,
women lived in the lowest degrada-
ton; the American Indian placed
his burden on her shoulders and
walked on with his quiver and his
tCmahawk; beneath the burning
skies of Africa she crouches before
her judges, waiting, yes, longing for
death; in India she plunged her fe-
male infants into the Ganges that
they might escape her bitter lot.
"Christianity has changed the
scene; the sway of brute force has
softened; she is now honored and
respected; caring for the wounded
and dying; entering unrebuked the
fields of science and literature, add
ing a new volume to the history of
the world. Joan of Arc and the
dark-eyed maid OF Saragossa' shall
in the future be the chivalric watch
words of France and Spain. but not
| less worthy of record are the names
of many American herOines, who by
their noble lives and deeds have won
the hearts of their countrymen.
I'VE find a prophecy of what
| American women were to be in the
/ brave Indian maiden, Pocahontas,
who threw herself upon the con-
! ! i ,;.l .1,,;,
! daughter of the King, and | claim
! the Indian right" Her request be-
! ing granted, Smith returned to the
little colony unharmed. Later when
| the white men were threatened with
famine she carried corn to them each
day. carefully guarding the germ of
a mighty nation.
The germ struggled and grew;
others were planted beside it and in
a few years demanded the rights Civ
en- to other Englishmen. When they
declared themselves Independent
they needed a new flag. Again a
woman's wit was eXemplified in
Fetsy Ross who in her humble home
in Philadelphia designed that beauti-
iuI emblem of freedom which has
ever since floated over our land hon
ored by every nation.
Contemporary with the mother of
| our flag were Mary and Martha
Washington, the mother and wife
OF our victorious first chief, the one
having moulded the character of a
noted hero, fitting him to become the
! father of a great republic, the other
having accompanied him through all
the trials and hardships of his late
life, presiding with unsurpassable
dignity, as the matron of a nation.
During these same years Abigail
Adams, an Aspasia of the revolution,
was moulding the character of her
son. training him to devote his life
10 his country. Silently urging him
on she prayed for wisdom to guide
him to victory and one is led to ask
whether with such a mother, John
Quincy Adams could help becoming
q nOble-minded man; whether he
! could help fitting himself to fill the
highest office in the gift of his coun-
try We are also indebted to Dolly
Madison, for our most precious dOcu-
ment. When the British destroyed
the capital at Washington she broke
the glass case containing the declar-
alton Of Independence and fled from
the building.
In times of war American women
have ever been present on the battle
fields and in the prisons; have pene-
trated the lines of the enemy on
dangerous missions, showing how
near to their hearts was the honor
of their country.
During the Revolution, at the
time General Green retreated before
Lord Rawden from "Ninety-SiX," he
! Jasirnn- Of a -
General Sumter then on the Santee,
to take a position in front of the
enemy who were retreating toward
Orangeburg, but no one seemed will
ing to undertake so hazardous a
journey, the scouts of the enemy be-
ing stationed all around them. At
length Emily Geiger, eighteen years
of age, volunteered her services.
The delighted general communicated
the contents of the letter to her,
rearing she might lose it on the way.
While going through sWampy woods
she was arrested by band of Tories
and confined in room OF a nearby
house until woman COuld be
brought to search her person. When
left alone she ate the letter piece by
piece, so when the matron made the
, search nothing was found and she
was allowed to continue her journey.
In short time she reached the
American camp, delivered the verbal
message to General Sumter who
soon Joined the main army at
5 Orangeburg.
p When the British army held pos
session Of Philadelphia, the Adjutant
General obtained room for private
conference in the home of Lydia
= Darrak a member of the Society of
Friends. One evening when the
= family had been ordered to retire
. early she became suspicious and
2 listened at the keyhole, learning
that the British troops were to march
out on certain evening and attack
= Washington's army then stationed
5 at White Marsh. The next morning
r she informed her family that she
f would go to Frankfort for flour. She
t easily secured a pass through the
= British lines from General Howe and
e leaving her order at the mill hasten.
ed toward the American lines
p Quickly delivering her message she