第11章
加入书架 A- A+
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  preachedinaministerialrobe,orderedespeciallyforthatday。ItwasmadeofblackcrepedeChine,withgreatdoubleflowingsleeves,whitesilkunder—

  sleeves,andawidewhitesilkunderfolddownthefront;andImaymentioncasuallythatitlookedverymuchbetterthanIfelt,forIwasverynervous。

  MyfatherhadcomeontoChicagoespeciallytohearmysermon,andhadbeeninvitedtositontheplatform。Evenyethewasnotwhollyreconciledtomypublicwork,buthewasbeginningtotakeadeepinterestinit。IgreatlydesiredtopleasehimandtosatisfyMissAnthony,whowasextremelyanxiousthatonthatdayofalldaysIshoulddomybest。

  Igaveanunusualamountoftimeandthoughttothatsermon,andatlastevolvedwhatImodestlybelievedtobeagoodone。Ineverwriteoutasermoninadvance,butIdiditthistime,laboriously,andthenmemorizedtheeffort。ThenightbeforethesermonwastobedeliveredMissAnthonyaskedmeaboutit,andwhenIrealizedhowdeeplyin—

  terestedshewasIdeliveredittoherthenandthereasarehearsal。Itwasverylate,andIknewwewouldnotbeinterrupted。Asshelistenedherfacegrewlongerandlongerandherlipsdroopedatthecorners。HerdisappointmentwassoobviousthatIhaddifficultyinfinishingmyrecitation;butIfinallygotthroughit,thoughratherweaklytowardtheend,andwaitedtohearwhatshewouldsay,hopingagainsthopethatshehadlikeditbetterthansheseemedto。ButSusanB。Anthonywasthefrankestaswellasthekindestofwomen。Reso—

  lutelysheshookherhead。

  ``It’snogood,Anna,’’shesaid;firmly。``You’llhavetodobetter。You’vepolishedandrepolishedthatsermonuntilthere’snolifeleftinit。It’sdead。

  Besides,Idon’tcareforyourtext。’’

  ``Thengivemeatext,’’Idemanded,gloomily。

  ``Ican’t,’’saidAuntSusan。

  Iwastiredandbitterlydisappointed,andbothconditionsshowedinmyreply。

  ``Well,’’Iasked,somberly,``ifyoucan’tevensupplyatext,howdoyousupposeI’mgoingtodeliverabrand—newsermonatteno’clockto—morrowmorning?’’

  ``Oh,’’declaredAuntSusan,blithely,``you’llfindatext。’’

  Isuggestedseveral,butshedidnotlikethem。

  AtlastIsaid,``Ihaveit——`Letnomantakethycrown。’’’

  ``That’sit!’’exclaimedMissAnthony。``Giveusagoodsermononthattext。’’

  Shewenttoherroomtosleepthesleepofthejustandtheuntroubled,butItossedinmybedtherestofthenight,planningthepointsofthenewsermon。AfterIhaddelivereditthenextmorningIwenttomyfathertoassisthimfromtheplatform。

  Hewastrembling,andhiseyeswerefulloftears。

  Heseizedmyarmandpressedit。

  ``NowIamreadytodie,’’wasallhesaid。

  IwassotiredthatIfeltreadytodie,too;buthissatisfactionandaglanceatAuntSusan’scon—

  tentedfacegavemethetonicIneeded。Fatherdiedtwoyearslater,andasIwascampaigninginCaliforniaIwasnotwithhimattheend。Itwasacomforttoremember,however,thatinthetwilightofhislifehehadlearnedtounderstandhismostdifficultdaughter,andtogivehercreditforearnest—

  nessofpurpose,atleast,infollowingthelifethathadledherawayfromhim。Afterhisdeath,andimme—

  diatelyuponmyreturnfromCalifornia,Ivisitedmymother,anditwaswellindeedthatIdid,forwithinafewmonthsshefollowedfatherintotheotherworldforwhichallofherunselfishlifehadbeenapreparation。

