Woman of the Century/Frances Cox Henderson

FRANCES COX HENDERSON. HENDERSON, Mrs. Frances Cox, linguist, traveler, author and philanthropist, born in Philadelphia, Pa., 21st July, 1820. She was educated abroad and spent twenty-one years in Europe, excepting Russia, associating always with persons speaking the language of the country. Her talent for languages was shown early by her translating, at the age of fourteen, from English into French two books, which were published in Paris by a well-known bookseller. In 1882 she published her "Epitome of Modern European Literature," comprising translations from nineteen European languages, the Swedish, Hungarian, Italian, Russian, Slovack, Spanish, Dutch, German, Polish. Czeck, Flemish, Portuguese, French. Croatian, Danish, Serbian, Slavonian, Norwegian and Roumanian. The first edition, published in 1881. of this work contained only seventeen translations. In its preparation she did not receive the slightest assistance. She has written numbers of short stories for periodicals, among others, sketches of southern life as it was before the abolition of slavery, but the "Epitome" is the only work to which she has ever affixed her name. Very much of her writing has been for purposes of immediate use, to awaken interest in local needs, or for household purposes, or in aid of progressive opinions, especially those which affect the status of woman. She claims to be the first person who understood that the Bible is the stronghold of "woman's rights." In 1848, when the two or three who dared to speak in favor of women were tempted to renounce their belief in revelation, she wrote to the leaders of the movement, proving to them that they would be forsaking their surest stronghold. Mrs. Henderson is a pronounced advocate of female suffrage, though she is not a platform speaker and takes no public part in their meetings. Like many others unknown to the public, she keeps up a guerrilla warfare as opportunity offers. She has published, at various times, very pronounced views upon the scattered race of the Hebrews, with ingenious arguments to sustain the position which she takes. She gives a generous portion of her time as well as means to looking after the welfare and comfort of those in her vicinity who are in need of any kind of help. Her affiliations are with the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Henderson is the widow of Gen. James Pinckney Henderson, U. S. A. Gen. Henderson is best remembered as the first Governor of Texas, after the admission of that State to the Union in 1845.