Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-07
EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTO
BIOGRAPHY OF
ZANE GREY SWISSEIELM
First Newspaper Woman Of
!, Minnesota.
A Remarkable Woman Of Ante
bellum Days-1e15-1865
HAPTE XXXIII.

VeutlOu IN the summer OIL DO, anu
nominated Fremont, it seemed that it
might injure rather than aid the party
to have woman take a prominent
place in it. The nurseling-political
abOlition-was out Of it's cradle, had
grown to mans estate, and with
bearded lip had gone forth to battle,
man among men. There were hon.
Ors and emoluments to be won in the
final triumph.
Riddle and united with his weekly,
thus extending it's circulation, and cut
ting off the ruinous expense of it's pub
Hcation. The Journal was thoroughly
Republican, and would be ably con-
Quoted. No further need of page
devoted to freedom. when every page
was consecrated to the overthrow of
slavery.
Before taking action, it was best to
consult an old subscriber, Charles
Sumner. then on the Allegheny Noun
tains, recovering from the Brooks as
sault. l took baby and went to see
him.
He was domiciled in the family Of
Or. Jackson, Pennsylvania State Geo.
u.
the sitting-rOom were his desk and
lounge, where he wrote or lay and
talked, principally with DR.. Furness,
of Philadelphia. who was with him.
devoting an evergrowing store of in
formation to the amusement of his
friend. DR.. Jackson was full of in.
structiOn, and no man more ready
than Sumner to learn. He held that
oil lodi 1S,,1 ~,
to ones resources-inquired minute
ly about the shoeing of the horse he
rode; and over a watermelon at des-
sert the doctor gave lecture on am
putatiOn, which became a large cap
ital to one at least of his hearers, and
was of intense interest to Sumner.
The children loved him, loved to be
near him, and never seemed to be in
his way. Once when toddling wee
thing crept to his side while he was
absorbed in writing, took hold of his
clothes, and drew herself to his feet
and laid her head against his knee,
he placed a weight to hold his paper,
laid his hand on her head and went
on with his WORK. When some one
would have removed her, he looked
up and said:
"Oh, let the little one alone!"
He spoke with profound admiration
of Mrs. Purviance, wife of the mem
Der of Congress from Butler, Pa. Said
he was sorry never to have met her.
Her influence in Washington society
had been SC ennobling that the friends
Of freedom owed her lasting debt of
gratitude. She boarded with her hus-
hand at the National where her
wealth, independence and sparkling
social qualities made her recognized
leader, while all her influence was
cast upon the right side. He thought
the success Of the North in the fam.
GUS struggle which elected Banks
Speaker of the House, was largely due
p Mrs. Purviance.
sHe was oppressed with anxiety
about Burlingame, who had gone to
Canada to fight duel, and there was
great rejoicing, when he suddenly ap-
peared one evening after the sun had
hidden behind the pine trees.
He and Sumner met and greeted
each other with the abOndon of boys.
No. duel had been fought, since
Brooks, the challenger, had refused
to pass through Pennsylvania to Cliff
ton, the place of meeting, for fear Of
mob violence. Even the offer of safe
conduct of troops by the governor,
failed to reassure him, and Burlin.
game had hurried on to set his
friends mind at rest. After the gen.
eral rejoicing, the two sat facing each
other, when Sumner leaned forward,
placed hand on each of Burlingame' S
shoulders, and said:
8"Tel me, Arson, you did not mean
>yt) shoot that man, did you?"
Burlingame's head dropped an in
sta1t, then raising it, he said, slowly:
II intended to take the best aim
could" Here he drew back his right
arm, and took the position of holding
a gun, ''at the broadcast part of him
his breast; wait for the word, and
then-fre!"
Sumner dropped back in his chair
let his hands fall on his knees and
exclaimed. sorrowfully:
ooh, Arson! l did not believe it."
Burlingame's eyes filled with tears
and he said:
"Charles, saw you lying bleeding
and insensible on the Senate floor
when I did not expect ever again tc
hear you speak; and l intended then
to kill him. l tell you, Charles, we
have got to meet those fellows with
guns, some day, and the sooner We
begin, the better"
On being consulted, both these
champions of the right said the Wis
tier must not desert the cause. Sum
ner added solemnly:
''The slave never had more nee(
of it; never had more need of YOU"
So that editor went on with he1
Swork, feeling such an opinion as al
most divine call.
In talking with Mr.. Sumner during
that visit, learned that the same doc
tor attended both President Harrison
and President Taylor in their last i'll
ness, and used ris professional author
ity to prevent their friends seeing then
until the fatal termination Of their i'll
ness was certain. Also. that it was tina
same doctor who was within call whel
Brooks made his assault on Sumner
took charge of the case, and made al
official statement that the injury wa
very slight, gave it a superficial dress
ing, and sought to exclude every on
from the room of his patient. Sail
Sumner:
II shuddered when l recovered con
seriousness, and found this man besid
me-"
;. He dismissed him promptly, and di'
not hesitate to say that he believe
his treatment. When the South sc
coded, this useful man left Washing
ton and joined the Confederacy.
The campaign of 1856 was YER
spirited. A large mass meeting wa