Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/710

Rh is the fact that she raised a subscription of $7,000.00 in a single evening, for the work of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. One who was present at that memorable meeting, said: "A panic was on, the banks had closed down. Everyone who had money had it glued to the bottom of his pocket. When the little Georgia woman announced that she was going to raise $5,000 before she sat down, everybody smiled. She made no speech but talked simply, but the appeal went to the hearts of every one present. She was pleading passionately for her people, she was a Joan of Arc calling on her countrymen to rise, buckle on the sword and defend themselves. She was eloquent, formidable, tragic. Her humor would steal a smile from the lips of grief; she was malevolent and objurgatory against her enemies; she was strong in her rhetorical efforts and intensity. Chaste, eloquent and moving a marvelous woman truly!" She said all that S,ooo people could stand and $7,000 was raised. Mrs. Armor is in demand all over the country to speak for temperance and philanthropy.

Mrs. Edith Smith Davis is of English descent and was born and bred near the childhood home of Frances E. Willard in Wisconsin. Milton College, Lawrence University, and Wellesley College contributed to her education. From Lawrence University she received the degree of A.B., A.M. and of Litt. D. After taking post-graduate work at Wellesley College, she taught English literature for three years in Clark University. In 1884 she was married to the Reverend J. S. Davis, D.D., and began her active work in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In this organization she has held a great variety of offices and departments, aiding as much by her pen as by her voice. She is the author of a number of books, and has constantly written for the press. Her business ability was manifested when she aided in the raising of three hundred thousand dollars for the endowment of her "Alma Mater." After the death of Mrs. Mary Hunt in 1905, Mrs. Davis was elected to the superintendency of the Department of Scientific Temperance Instruction and Scientific Temperance Investigation of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. During the five years that she has held this position she has been sent at a delegate to the Anti-Alcoholic Congress held at Stockholm in 1907, to London in 1909, and to The Hague in 1911. Mrs. Davis considers her most important work to be the incorporation of courses of study in the higher schools, the publication of the "Temperance Educational Quarterly," and the holding of prize essay contests in the public schools.

Mrs. Barney, evangelist, was born in Massachusetts. In 1854 she married Joseph K. Barney, of Providence, Rhode Island. She was the founder of the Prisoners' Aid Society of Rhode Island. Has done work with the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and was the first president of the Rhode Island Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Is an evangelist of note, and was largely instrumental in making prohibition a constitutional enactment in Rhode Island in