  Ourlastdaystogetherwereperfect。Herattitudewasoneofsereneandcheerfulexpectancy,andI

  alwaysthinkofherassittingamongtheprimrosesandbluebellssheloved,whichseemedtobloomunceasinglyinthewindowsofherroom。Irecall,too,withgratitude,atriflewhichgaveherapleasureoutofallproportiontowhatIhaddreameditwoulddo。ShehadexpressedalongingforsomeEnglishheather,``notthehot—housevariety,butthekindthatbloomsonthehills,’’andIhadsucceededingettingabunchforherbywritingtoanEnglishfriend。

  Itspossessionfilledherwithjoy,andfromthetimeitcameuntilthedayhereyesclosedintheirlastsleepitwasrarelybeyondreachofherhand。

  Atherrequest,whenshewasburiedwelaidtheheatheronherheart——theheartofatrueandloyalwoman,who,thoughherchildrenhadnotknownit,musthavelongedwithoutceasingthroughoutherNewWorldlifefortheOldWorldofheryouth。

  TheScandinavianspeechwasanevenmorevitalexperiencethantheChicagoone,forinStockholmIdeliveredthefirstsermoneverpreachedbyawomanintheStateChurchofSweden,andtheeventwasprecededbyanamountofpoliticalandjournalisticoppositionwhichgaveitaninternationalimportance。IhadalsobeeninvitedbytheNor—

  wegianwomentopreachintheStateChurchofNorway,butthereweexperiencedobstacles。BythelawsofNorwaywomenarepermittedtoholdallpublicofficesexceptthoseinthearmy,navy,andchurch——aratherremarkablemilitantandspiritualcombination。Asawoman,therefore,IwasdeniedtheuseofthechurchbytheMinisterofChurchAffairs。

  Thedecisioncreatedgreatexcitementandmuchdelvingintothelaw。ItthenappearedthatiftheuseofaStateChurchisdesiredforaministerofaforeigncountrythegovernmentcangivesuchper—

  mission。ItwasthoughtthatImightslipinthroughthisloophole,andapplicationwasmadetothegovernment。ThereplycamethatpermissioncouldbereceivedonlyfromtheentireCabinet;andwhiletheCabinetgentlemenwerefeverishlydiscussingtheimportantissue,theNorwegianpressbecameactive,pointingoutthattheMinisterofChurchAffairshadarrogantlyassumedtherightoftheentireCabinetindenyingtheapplication。ThechargewastakenupbythepartyopposedtothegovernmentpartyinParliament,andtheMinisterofChurchAffairsswiftlyturnedthewholematterovertohisconferees。

  TheCabinetheldasession,andbyavoteoffourtothreedecidedNOTtoallowawomantopreachintheStateChurch。IamhappytoaddthatofthethreewhovotedfavorablyonthequestiononewasthePremierofNorway。Againthenewspapersgraspedtheiropportunity——especiallytheorgansoftheoppositionparty。Myroomswerefilledwithreporters,whiledailytheexcitementgrew。ThequestionwasbroughtupinParliament,andIwasinvitedtoattendandhearthediscussionthere。

  BythistimeeverynewspaperinScandinaviawasfororagainstme;andtheresultofthewholematterwasthat,thoughtheStateChurchofNorwaywasnotopenedtome,amostunusualinteresthadbeenarousedinmysermonintheStateChurchofSweden。

  WhenIarrivedtheretokeepmyengagement,notonlywasthewonderfulstructurepackedtoitswalls,butthewaitingcrowdsinthestreetweresolargethatthepolicehaddifficultyinopeningawayforourparty。

  IshallneverforgetmyimpressionofthechurchitselfwhenIenteredit。ItwillalwaysstandforthinmymemoryasoneofthemostbeautifulchurchesIhaveevervisited。Oneverysideweremonu—

  mentsofdeadheroesandstatesmen,andthehigh,vaultedbluedomeseemedliketheopenskyaboveourheads。Overuslayalightlikeasofttwilight,andthegreatcongregationfillednotonlyallthepews,buttheaisles,theplatform,andeventhestepsofthepulpit。TheusherswereyoungwomenfromtheUniversityofUpsala,wearingwhiteuni—

  versitycapswithblackvizors,andsashesintheuniversitycolors。Theanthemwascomposedes—

  peciallyfortheoccasionbythefirstwomancathe—

  dralorganistinSweden——theorganistofthecathe—

  dralinGothenburg——andshehadbroughtwithherthirtymembersofherchoir,allofthemremarkablesingers。

