South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-09
A Woman Whose Name Will Live
by ROSE PEARCE.

anywhere" why do you wish to go
away" said her little sister. on
said Frances, we must learn, we must
grow and must achieve! 1t is such a
big world that if we don't begin at 1t.
we shall never catch up with the rest.
At the age of 10 Miss Willard began
to teach Rapidly her wonderful gifts
of mind and heart matured, until in
1871 she was elected president of the
Evanston College for Ladies, the first
woman to whom such title was ever
accorded
The Temperance Crusade.
In 1874 the wave of the Temperance
Crusade struck Chicago. The treat
ment of the women engaged, aroused
in Miss Willard resentment, while the
cause for which they were fighting
fred her with enthusiasm. ITO serve
such a cause would be utterly en-
thralling" she said. IF only l had
more time-if l were more free.
Within three months she was free TO
choose her path. differences of opinion
causing her to resign her position in
the Ladies College.
Her interest in the crusade soon
carried her east to see and learn
more about it. She longed with her
whole soul to throw herself entirely
into the work Of Temperance Reform,
but hesitated because 1t was necessary
that she earn sufficient to meet her
own and hr mothers expenses.
She consulted her friends on the
matter. but all advised against it.
While these conditions existed, she
received in one day two letters. One
was from DR.. Van Norman of New
York city. offering her the position Of
lady principal of his elegant school for
Young ladies, with a salary of $1,000.
The other was from Mrs. Louise
Rounds of Chicago, begging her TO
take the presidency of the chicago
branch of the Woman's Christian
Union. While she confessed Its pres
ent weakness of organization and its
financial inadequacy, Miss Willard did
not hesitate The offer of DR.. Van
Norman was declined and that of Mrs.
Rounds accepted.
Speaking in later years OF TINS pc
riod of her life, she says, NO words
can adequately characterize the
change wrought in my life by this
decision. Instead of peace: L was TO
participate in war, instead OF the
sweetness of home-never more deep
w loved than I had loved it was TO
become a wanderer on the race OF
the earth instead Of libraries, L was 10
frequent public halls and railway cars,
instead of scholarly and cultured men.
was TO see the dregs Of the saloon
and gambling house and haunt OF
shame
Elected National President
In 1879 she was elected national
nresident of the w. c. T. L. With her
increased interest in the work, her
vision broadened. and she saw not only
her own nation. but the whole world
belted with the white ribbon, and
waging war against King Alcohol. Her
vision became a reality and a rev
wears later worlds "Womans Chrls-
tian Temperance Union was organ
lied. with Frances Willard as the pres
ident. n the years that folloWed the
work she accomplished was more
strain than can be measured. heI
name became a household word all
over the world. her words and "ork
influenced the lives and homes OF
millions OF women She was vel
coined 10 the pulpits OF the leading
churches both in this country ana
those OF the old world. The Temper
ance Cause was through her given an
impetus il had never before known.
and women had learned 10 look at II
from "A scientific standpoint.
In 1885, when she was In the zenith