New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-10
ChriStabeI PankhurSt Described
at Work in Mrs. BelmOnt'S
CeauViIIe Villa.
ANTITHESIS SURPRISING
Mrs. Harper Writes of Young
Militant's Charm-No Sign
of Waning Enthusiasm
in Suffrage Cause.
By Ida Hustled Harper.


that capacity now. but I am living under
the same roof with its editor. lunching,
motoring having afternoon tea and din
irC with her and talking votes for
women" every waking hour when both
Of us have ceased from labor.
You will find Christabel Pankhurst
with me-" wrote Mrs. Oliver II. 2. Bel
mont when reminding me Of a promise
% spend a fortnight with her at Deau-
Vile. the fashionable French watering
place not far from Havre. Il have asked
her 70 spend the summer with Inc and
arranged for her to Co her work here.
And so I found the militant young
leader peacefully established ia one Of the
bandsonest Of the many elegant villas
which are characteristic Of this exclusive
resort. The billiard room at the right
Of the entrance hall has been trans
formed into an Office. and here with her
secretary and typewriter. she passes
the greater part Of every day. Each
week she writes pages OF reviews and
al the editorials in that paper OF short
but stormy record, attends 20 a large
correspondence and follows closely
through the press or otherwise the situa
ton in Great Britain.
Courteous Samaritan.
-r have never been so honored in my
Hfe" saws Mrs. Belmont as in having
Miss Pankhurst consent TO be my guest"
and surely this Lady Bountiful Of the
suffrage movement never did kinder
act than 10 take this prosecuted young
woman from an uncomfortable fat IN
Paris reached by climbing four long
sights OF stairs. and give her summer
by The sea with all the shelter and ease
OF a perfectly appointed home. Her sec
rotary goes each evening 70 Hsvre 70
sleep. forry-hve minutes by boat. and
here she reaches with the letters etc.
the steamer that goes nightly TO London,
while in the morning she brings with her
the mai! that has just come by boat from
that city.
have known Miss Pankhurst person
ely since the beginning OF the militant
movement, and was the nrst person 10
write from London 70 the American press.
r. 1876, an accurate account Of the move
uent but I have welcomed the oppor-
tcnity TO make a close study Of. perhaps.
the most remarkable personality OF the
present day Here Is the picture I shall
hold in memory:
The long French room with IT'S rose
col0red paper and draperies; the big table
piled with books and papers; the broad
wide open easement window looking out
into the garden. mass OF brilliant color
with a dark background Of trees. hedges
and luxuriant vines. and in this exquisite
frame, half reclining IN 4 big chair.
slim. white-robed. white-shod, girlish
Lgure.
This is Christabel Pan'Shurst. debating
editorials whose burning defiant words
thousands who read them and 8 hrebrand
70 the British government.
Miss PanAhurst is probably nearing
tnirty-she began the militant movement
eight years agO-but she does not look
over twenty. She is a few inches above
{ feet, very slender. her brown hair held
back By ribbon. her eyes 6 deep blue,
and the pure air ana home comforts have
restored the brilliant coloring character
Istic OF English girls Her face Is oval.
with q dinaple in the chin, and she speaks
a.ways with q smile. One is bewildered
il the attempt 20 reconcile the idea OF
mis- apparently typical young girl with
that OF a woman exlled from her own
country FOR melting 20 riot. Il is only
when this subject is touched upon, when
the action Of the government toward
women comes up. that the head is thrown
back. the RED lips come together Ike q
wise the face takes on d determined look
and you see Joan Of Arc at the head
OF her army. 1 never heard such ten
derness and reverence expressed In one
word as when Christabel Pankhurst says
mother" and there is almost equal ten
.derness in the word sylvia yet since
have been here the almost dying mother
has been again taken 10 prison, and last
night a telegram came telling that the
sister had been dragged 20 Scotland YARD
almost by the hair, and she never mas
shown the slightest sign of grief or iaI-
tering in her purpose
Spirit of Martyrs.
u Is the spirit OF the Christian mar
tyrs, and one must. recognize IL whether
spproving OF the cause behind II or not
The only criticism made Of Christaoei
.pankhurst which has ever affected her
is that she is over here Sinking the pun
ishnent which is being meted OUT 10 her
mother and sister This cuts her 10 the
quick. but she knows that II all the
leaders Of the organization were III
prison il would suffer seriously The iuhos
must be looked after and the paper must
come out every week with the news an"
words Of announcement. She Is pet'ei
ADAPTED for this part. and the persecu
ton Of her mother arouses more PU0,
eympathv than would that or herseh'
while the sacrifice OF her sister SHOWS
the doubters that Mrs. Pankhurst Is ho'
trying 10 spare her family. The oealh
Of her own beloved sister one day ai'ei
being released from prison. and OK heI
only son. who never recovered from INC
injuries inflicted by q street mon' are
tragic witnesses Of Mrs. Pankhursi
devotion
There il no statute OF limitations ioi
the crime with which ChristADei
chareed-inciting 10 riot through nc,
editorials-and she must remain OUT Va
the country: but after the SUFFRAGE mas
been granted abe will return 70 take her
sentence. I asked her how II nappeheu
that she escaped when their once was
raided eighteen months ago. ana sne
said that she had not yet gone oo"n ''HS
morning when the telephone messase
come telling of the occurrence
nd