  Thewholeoccasionwasindescribablyimpressive,andIrealizedineveryfiberthenecessityofbeingworthyofit。Also,IexperiencedasensationsuchasIhadneverknownbefore,andwhichIcanonlydescribeasaseemingcompleteseparationofmyphysicalselffrommyspiritualself。Itwasasifmybodystoodasideandwatchedmysoulenterthatpulpit。Therewasnouncertainty,nonervousness,thoughusuallyIamverynervouswhenIbegintospeak;andwhenIhadfinishedIknewthatIhaddonemybest。

  ButallthisisalongwayfromtheearlydaysI

  wasdiscussing,whenIwasmakingmyfirstdiffidentbowstolectureaudiencesandlearningthelessonsofthepioneerinthelecture—field。Iwassoontolearnmore,forin1888MissAnthonypersuadedmetodropmytemperanceworkandconcentratemyenergiesonthesuffragecause。ForalongtimeI

  hesitated。IwasveryhappyinmyconnectionwiththeWoman’sChristianTemperanceUnion,andIknewthatMissWillardwasdependingonmetocontinueit。ButMissAnthony’sargumentswereirrefutable,andshewasherself,asalways,irresistible。

  ``Youcan’twintwocausesatonce,’’sheremindedme。``You’remerelyscatteringyourenergies。Be—

  ginatthebeginning。Winsuffrageforwomen,andtherestwillfollow。’’Asanaddedargument,shetookmewithheronherKansascampaign,andafterthatnofurtherargumentswereneeded。Fromthenuntilherdeath,eighteenyearslater,MissAnthonyandIworkedshouldertoshoulder。

  ThemostinterestinglectureepisodeofourfirstKansascampaignwasmydebatewithSenatorJohnJ。Ingalls。Beforethis,however,onourarrivalatAtchison,Mrs。IngallsgavealuncheonforMissAnthony,andRachelFosterAveryandIwerealsoinvited。MissAnthonysatattherightofSenatorIngalls,andIathisleft,whileMrs。Ingalls,ofcourse,adornedtheoppositeendofhertable。Mrs。AveryandIhadjustbeenentertainedforseveraldaysatthehomeofavegetarianfriendwhodidnotknowhowtocookvegetables,andwewerebothhalfstarved。WhenwewereinvitedtotheIngallshomewehadutteredinunisonajoyouscry,``Nowweshallhavesomethingtoeat!’’Attheluncheon,however,SenatorIngallskeptMissAnthonyandmetalkingsteadily。Hewasnotinfavorofsuffrageforwomen,buthewishedtoknowallsortsofthingsabouttheCause,andwewereanxioustohavehimknowthem。

  TheresultwasthatIhadtimeforonlyanoccasionalmouthful,whiledownattheendofthetableMrs。

  Averyateandate,pausingonlytosendmeglancesofheartfeltsympathy。Also,whenevershehadanespeciallytoothsomemorselontheendofherforkshewickedlysucceededincatchingmyeyeandthusaddingthelastsybaritictouchtoherenjoyment。

  Notwithstandingthewealthofknowledgewehadbestoweduponhim,orperhapsbecauseofit,thefollowingnightSenatorIngallsmadehisfamousspeechagainstsuffrage,anditfelltomylottoanswerhim。Inthecourseofhisremarksheaskedthisquestion:``WouldyouliketoaddthreemillionilliteratevoterstothelargebodyofilliteratevoterswehaveinAmericato—day?’’Theaudienceap—

  plaudedlight—heartedly,butIwasdisturbedbythesophistryofthequestion。OneofSenatorIngalls’smostdiscussedpersonalpeculiaritieswasthepartingofhishairinthemiddle。Cartoonistsandnews—

  paperwritersalwaysmademuchofthis,sowhenI

  rosetoreplyIfeltjustifiedinmentioningit。

  ``SenatorIngalls,’’Ibegan,``partshishairinthemiddle,asweallknow,buthemakesupforitbypartinghisfiguresononeside。Lastnighthegaveyoutheshortsideofhisfigures。AtthepresenttimethereareintheUnitedStatesabouteighteenmillionwomenofvotingage。WhentheSenatoraskedwhetheryouwantedthreemillionadditionalilliteratewomenvoters,heforgottoaskalsoifyoudidn’twantfifteenmillionadditionalintelligentwomenvoters!

