USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The Congress of Women : held in the Woman's building, World's Columbian exposition, Chicago, U.S.A., 1893 : with portraits, biographies and addresses > Part 19
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but acknowledge that we get but a faint glimpse of lier power by what she has in the past been able to accomplish. First in the home-we have only to point to Queen Esther, who risked her life to save her people by coming unbidden into the presence of the king. She knew the danger of incurring her husband's displeasure, but trusted in the God of Heaven to move upon his heart, and give licr power over him, which would save her oppressed people.
All through the ages illustrious men without number have attributed their great- ness to the power of mother love, thus the true woman manifests her power in the home, according to the depth of her affection and the strength of her character. Lucy Webb Hayes, true to her total abstinence principles, bravely bore the criticisms of the aristocratic devotees of fashion, lifted a standard in Washington society which caused an arrest of thought, and abandonment by the best and most conscientious of our leaders in social life of the dangerous custom which has sent thousands of our brightest men and women to a drunkard's eternity. From that day the power of her influence has been felt for good throughout the entire social fabric of this nation. Across the Atlantic our Margaret Bright Lucas, and Lady Henry Somerset, with tongue and pen, have stirred the social circles of England on the same moral question, thus banishing the wine and ale from dinner-table and banquet-hall in thousands of homes.
In 1821 Mary Lyon became assistant principal of an academy of Ashfield, Mass., a position never before occupied by a woman. Later, at Derby, N. H., she gave the first six diplomas received by young women for a three years' course of study. She saw the need of a seminary for women, and pleaded for an endowment. The public was apathetic and her appeals fruitless.
In 1834 she determined to found a permanent institution designed to train young women for the highest usefulness. She laid her plans before a few gentlemen in Ipswich, Mass. They were pronounced visionary and impracticable; her motives misunderstood and misinterpreted. The domestic feature of her seminary was regarded as unwise; but the peculiar features of her plan became its success, and within two months she collected $1,000 from women of Ipswich. She obtained a few large gifts, but chose to gain the intelligent interest of the many with their smaller sums, and in 1836 the corner-stone of Mt. Holyoke Seminary was laid. Three years later the school opened, filled with eager students, who knew that twice their number were waiting to take their places. As the preparation required to enter this seminary was in advance of what had generally been regarded as a finished education for girls, it was feared that students could not be found to fill the building; but on the contrary, two hundred students were refused the first year for lack of room, and nearly four hundred the second vear.
Although Latin and French were taught from the first, she waited ten years before she could get Latin included in the course, such was public opinion on woman's edu- cation. She lived, however, to realize much of the fruitage of her seed-sowing, and Mary Lyon and Mt. Holyoke Seminary will never be forgotten by the thousands who were lifted to a higher educational plane by her heroic efforts.
Within the last generation (1852) we have pointed with pride to Maria Mitchell, who was the first woman to receive the title of LL.D. from Hanover College. She was astronomer in Vassar College for twenty-three years, and was the first woman elected to the Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Alice Freeman Palmer was for six years president of Wellesley College, and has since been one of its trustees and a member of the Massachusetts board of education. When girls were first admitted to the public schools of Massachusetts in 1822, no one would have dreamed that in sixty-six years a woman would have been president of one of its most noted colleges and a member of its state board of education.
Mary H. Hunt has shaken the physiological world from center to circumference, made liquor dealers and tobacconists tremble for their deadly merchandise, has turned on the light of science, and through the W. C. T. U. set in motion influences which have convinced the legislatures in thirty-nine states, as well as our representa-
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tives in Congress, that the hope of this nation is in teaching total abstinence in the public schools. The celebrated Henry Thomas Buckle says: "When we see how knowledge has civilized mankind, when we see how every great step in the march and advance of nations has been invariably preceded by a corresponding step in their knowledge; when we, moreover, see what is assuredly true, that women are constantly growing more influential, it becomes a matter of great moment that we should endeavor to ascertain the relation between their influence and our knowledge."
Notwithstanding all the discouragements in the way of woman she holds a high place in the literary world. Our Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whose poetic gems enrich the choicest library, our Charlotte Bronte, whose name is familiar in every home of culture, and our George Eliot, whose rare literary worth was quickly recognized and acknowledged when the world thought her a man, have few equals as writers. Pardon a little personal experience to show you how prejudice against woman's work has reached all classes.
