H^E EAUTiFUL Life OF Frances E.Willard Ry ANNA A.GORDON ^rescittci* to ®he iLlthrartr of the Pitilierstty of Toronto G.H.Armstrong, Esq, 1 : Jllss Willard visited Toronto twice— once in the summer of 1SS9. when she won her way into instant favour, and again in October of last year. Those who met her HARACTER SKETCH in both Instances w?re shocked at the change eight years had wrought. She way never a robust woman, but at tlie time of her fii'st visit she gave the im- OF MISS WILLARD pression Of possessing a wiry constitu- tion and the power of endurance and energj- peculiar to the New England type. She was then within a month of tifty aithFenton'sIuterestiug Pic- years of age. and her "jubilee book." :s she termed it. entitled " Glimpses of Reformer. Fifty Years. ' was just published. It is ture of the the autobiography of her life UP to that dale. During the eight years that intervened Dominated the Great before her second visit, the \\". C. T. X'. »w Her luflaenco made rapid proei'e&s. not i-nerelv in mnm. She Was bership. but iir extended lines of work, . Orgauizatiou of Which iiniil now it numbers its members by hun- the Leadiug Spirit. dreds of thousands, a.id has a platform that includes every reform movement of tne day. The v.eight of labour in these years visit to this city, Willards :n view of her recent wrought sad havoc with Miss 11^ d the deep and markedly favourable health. The crown pressed upon the brow of " Queen Frances." an her co- made, the news of Mis3 S| -a 2 : O iprcssion she workers lo\"edt 10 call her. too heavily. lllards death will lie received with ex- She became a \ictim of nervous prostra- 3" citizens. Her tion, and it was only the spirit of the SSlI ptional reg:t-t by Torcnto oj (- - woman of 1SS9 we welcomed again in Oc- -/J a V.-P. P 5rds are still present in the memory toijer last. VI th6 thousands who listened to her, But what a spirit! ". "> C t. It is no who ,5i u t. tl > lile her remai-kable personality remains wonder that the women p OJ subdued, C3 had been with us thronged about her were awed, vivid as though she melted — their wliole souls drawn out in C OJ y o2 c •.t yesterdaj'. irresistible love. The body had worn to The worlds leaders are always men and so frail a thing that it seemed a mere veil, through which came the shining omen of abundant lite—life so vivid :o£ love and magnetism of a perfect woman o — r .. ag. with it the '•'- S2-2 •id intense that to associate j spirit. Miss It is hard to speak of Miss Willard as ica of death is impossible, and S ';=S-( she apiieared in those October days with- w •- o ' fol- illard is not dead to-day .0 her c — J [ out seeming extravagant in speech. But ^ tCS 30) of the tho.-ands who iwers, or to any , those who were with her. who watched -3 at t-i: " inllu"r.cc. her. and felt llie strong, l>eainiful inllu- ime within tho circle of her j encc of ner pi-esence. will know best er form may lie white and still within | how imi»ossible is lo say one word loo U - o: le heart of the great city, but her ir.ich. and how difCicnlt it is to adequate- j mint, brisht spirt yeti speaks and will ly convey the rare charm Ihat character- | definite, izcd b.er. Her writings were as aj her memory - d [ c. y c» mtinue to -lo so as long as her insight as keen, her wit and quaint ^ personal- Id the records of her life and quips as ready as of old, but over all •so a 5 k'-"S3 great splendid y remain. lay a tenderness and a J C 4) larger vision that belongs only to Heulali -— o t It is not of the president of the W. C. lan<l. She had not nauei'oly passed heyond ' nor yet of i; '^ ? .X . U. that we write to-day; ell pettiness of spirit herself, but beyond y 03 s o.no ! le eloquent platform lecturer, nor the recognition of it in others. X S . lite, It was a marvellous thing to see her jthor. To enter into detail of her ''1' handling of that great convention, with fci <y ord of her work were futile—since its mass of clever women—each of them -ist has been chronicled repeatedly, more or less aggressive as well as pro- gressive—with difficult questions to con- - is altoRctner too large a p ot, ,nd the latter sic'er. tiividcd opinions, and sensitive na- r* ^ ^ liatter for brief newspaper comment. tures. Her tact was perfect, her judg- V 'r -^ t".