  Wewillgrantthatitwilltakethevotesofthreemillionintelligentwomentowipeoutthevotesofthreemillionilliteratewomen。Butdon’tforgetthatthatwouldstillleaveustwelvemillionintelligentvotestothegood!’’

  Theaudienceapplaudedasgailyasithadap—

  plaudedSenatorIngallswhenhespokeontheotherside,andIcontinued:

  ``Nowwomenhavealwaysbeengeneroustomen。

  Soofourtwelvemillionintelligentvoterswewillofferfourmilliontooffsetthevotesofthefourmillionilliteratemeninthiscountry——andthenwewillstillhaveeightmillionintelligentvotestoaddtotheotherintelligentvoteswhicharecast。’’

  Theaudienceseemedtoenjoythis。

  ``Theanti—suffragistsarefairlysafe,’’Iended,``aslongastheyremainontheplaneofprophecy。

  Butassoonastheytacklemathematicstheygetintotrouble!’’

  MissAnthonywasmuchpleasedbythewidepublicitygiventothisdebate,butSenatorIngallsfailedtoshareherenthusiasm。

  ItwasshortlyafterthisencounterthatIhadtwotravelingexperienceswhichnearlycostmemylife。OneofthemoccurredinOhioatthetimeofaspringfreshet。IknowofnostatethatcancoveritselfwithwaterascompletelyasOhiocan,andfornoapparentreason。Onthisoccasionitwasbreak—

  ingitsownrecord。Wehaddriventwentymilesacrosscountryinabuggywhichwasbarelyoutofthewater,andbehindhorsesthatattimeswerealmostforcedtoswim,andwhenwegotnearthetownwhereIwastolecture,thoughstillontheoppositesideoftheriverfromit,wediscoveredthatthebridgewasgone。Wehadagoodviewofthetown,situatedhighanddryonasteepbank;buttheriverwhichrolledbetweenusandthattownwasaroaring,boilingstream,andtheonlypossiblewaytocrossit,Ifound,wastowalkoverarailroadtrestle,alreadytremblingundertheforceofthewater。

  Therewerehundredsofmenontheriver—bankwatchingtheflood,andwhentheysawmestartoutontheemptytrestletheysetupacheerthatnearlythrewmeoff。Theriverwaswideandthetiesfarapart,andtheroarofthestreambelowwasfarfromreassuring;butinsomewayIreachedtheotherside,andwastherehelpedoffthetrestlebywhatthenewspaperscalled``strongandwillinghands。’’

  Anothertime,inadesperateresolvetomeetalectureengagement,IwalkedacrosstherailroadtrestleatElmira,NewYork,andwhenIwashalf—

  wayoverIheardshoutsofwarningtoturnback,asatrainwascoming。Thetrestlewasveryhighatthatpoint,andIrealizedthatifIturnedandfacedanoncomingtrainIwouldundoubtedlylosemynerveandfall。SoIkepton,asrapidlyasIcould,accompaniedbytheshrieksofthosewhoobjectedtowitnessingaviolentdeath,andIreachedtheendofthetrestlejustasanexpress—trainthunderedonthebeginningofit。ThenextinstantapolicemanhadmebytheshouldersandwasshakingmeasifIhadbeenabadchild。

  ``Ifyoueverdosuchathingagain,’’hethundered,``I’lllockyouup!’’