A few years ago, from sense of duty to her profession as a teacher of music, your speaker published some musical studies, and a catechism, and one of the largest pub- lishing houses in New York bought the copyrights, but modestly asked that the pre- fix of "Mrs." be omitted before the initials of the name of the author, that the public might suppose they were written by a man, and thus the sale of the same might not be hindered by the prejudice against woman as a musical author. Caring only for the advancement of her life work, the author was glad to escape publicity, and quickly consented, never dreaming at that time of the injustice of robbing woman of the little crumb of encouragement which even that humble effort would afford.
Prejudice hindered woman in the medical profession, although all will admit her natural fitness and power of endurance as a nurse. Elizabeth Blackwell found the doors of medical colleges closed to women, but after severe trials and repeated efforts she gained entrance to the Geneva Medical School, where she graduated with the highest honors of her class in 1847. She also traveled in Europe, visiting hospitals and medical institutions in order to acquire a fitness for her calling, but on locating in a metropolis of America was ostracised by the profession solely on account of her sex. Since she opened this door, thousands of brave, cultured women have entered and today stand in the forefront of the profession, skillful, conscientious, disarming preju- dice and winning their way to the hearts and homes of the people.
In the philanthropic world Grace Darling and Ida Lewis risked their own lives on the stormy ocean to save those imperiled there. A multitude of earnest conse- crated women have left home and friends, being maligned and persecuted, have taken their lives in their hands, going forth at the call of God to protect the homes which are the foundation stones of the nation, and open up avenues of usefulness and development to women, hitherto unknown. Josephine Butles, of England, and Amer- ica's Mary A. Livermore, Mary Clement Leavitt, Susan B. Anthony, our loved and revered Frances E. Willard, and hosts of others, are today in the field toiling for the uplifting of humanity and to save the homes of this world. The enemy scoffs and the narrow-minded question the right of woman even to save souls outside the sacred place she calls home, but she hears the voice as did the Maid of Orleans, " Daughter of God, go on, go on; I will be thy help," and she will never waver or turn back.
The work of Lady Huntington stands out before us as an enduring monument of woman's power in the church. Leaving her high position with its many social pleas- ures and advantages, she bravely met rebuffs from associates of her own rank and made the watchword of her life, "My God, I give myself to thee." She established sixty-four chapels (selling her jewels to build one of them), organized a mission in North America, and maintained a college for the education of ministers in Trevecca, Wales. Doddridge, Whitefield, Berridge, the Wesleys and Doctor Watts were among her chosen friends.
Wesley justified female preaching on the same ground on which he defended lay preaching. The following are his words: "What authority have I to forbid the doing
(10)
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what I believe God has called them to do? He encouraged such grand women as Sarah Crosby, Mary Fletcher and others. After Wesley's day female preaching became common among the Friends, and Elizabeth Fry began her ministry in 1810, after feeling for twelve years that God called her to this work. The results of her public labors were marvelous, and her own family of cleven children were never neg- lected. Hers was a model household, and her work for unfortunate women in New- gate was the beginning of prison reform which commanded the respect of the world. Seventeen European sovereigns honored themselves by honoring her. When she first entered the prisons their condition was most revolting, and it was considered unsafe to do so without a guard. The thought of reforming these inmates of both sexes, and all grades of crime, huddled together like wild beasts, seemed the apex of madness. The keepers remonstrated with her, but the love of Christ constrained her, and with no protector save Daniel's God she was locked in the prison with a band of fiends in human shape. As her sweet voice rang out in those grand old hymns she awed them into silence. So heartfelt and eloquent was her appeal that hope sprang up in the hearts of these degraded creatures and hundreds were saved. Industries and schools were introduced into prisons, sanitary conditions improved, and the criminal jurisprudence of the civilized world was revolutionized in some of its aspects through her instrumentality. In London the Elizabeth Fry Refuge stands today as a fitting memorial of her life and labors. The first Methodist Episcopal Church in America was started in New York City by Barbara Heck, whose unwavering fidelity to Christ gave her the moral courage to sharply rebuke the sins of the converts of Wesley who had come to America and grown cold in the cause.
But you hear little of Barbara Heck; it is the old story of Betsy and I killed the bear, but, friends, Betsy is coming to the front. Again we turn the pages of history and see what she has accomplished in the government, even while surrounded by walls of prejudice and hindered by ridicule and criticism. Let us catch a glimpse of the won- derful Maid of Orleans. She believed God had called her, and by her modest and wise replies to the many insults of learned priests and powerful nobles, she won their confidence and obedience. This noble woman died for her country in the most ignominious manner after rendering it such unprecedented service; and not until twenty years afterward was tardy justice done her memory. It is now over four hun- dred years since this great event of the world's history, and most impressive services and festivals annually commemorate the great victories won by this brave, godly woman. Many beautiful monuments have been erected in honor of her work.
