She who began the work of reform as a teacher in a Sabbath school, has advanced, step by step, until her capacious heart has embraced the Union, throughout which the benign influence of her philanthropic labors is sensibly felt. Some one has truthfully remarked that "the blessings of thousands, ready to perish, have come down upon her head," and that the institutions which she has caused to be erected or modified in the several states "are monuments more honorable, if not more enduring than the pyramids." While Miss Dix has brought about important reforms, she has accomplished her labors by great hardship and the most rigid economy. She had not a princely fortune, like Mrs. Fry, to expend in benevolent causes; she could not ride from place to place in her own private and splendid carriage, saying to this servant, do this, and to another, do that; she has been obliged to travel by public, haphazard conveyances--often in most uncomfortable vehicles in the most uncomfortable weather. A part of her early labors in the state of New York were performed in the winter, and when in the north-eastern and coldest part, she was under the necessity, on one occasion, of traveling all night in the severest part of the season in an open carriage. To show her economy, which has been hinted at, it is necessary merely to say that she purchases the materials for most of her garments in the places which she visits, and makes them up with her own hands, while traveling on steamboats, waiting for stages at public houses, and such odd intervals of leisure.[99] [99] For the two last mentioned facts, and some others in regard to Miss Dix, we are indebted to the Rev. G. W. Hosmer, pastor of the Unitarian church, Buffalo. The character of Miss Dix is both pleasant and profitable to contemplate. Every thing connected with her public career is noble and worthy to be imitated. Would that the world were full of such characters: they are needed. Although she has done a great work, much is yet to do. Our country is wide, and enlarging almost every year; the field of benevolence is white to harvest, and where are the reapers, who, like Miss Dix, will make their "lives sublime?" * * * * * Transcriber's note: Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Printer errors have been changed and are listed here. All other inconsistencies are as in the original including unmatched quotation marks. p. viii: "Scoharie" changed to "Schoharie". p. ix: "Spaulding" changed to "Spalding". p. x: "McKenney" changed to "McKenny". p. xxii: "updraiding" changed to "upbraiding". p. 54: "inconveniencies" changes to "inconveniences". p. 59: "generaly" changed to "generally". p. 62: "horid" changed to "horrid". p. 77: "succesfully" changed to "successfully". p. 161: "Mrs. Mary Dixon" changed to "Mrs. Mary Nixon". p. 163: "appartments" changed to "apartments". p. Footnote 165: "seventeeen" changed to "seventeen".