  AssoonasIcouldspeakIassuredhimferventlythatIneverwould;onesuchexperiencewasallI

  desired。

  Occasionallyaflashofhumor,consciousorun—

  conscious,litupthegloomofatryingsituation。

  Thus,inParkersburg,WestVirginia,thetrainI

  wasonranintoacoal—car。Iwassittinginasleep—

  er,leaningbackcomfortablywithmyfeetontheseatinfrontofme,andtheforceofthecollisionliftedmeup,turnedmecompletelyover,anddepositedme,headfirst,twoseatsbeyond。OneverysideI

  heardcriesandthecrashofhumanbodiesagainstunyieldingsubstancesasmyfellow—passengersflewthroughtheair,whilehighandclearabovethetumultrangthevoiceoftheconductor:

  ``Keepyourseats!’’heyelled。``KEEPYOURSEATS!’’

  Nobodyinourcarwasseriouslyhurt;but,sogreatisthepowerofvestedauthority,noonesmiledoverthatorderbutme。

  Manytimesmymedicalexperiencewasuseful。

  OnceIwasonatrainwhichranintoabuggyandkilledthewomaninit。Herlittledaughter,whowaswithher,wasbadlyhurt,andwhenthetrainhadstoppedthecrewliftedthedeadwomanandtheinjuredchildonboard,totakethemtothenextstation。AsIwastheonlydoctoramongthepas—

  sengers,thechildwasturnedovertome。Imadeupabedontheseatsandputthelittlepatientthere,butnowomaninthecarwasabletoassistme。Thetragedyhadmadethemhysterical,andoneverysidetheywereweepingandnerveless。Themenwerewillingbutinefficient,withtheexceptionofoneun—

  couthwoodsmanwhosetrousersweretuckedintohisbootsandwhosehandswerephenomenallybigandawkward。Buttheywerealsoverygentle,asIrealizedwhenhebegantohelpme。IknewatoncethathewasthemanIneeded,notwithstandinghisunkempthair,hisgeneralungainliness,thehatheworeonthebackofhishead,andthepinkcarnationinhisbuttonhole,which,byitsveryin—

  congruity,addedthefinalaccenttohisunprepossess—

  ingappearance。Togetherweworkedoverthechild,makingitascomfortableaswecould。Itwashard—

  lynecessarytotellmyaidewhatIwanteddone;

  heseemedtoknowandeventoanticipatemyefforts。

  Whenwereachedthenextstationthedeadwomanwastakenoutandlaidontheplatform,andanurseanddoctorwhohadbeentelegraphedforwerewait—

  ingtocareforthelittlegirl。Shewasconsciousbythistime,andwiththemostexquisitegentlenessmyrusticBayardliftedherinhisarmstocarryheroffthetrain。QuiteunnecessarilyImotionedtohimnottoletherseeherdeadmother。Hewasnotthesortwhoneededthatwarning;hehadalreadyturnedherfacetohisshoulder,and,withheadbentlowaboveher,wassafelyskirtingthespotwherethelong,coveredfigurelay。

  Evidentlythestationwashisdestination,too,forheremainedthere;butjustasthetrainpulledouthecamehurryingtomywindow,tookthecar—

  nationfromhisbuttonhole,andwithoutawordhandedittome。AndafterthetragichourinwhichIhadlearnedtoknowhimthecrushedflower,fromthatman,seemedthebestfeeIhadeverreceived。

  IX

  ``AUNTSUSAN’’

  InTheLifeofSusanB。Anthonyitismentionedthat1888wasayearofspecialrecognitionofourgreatleader’swork,butthatitwasalsotheyearinwhichmanyofherclosestfriendsandstrongestsupportersweretakenfromherbydeath。A。Bron—

  sonAlcottwasamongthese,andLouisaM。Alcott,aswellasDr。Lozier;andspecialstressislaidonMissAnthony’ssenseoflossinthediminishingcircleofherfriends——alosswhichnewfriendsandworkerscameforward,eagertosupply。

  ``Chiefamongthese,’’addstherecord,``wasAnnaShaw,who,fromthetimeoftheInternationalCoun—

  cilin’88,gavehertruestallegiancetoMissAn—

  thony。’’