Queen Victoria has proved herself a wise ruler of a great government, and none the less a faithful, true wife and mother. Isabella, Queen of Spain, born 1451, was pro- claimed queen at twenty-three years of age, and at once applied herself to reform the laws, to encourage literature and arts, and to modity the stern and crafty measures of her husband by the influence of her own gentle and elevated character. She intro- duced the first printing press into Spain, and clad in armor, personally directed the operations of the army that besieged Grenada. She established the first field hos- pitals and appointed surgeons to attend her army. But for her cheerful endorsement of Columbus, and her ready self-denial, we might not be able to celebrate this four hundredth birthday of America.
And now having spoken of the power of woman, let us consider for a few moments her purposes. For what does she desire higher education except to prepare her better to fulfill her mission to help the world upward? For what does she desire to enter various avocations heretofore denied her? I answer that she may honorably maintain herself and those dependent upon her in an occupation for which God has naturally fitted her, and in which, for this reason, she will best succeed. Why does she desire to enter the ministry? For the same reason that her brother desires to save souls in the way that he can reach the largest number, hoping thereby to best glorify God. For what reason does she desire to aid in governing the nation? Aside from her natural and God-given right, I believe the highest purpose of woman in her desire to
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stand side by side with man in the government is to purify it, protect the home and make the world better and more Christ-like.
Is she not in a great measure robbed of her power to do this?
I saw in Pomona, Cal., a beautiful Woman's Christian Temperance Union banner which impressed me deeply. Painted on white satin was the picture of a charming young mother, holding with her left arm her little boy as high as possible above the serpent coiled about her feet, with head raised ready to strike her darling. In her right hand she held a dagger with which she was trying to destroy the deadly serpent, but that hand was chained to the ballot box below, and she was powerless to save her beautiful boy. So are the purposes of woman thwarted in protecting her home and the children which God has given her; but a better day is dawning, and our noblest brothers are already convinced that to best uplift humanity and advance Christianity is to confer upon woman her right of suffrage. To Mrs. Potter Palmer, Mrs. James P. Eagle, and the brave self-sacrificing women who have so grandly served on this board of managers, thus advancing the interests of the womanhood of the world, we owe more than we can now realize; but as the years go' by we shall see more of the far- reaching and wonderful results. Your power has been felt, and your purpose for the advancement of woman has been served. Gerald Massey beautifully describes the struggles of woman during this century:
Our hearts brood o'er the past, our eyes With smiling futures glisten; Lo! now its dawn bursts upon the sky; Lean out your souls and listen. The earth rolls freedom's radiant ways, And ripens with our sorrow; :
And 'tis the martyrdom today : Brings victory tomorrow. . 'Tis weary watching wave by wave, And yet the tide heaves onward; We climb like corals, grave by grave, Yet beat a pathway sunward. We're beaten back in many a fray, Yet newer strength we borrow;
And where our vanguard rests today, Our rear shall rest tomorrow.
HOW CAN WE AID ?*
By MRS. AGNES L. D'ARCAMBAL.
All along the seacoast of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, out on rivers and down into the lakes, our government has built the lighthouse for the safety and relief of the storm-tossed ships. Within every lighthouse there are lifeboats and life preservers, and lights and life lines to throw out to the drowning crew and traveler.
So upon the shores of the stormy ocean of vice, which surges in and through the great city of Chicago and all other cities, we find life-saving stations for the help and restoration of poor, perishing souls. Here, too, are lights and life lines thrown out by lov- ing, strong arms to draw in to rescue the weak and erring girls.
