Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1910 — “OLD MRS. PITT.” [ARTICLE]

“OLD MRS. PITT.”

Wnriaeu of Pioneers in Early Work for Education of Women. The preliminary sum with which Mount Holyoke Seminasy was established was the direct result of Mary Lyon’s personal work and contagious enthusiasm. The work once started, says Miss Ida M. Tarbell in the American Magazine, friends seemed to rise out of the ground. The very errors of the founders helped them. A member of the committee wanted to call the school the Pangynaskean— t. “where all the Powers of Women aro cultivated,” —Seminary. A few editors hostile to Innovations in women's education took up the unwleldly word for ridicule, but they really did much good. The first contribution of five hundred dollars came through a woman who had been attracted to the enterprise by the attack on the name. Mary Lyon was persistent in presenting her cause; she rarely took even a stage ride that the passengers were not made acquainted with the subject. By the end of two years over sixty town? had been interested, and enough money pledged to begin a building coating fifteen thousand dollars. How large a part of this sum. had come directly through the efforts •r from the savings of hard working women nobody probably knows. Certainly a large part was due to them. Mary Lyon was always wary about the impression she made in soliciting money, and constantly tried to avoid giving the idea that what was called “female greatness” was to be encouraged in her school. There is an amusing example of the clandestine methods even women like 'Catherine and Harriet Beecher felt obliged to , employ when they wished to influence public opinion. One of the Southern States was trying to drive out a tribe of Indians by methods which the Beechers felt to be “cruel and unjust." In 182# Catherine wrote a letter, published

anonymously, and addressed to "Benevolent Women of the United States,” in which she expressed her Indignation, and suggested, that public meetings be held and petitions prepared for Congress. Through the aid of a few women pledged to secrecy this document was scattered over thev country. To the great delight of the conspirators, their campaign worked marvelously, and a large public interest was aroused. iTiere was much curiosity about- the authorship of the circular. Professor Silliman of Yale said It was “worthy of the elder Pitt,” whereupon Harriet dubbed her, sister ‘‘Old Mrs. Pitt.”