^ 'h \ ^ .^ ^.rr, 2 - as sho ment sure; yet her power was not in ;i„o a fut of Miss AVillard, the woman, ax c=- thes . but in the gift she was least con- c Ippeared to those privileged to meet her. ^-°^=>1^." scious of—that of her magnetic person- _ S3 few wor.ls may not come amiss. ality; and many a point was yielded ij u cr. c_, To the interviewer sne was an especial by hot disputants because they loved her so. — '^5 s sub- > s: 4)' elight. Fully informed upon the The impulse of Miss Willard's nature in l.'ets under discussion, advanced was to go forward. She was a born re- "^ — V. o ^ i/i former one of those ardent souls too »•». i, 3 ^ ^ lought. poined in response, comprehen- — i: J 5 . o — ^ '^- often consumed early by its own inten- . C/ [^ L.' ^ Z^ t^ a I- ' •'.^c |lve, definite, epigrammatic, with the sity; but there is no doubt the work ef ^^J3 OlO ualntest tricks of speech and a bubbUng the W.l'.T.r. and the responsibilities and was a labour of her office did much to break • u ^ V rTT |ein of humour—to listen to her ; o 3 t- CU her down prematurely. There i:i equally .^ -. ^ X zj > h i flight as well as a satisfaction; and one 1 o o 3.;:- > rt Mgi!> no dotbt. to those who were with her • o £ p ame from her presence not merely with in October, that the L,ady Henry Som- ? o ., tp t rset episoile was taken sadly io heart ull note-book, but stimulate^l to larger > i> to" 5 by Miss AVillard. and had its share in so - courtesy to In- t- a-. - nd kindlier issues. Her weakening the .already frail constitution i ^ r t, .- O CC crviewer or reporter is an acknowledg- that it succumbed at the first touch of disease. Possibly had she been stronger ncnt which we are glad to make for the V- &C V. x — she would ha\'e viewed the affair less ii!iiriGp^-p|5 jirsjis at large. With complete absence seriously, but she loved her frlenii, even '*t silly consciousness—indeed, with no while compelled to differ from her. and Ihought of self at all—she was always the harsh attacks made upon the latter leady to meet the newspaper represent- aflected her deeply. She loved the illve. If give the in- and possible, him W.C.T.U.. and has given her lite for it. 01 c o ,. « crraatlon he desired. She was unusua'ly May its future prove worthy of tho wo- inquir- 'rank, and open also; she met the man whose monument it is and shall on the ground of good faith and be thioughoiit th" years. vllh a straight " I trust you." took him To estimate Miss "Willard's influence is confidence, his most tS nto and answered impossible. It is wonderful to realize S w _, 0„ lerilneiit questions in as far as .she what one frail woman cum accomplish S 3 •C ;i C ^ — * <l. She met the press as one who de- 111,' c tr,— in world. In nearly every country - ., ^- ^ ^^ -• f- - <v - to serve her, and the cause she under the sun, bands of women elevoted i. and it responded in full apprecia- to good works are mourning as those lon of her attitude, and rarely betrayed who have no loader. Not in Great Brit- i'/r trust. ain and America only, but in India, Spain. w^omen in an effort to better the surroundings at New Haven. On Thursday, Mrs. Barnes handed her the ami•f text, " To them that believe, he is precious," " H which she pronounced the " sweetest valentine she had ever received. On the morning of the day she died, she reached her hands to LAST HOURS WITH FRANCES WILLARD. Anna Gordon, who stood by, and said : Frances E. Willard is dead ! " Nan, dear, lift me up." Miss Gordon did with • How beautiful it is to be with God— so, assisted by Dr. Hills, who stood by. God—with God !" she whispered about noon on •• There, that will do." She then took the Thursday, February 17. That was the last doctor's hand and began thanking him for what connected sentence she uttered. Two or three he had done for her. " Doctor," she said, " I times a glorious smile swept over her face and shall remember your great kindness through her lips moved—" God—come—come—come,"— all eternity, and I say, God bless you." were the words listening ears heard, and then " Come, dear, sing me my favorite hymn," the lips ceased to move.