When a vessel, its crew and passengers, are wrecked, thousands and thousands of people licar and repeat over and over the tale of dreadful disaster. " That fearful shipwreck, the loss of life and prop- erty." The daily press reports and the people tell with exactness just the number of souls on board, and mourn that freight and vessel have gone down- lost. Alas! who knows of the hundreds of thousands of weak and erring girls that are going down, down, lost, perishing in this sea of vice that rolls in and about us on every side. The press may tell a part- MRS. AGNES L. D'ARCAMBAL doubtless would be willing to tell more-but the people draw the veil, saying, " It is too horrible to read of such things in our daily papers." Many good people condemn the papers and the reporters for giving to the public " these horrible details." Even those who deem themselves the Christian people of the city may read; but they rush by the wrecks with upturned faces, but few lips dar- ing to speak and few arms outreached to rescue, even a girl, though she be but a child. Yet it is characteristic of this age in which we live to employ all forms and offices of Christian charity and sympathy, indeed to the most elaborate and far-reach- ing organizations and societies. We have homes for the foundling, homes for the aged, the blind, the deaf and the dumb, homes for sailors and soldiers, homes for the inebriate, homes for the incurable, asylums and hospitals everywhere.
And so broad and wide and strong are the arms of this great spirit of loving kindness to all the human family, it still has place and thought for the dumb animals and the fowls of the air, their rights are made incorporate among the laws of our land. Generously are all these homes and asylums supported by a generous people. All are proudly mentioned from the pulpit and by the press. Only one stands out in the loneliness of its unpopularity-the refuge for erring girls-the home for fallen women. This one true Christian charity, as it were, stands alone, unpopular, almost an orphan, for few venture to adopt this child of sin and sorrow. I assure you, kind
Mrs. Agnes L. Harrington d'Arcambal is a native of Burlington. Vt. She was born March 8, 1832. Her parents were William and Eliza Harrington. Has traveled throughont the United States. She married Charles L. d'Arcambal, a native of France. Her special work has been in the interest of suffering humanity. She has been for twenty-five years a voluntary worker in several lines of charity. In religions faith she is a Christian. Her postoffice address is Detroit, Mich.
*The original title of the address as read was: " How Can We Help the Weak and Erring Girls and Women?"
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friends, that it is with gravest feelings of a deep responsibility that I stand before this congress to speak on this important subject: "How can we help the weak and erring girls?"
I wish I could tell of this work; how it was made the loving, consecrated work of a man over two thousand years ago; "a man who went about doing good," and whose loving service to humanity stands out so plainly the work of his heart-the pardon and purification of lost women. It is through the divine history of this man that hearts have been inspired to enter the vineyard, and with loving hands and kind words reclaim many a weak, sinful girl, and draw her away from sin and hell up into a purer and better atmosphere of light and life.
The reformation of women, " How to help the weak and erring," is a work and subject that has many sides, and is fraught with the deepest interest to the entire human family. We all acknowledge that " prevention is better than cure," yet we all realize that humanity is and has ever been prone to err. So we must find some way to reach these unfortunate creatures. With many years of experience behind me in this kind of work, I realize that to be successful and to bring about good results there must be intelligent organization and co-operation. I find where homes or houses of refuge have been founded they gradually grow into favor and usefulness. I know there come many struggles, often sad disappointments, sighs and tears to the women who are brave enough to associate themselves with this reform work for their own sex. No worker can be half-hearted or faint-hearted who enters the places where they find these poor abandoned girls. Eyes they must have to see and realize the depth of sin and degradation of their living hell. Ears to hear, not the scoff and jeers, but the sad confession of some sin-sick soul. Hearts of pity and grace from God and the divine love and patience of the loving Saviour, the gentle Jesus who dried the sinful woman's tears and bade her sin no more. When this Son of God began His ministry in His native town, He took this text: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted and preach deliverance to the captive and the restoring of sight to the blind; to set at liberty those who are bruised." He is the preacher, and His preaching has inaugurated all the sympathy, all the love, all the humane movements of our modern world. All the leading spirits of this reform have avowed again and again that the reformation of these unfortunate women is a religious question, and that unless the worker in this uninviting, unpopular field is sustained by the religious sentiment of the community, and upheld by the faith and prayers and sympathy and co-operation of both Christian men and women, they may as well lay down their arms. I hold that we as workers have a right to expect from every Christian com- munity intelligent sympathy with the work, and the moral support of an educated public sentiment, and the creation of an atmosphere of hopeful feeling in which the rescued and the reformed may breathe and live again. This work demands tenderness, humanity and self-sacrifice. You and I as Christian people carry in our hands and hearts the power to give life and bring it unto these abandoned creatures. God's command is: "Love thy neighbor as thyself."
This is the true inspiration of all work for the outcast. There is no soul so far steeped in sin that it cannot be saved by Jesus. Some who hear my voice and know of my work may find fault with me for stooping to aid these poor outcasts of society. But listen. There arises the story of Christ and the abondoned woman, and His words, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." Herein is the inspiration of this work.