  ItistruethatfromthatyearuntilMissAnthony’sdeathin1906wetwowererarelyseparated;andIneverreadtheparagraphIhavejustquotedwith—

  outseeing,asinavision,thefigureof``AuntSusan’’

  assheslippedintomyhotelroominChicagolateonenightafteraneveningmeetingoftheInter—

  nationalCouncil。Ihadgonetobed——indeed,Iwasalmostasleepwhenshecame,forthedayhadbeenasexhaustingasitwasinteresting。Butnotwith—

  standingthelatenessofthehour,``AuntSusan,’’

  thennearingseventy,wasstillasfreshandasfullofenthusiasmasayounggirl。Shehadagreatdealtosay,shedeclared,andsheproceededtosayit——

  sittinginabigeasy—chairnearthebed,witharugaroundherknees,whileIproppedmyselfupwithpillowsandlistened。

  Hourspassedandthedawnpeeredwanlythroughthewindows,butstillMissAnthonytalkedoftheCausealwaysoftheCause——andofwhatwetwomustdoforit。Thepreviouseveningshehadbeentoobusytoeatanydinner,andIgreatlydoubtwhethershehadeatenanyluncheonatnoon。Shehadbeenonherfeetforhoursatatime,andshehadheldnumerousdiscussionswithotherwomenshewishedtoinspiretospecialeffort。Yet,afteritall,hereshewaslayingoutourcampaignsforyearsahead,foreseeingeverything,forgettingnothing,andsweepingmewithherinherflighttowardourcom—

  mongoal,untilI,whoamnoteasilycarriedoffmyfeet,experiencedanalmostdizzysenseofexhilara—

  tion。

  Suddenlyshestopped,lookedatthegas—jetspalinginthemorninglightthatfilledtheroom,andforafleetinginstantseemedsurprised。Inthenextshehaddismissedfromhermindtherealizationthatwehadtalkedallnight。Whyshouldwenottalkallnight?Itwaspartofourwork。Shethrewofftheenvelopingrugandrose。

  ``Imustdressnow,’’shesaid,briskly。``I’vecalledacommitteemeetingbeforethemorningsession。’’

  Onherwaytothedoornaturesmoteherwithararereminder,buteventhenshedidnotrealizethatitwaspersonal。``Perhaps,’’sheremarked,tenta—

  tively,``yououghttohaveacupofcoffee。’’

  Thatwas``AuntSusan。’’AndintheeighteenyearswhichfollowedIhaddailyillustrationsofhersuperioritytopurelyhumanweaknesses。Toherthehardshipsweunderwentlater,inourWesterncampaignsforwomansuffrage,wereastheairiesttrifles。Likeatruesoldier,shecouldsnatchamo—

  mentofsleeporamouthfuloffoodwhereshefoundit,andifeitherwasnotforthcomingshedidnotmissit。Tomeshewasanunceasinginspira—

  tion——thetorchthatilluminedmylife。Wewentthroughsomedifficultyearstogether——yearswhenwefoughthardforeachinchofheadwaywegained——butIfoundfullcompensationforeveryeffortinthegloryofworkingwithherfortheCausethatwasfirstinbothourhearts,andinthehappinessofbeingherfriend。LaterIshalldescribeinmoredetailthesuffragecampaignsandtheNationalandInter—

  nationalcouncilsinwhichwetookpart;nowitisofherIwishtowrite——ofherbigness,hermany—

  sidedness,herhumor,hercourage,herquickness,hersympathy,herunderstanding,herforce,hersupremecommon—sense,herselflessness;inshort,oftherarebeautyofhernatureasIlearnedtoknowit。

  Likemostgreatleaders,shetookone’sbestworkforgranted,andwascharywithherpraise;andevenwhenpraisewasgivenitusuallycamebyindirectroutes。Irecallwithamusementthatthehighestcomplimentsheeverpaidmeinpublicinvolvedherinatanglefromwhich,later,onlyherquickwitextricatedher。WewerelecturinginanespeciallypioustownwhichIshallcallB————,andjustbeforeIwentontheplatformMissAnthonyremarked,peacefully:

