had never been known as a philanthropist; he did not himself
suppose that his heart was susceptible. It is said that knowing
persons smiled when they heard that Miss Dix intended to appeal to
him. Further, it is said that Mr. Butler, at the interview,
ingeniously diverted the conversation from topics that threatened to
be serious. He apparently had no thought of giving Miss Dix a penny.
At length she rose with the impressive dignity so often noted by her
pupils and said: "Mr. Butler, I wish you to hear what I have to say. I
want to bring before you certain facts involving terrible suffering
to your fellow creatures all around you,--suffering you can relieve.
My duty will end when I have done this, and with you will rest all
further responsibility." Mr. Butler heard her respectfully to the end,
and then asked, "What do you want me to do?" "Sir," she said, "I want
you to give $50,000 toward the enlargement of the insane hospital in
this city." "Madam, I'll do it," he said, and much more of his estate
afterward went the same way.

Three years of devoted study of the problems of insanity, with
limitless opportunities for personal observation, had given Miss Dix
an expert knowledge of the subject. She had conceived what an insane
asylum should be. Hitherto, she had been content to enlarge upon
foundations already laid; now she would build an asylum herself. She
saw, we are told, that such an institution as she conceived could not
be built by private benevolence, but must have behind it a legislative
appropriation. She chose New Jersey as the field of her experiment.
Quietly, she entered the state and canvassed its jails and almshouses,
as she had those of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Next she digested
her facts in a Memorial to the Legislature. Then, with a political
shrewdness for which she became celebrated, she selected the member,
uniting a good heart with a clear head and persistent will, into whose
hands it should be placed. Much of her success is said to have been
due to her political sagacity. The superintendent of one of her
asylums said, "She had an insight into character that was truly
marvellous; and I have never known anyone, man or woman, who bore more
distinctly the mark of intellectuality." Having placed her Memorial in
the hands of a skilful tactician, she retired to a room appropriated
to her use by the courtesy of the House, where she spent her time
writing editorials for newspapers, answering the ques