I must tell you, for I am sure it will interest you, the story of a poor, innocent girl. Twenty-five years ago ---- twenty-five years tell many hopeful results, for even at that time I was as zealous a worker as I am this day; our poormaster often called to ask my assistance, some child was sick, or some poor family might be tided over and kept from the poor house ifa little help were given them, therefore I was not surprised to receive a call from him at any hour. This time he came in haste, and asked me
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whether I would go down to a saloon on Water street, where a young woman lay dying. Poor thing, dying of consumption, and in such a place. He said to me: "Can you go soon? You will know better than I how to say a word to the poor girl. She evidently does not belong to the class that frequents saloons." I readily promised to go, provided myself with a few lemons and a glass of jelly, and got all the Christ-love possible into my heart, for I well knew what it must be and what it meant to go into " a saloon on Water street." As I neared the building I saw a coarse looking man standing in the door. The blinds had not been removed, and evidently he was expect- ing me, for the poormaster had promised to send me. I asked, " Is there a sick woman here?" He replied, "Yes, good woman, hurry up those stairs. Poor thing, she don't belong here. No such sort as the other girls. But my wife is awful tender hearted; she found this girl at one of the hotels, where she was trying to wash dishes to pay for her board. Poor thing; dying by inches. My wife brought her over here, and we gave her the best little room we had upstairs, and my wife has been a mother to her. But, poor bird, it is all up with her. I wasn't going to open up this place or take down these blinds. Can't do it. She was a good girl, only everybody deserted her because she was sick and couldn't work. I reckon she is true, and would keep her virtue even if she starved. Please, good lady, hurry up to her. I hear that dreadful cough." I hastened upstairs, and in a little room several gaudily dressed girls stood around the bed-girls with the marks of dissipation on their faces so plainly that there was no mistaking the kind of life they were leading. Over the sufferer bent a plain but motherly woman, whose strong arms were pillowing the head of a beautiful girl, for she could scarcely be called a woman. ller jet black hair fell in long curls in one rich mass over the pillow. For an instant all was silent. The coughing ceased, but only for an instant. The girls who were watching the woman wipe the blood-stained lips of the beautiful sufferer cried, "She is dying." The woman looked up and said, "Silence; she breathes." As she held a cup to her lips she said, " Darling child, take a drop of this, it will soothe you; drink, dear." Oh, what a scene. I shall never for- get it to my dying hour. I stepped forward, for I had not been noticed by the girls or the woman, they were weeping and wringing their hands. One of the girls had just remarked, " That woman (meaning me) will never come. Oh, Daisy is dying; do hold her up! Open wide the windows, bring a fan, call somebody-get help!" I moved toward the bed, untied my bonnet and handed it to one of the girls. I then and there realized where I was-in one of the low dens, a house of prostitution- realized through the creatures before me. A dying girl, whom the poormaster and the man of the house told me was innocent and a helpless creature. The woman who was partner in the house had, from the goodness of her heart, brought the girl to her home, that "the child," as she called her, might die in a comfortable bed. Another fit of coughing, and the sufferer turned her eyes toward me and motioned to me, reaching out her cold, cold hand. She cried, "I am dying! Oh must, must I go to hell?" She sank exhausted on the pillow and the arm of the woman, whose rough cheeks were being washed with the flowing tears. She, too, had seen me, and said, " Daisy wanted you, and the poormaster said you would come." I offered to relieve the woman who was so tenderly caring for this poor stranger under such strange circumstances. The poor child looked up at me for a moment. Oh, those big, brown eyes. Can I ever forget them. And her words, "I am dying, and must I go to hell?" Holding that tired head close to my own I whispered, "No, no, dear child; I hear the Saviour calling you. Jesus and the angels are waiting your coming. There, don't move and fret about that. It makes you cough, and I want you to listen. Hark! Listen! Keep very quiet. Hark! don't you hear that voice whispering, 'Come home, poor wanderer, come home.' Please, Daisy, drink a drop of this lemon water. Don't move. We'll help you. There, hush, dear girl, the Saviour 'calls." The poor girl believed. A faint " Yes" came from her lips; one slight struggle for breath, and her hand, holding fast to mine, she whispered so low and faint, yet clearly audible, "I do hear the sweetest music "-and she was dead. Dare you, my hearers, or I say that Daisy did not hear
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