Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-02-07
EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTO
BIOGRAPHY OF
JANE GREY SWISSHELM
First Newspaper Woman Of
Minnesota.
A Remarkable Woman OF Ante.
bellum Dayo-1e161o66
CHI A P Err LXV,
Life and Death.

When released from the hospital,
had neither money nor clothes, and
this is all the account I can render
to the generous people who sent me
hospital stores. I could not answer
their letters. Some of them I never
read. l could only give up my life to
distributing their bounty, and knew
that neither their money nor my own
had remained in my hands when it
was necessary for me to borrow two
dollars to get dress. My cloth trav-
cling suit was no longer fit for use,
and my platform suit too good. These
were all I had brought to Washing
ton; but the best men never refused
me audience because I wore a shak-
er bonnet, a black lawn skirt and
gray linen sack. Some thought l
dressed in that way to be odd, but it
was all I could afford.
The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES had
cancelled my appointment, because l
had not reported for duty, but Sec
rotary Stanton reinstated me, and l
went to work on the largest salary l
had ever received-f1fty dollars a
month. After some time it was rails
ed to sixty, and I was more than in.
DEPENDENT; but my health was so
broken that half dozen doctors COM
manded me to lie on my back for a
month, and spent every moment l
could in that position.
had grown hysterical. and twice
while at work in the Office, broke out
into passionate weeping, while think
ing of something in my hospital ex-
perience, something I had borne, when
it occurred, without a tear, or even
without feeling desire to weep.
In September I had twenty days.
leave of absence to go to st. Cloud,
settle my business and bring my
household goods. There were still
no railroads in Minnesota, and was
six days going, must have six to re-
turn, and one to visit friends at Pitts
burg, yet in the time left, sold The
Democrat, closed my home, and met
Gen. Lowrie for the first and last
time.
He called and we spent an hour
talking, principally of the war, which
he thought would result in two sep
arate governments. His reason SEEM
ed to be entirely restored; but his
prestige, power, wealth and health
were gone. I tried to avoid all per-
sonal matters, as well as reference to
our quarrel, but he broke into the con-
versation to say:
II am the only person who ever I'M
derstood you. People now think you
go into hospitals from sense of
duty; from benevolence, like those
good people who expect to get ITO
heaven by doing disagreeable things
on earth; but know you go because
you must; go for your own pleasure;
you do not care for heaven or any
thing else, but yourself"
He stopped, looked down, traced
the pattern Of the carpet with the
point of his cane, then raised his
head and continued: "You take care
of the sick and wounded, go into all
those dreadful places just as I used
to drink brandy-for the sake Of the
exhileration it brings you"
We shook hands on parting, and
from our Utmost hearts, am sure
wished each other well. was more
than ever impressed BY the genuine
greatness Of the man, who had been
degraded by the use Of irresponsible
power. $50 p. z ~ 81.
We reached Washington n rood
timo. and ] soon realised Tho great