Page:Heroines of freethought (IA cu31924031228699).pdf/252

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244
MARGARET R. CHAPPELLSMITH.

lished in the Boston Investigator, and written in a strong, sensible, almost masculine style, first attracted my attention, and made me desirous of knowing more concerning her. What little I do know of her I learned from a letter written by her, at a time when she was very busy, in reply to my letter of inquiry as to the past of her life. In that letter is intimated her intention of writing her own reminiscences at some future date, so that if I fail, from meagerness of material, of doing her justice in this slight and incomplete sketch (which I intend only as a recognition of her services), her own more full relation will supply all deficiencies in this.

Mrs. Chappellsmith, whose maiden name was Margaret Reynolds, was the daughter of a master mechanic who owned a shop and hired workmen. Her life had probably had some hard experiences in regard to the disparity between man and man, between rich and poor, between capital and labor. Hurt and puzzled by these