  ``ThesepeoplehavealwaysclaimedthatIamir—

  religious。TheywillnotacceptthefactthatIamaQuaker——or,rather,theyseemtothinkaQuakerisaninfidel。IamgladyouareaMethodist,fornowtheycannotclaimthatwearenotorthodox。’’

  Shewasstillenvelopedinthecomfortofthisre—

  flectionwhensheintroducedmetoouraudience,andtoimpressmyqualificationsuponmyhearersshemadeherintroductioninthesewords:

  ``ItisapleasuretointroduceMissShaw,whoisaMethodistminister。Andsheisnotonlyortho—

  doxoftheorthodox,butsheisalsomyrightbower!’’

  Therewasagaspfromthepiousaudience,andthenaroaroflaughterfromirreverentmen,inwhich,Imustconfess,Ilight—heartedlyjoined。ForonceinherlifeMissAnthonylostherpresenceofmind;shedidnotknowhowtomeetthesituation,forshehadnoideawhathadcausedthelaughter。

  Itbubbledforthagainandagainduringtheeve—

  ning,andeachtimeMissAnthonyreceivedthedem—

  onstrationwiththesameairofpuzzledsurprise。

  WhenwehadreturnedtoourhotelroomsIexplainedthemattertoher。IdonotremembernowwhereIhadacquiredmyownsinfulknowledge,butthatnightIfaced``AuntSusan’’fromthepedestalofasophisticatedworldling。

  ``Don’tyouknowwhatarightboweris?’’Ide—

  manded,sternly。

  ``OfcourseIdo,’’insisted``AuntSusan。’’``It’saright—handman——thekindonecan’tdowithout。’’

  ``Itisacard,’’Itoldher,firmly——``aleadingcardinagamecalledeuchre。’’

  ``AuntSusan’’wasdazed。``Ididn’tknowithadanythingtodowithcards,’’shemused,mournfully。

  ``Whatmusttheythinkofme?’’

  Whattheythoughtbecamequiteevident。Thenewspapersmadecountlessjokesatourexpense,andthereweresignificantsmilesonthefacesintheaudiencethatawaitedusthenextnight。WhenMissAnthonywalkedupontheplatformsheatonceproceededtoclearherselfofthetacitchargeagainsther。

  ``WhenIcametoyourtown,’’shebegan,cheer—

  fully,``Ihadbeenwarnedthatyouwereaveryreligiouslotofpeople。IwantedtoimpressuponyouthefactthatMissShawandIarereligious,too。

  ButIadmitthatwhenItoldyoushewasmyrightbowerIdidnotknowwhatarightbowerwas。I

  havelearnedthat,sincelastnight。’’

  Shewaiteduntilthehappychortlesofherhearershadsubsided,andthenwenton。

  ``Itinterestsmeverymuch,however,’’shecon—

  cluded,``torealizethateveryoneofyouseemedtoknowallaboutarightbower,andthatIhadtocometoyourgood,orthodoxtowntogettheinforma—

  tion。’’

  Thattimethejokewasontheaudience。

  MissAnthony’shomewasinRochester,NewYork,anditwassaidbyourfriendsthatontherareoccasionswhenwewerenottogether,andIwaslecturingindependently,``allreturnroadsledthroughRochester。’’Iinvariablyfoundsomeex—

  cusetogothereandreporttoher。TogetherwemusthavewornoutmanyRochesterpavements,for``AuntSusan’s’’petrecreationwaswalking,andsheusedtowalkmeroundandroundthecitysquares,farintothenight,andatapacethatmadepolicemengapeatusasweflewby。Somedis—

  respectfulyouthonceremarkedthatontheseoc—

  casionswesuggestedaracebetweenarulerandarubberball——forshewasverytallandthin,whileIamshortandplump。TokeepupwithherI

  literallyboundedatherside。

  Acertainamountofindependentlecturingwasnecessaryforme,forIhadtoearnmyliving。TheNationalAmericanWomanSuffrageAssociationhasneverpaidsalariestoitsofficers,so,whenIbe—

  camevice—presidentandeventually,in1904,presi—

  dentoftheassociation,Icontinuedtoworkgratui—

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