HIGH—SCHOOLANDCOLLEGEDAYS
TheendoftheCivilWarbroughtfreedomtome，too。Whenpeacewasdeclaredmyfatherandbrothersreturnedtotheclaiminthewildernesswhichwewomenofthefamilyhadlaboredsodes—
peratelytoholdwhiletheyweregone。Tous，astoothers，thefinalyearsofthewarhadbroughtmanychanges。MysisterEleanor’splacewasempty。
Mary，asIhavesaid，hadmarriedandgonetoliveinBigRapids，andmymotherandIwerealonewithmybrotherHarry，nowaboyoffourteen。Afterthereturnofourmenitwasnolongernecessarytode—
voteeverypennyofmyearningstothemaintenanceofourhome。ForthefirsttimeIcouldbegintosaveaportionofmyincometowardthefulfilmentofmycollegedream，butevenyettherewasalong，aridstretchaheadofmebeforethecollegedoorscameevendistantlyintosight。
ThelargestsalaryIcouldearnbyteachinginourNorthernwoodswasonehundredandfifty—sixdollarsayear，fortwotermsofthirteenweekseach；andfromthis，ofcourse，Ihadtodeductthecostofmyboardandclothing——thesoleexpenditureIallowedmyself。Thedollarsforaneducationaccumulatedvery，veryslowly，untilatlast，indesperation，wearyofseeingtheyearsofmyyouthrushpast，bearingmyhopeswiththem，Itookasuddenandradicalstep。Igaveupteaching，leftourcabininthewoods，andwenttoBigRapidstolivewithmysisterMary，whohadmarriedasuccessfulmanandwhogenerouslyofferedmeahome。There，Ihadde—
cided，Iwouldlearnatradeofsomekind，ofanykind；itdidnotgreatlymatterwhatitwas。Thesoleessentialwasthatitshouldbeamoney—makingtrade，offeringwageswhichwouldmakeitpossibletoaddmorerapidlytomysavings。Inthosedays，almostfiftyyearsago，andinasmallpioneertown，thefieldsopentowomenwerefewandunfruitful。
Theneedleatoncepresenteditself，butatfirstI
turnedwithloathingfromit。Iwouldhavepre—
ferredthediggingofditchesortheshovelingofcoal；
buttheneedlealonepersistentlypointedoutmyway，andIwasfinallyforcedtotakeit。
Fate，however，asifwearyatlastofseeingmebetweenherpaws，suddenlyletmeescape。BeforeIhadbeenworkingamonthatmyuncongenialtradeBigRapidswasfavoredbyavisitfromaUniversalistwomanminister，theReverendMariannaThompson，whocametheretopreach。Herser—
monwasdeliveredonSundaymorning，andIwas，I
think，almosttheearliestarrivalofthegreatcon—
gregationwhichfilledthechurch。Itwasawonder—
fulmomentwhenIsawmyfirstwomanministerenterherpulpit；andasIlistenedtohersermon，thrilledtothesoul，allmyearlyaspirationstobe—
comeaministermyselfstirredinmewithcumulativeforce。AftertheservicesIhungforatimeonthefringeofthegroupthatsurroundedher，andatlast，whenshewasaloneandabouttoleave，Ifoundcouragetointroducemyselfandpourforththetaleofmyambition。Heradvicewasaspromptasifshehadstudiedmyproblemforyears。
``Mychild，’’shesaid，``giveupyourfoolishideaoflearningatrade，andgotoschool。Youcan’tdoanythinguntilyouhaveaneducation。Getit，andgetitNOW。’’
Hersuggestionwasmuchtomyliking，andIpaidherthecomplimentofactingonitpromptly，forthenextmorningIenteredtheBigRapidsHighSchool，whichwasalsoapreparatoryschoolforcol—
lege。ThereIwouldstudy，Idetermined，aslongasmymoneyheldout，andwiththeoptimismofyouthIsucceededinconfiningmyimaginationtothissideofthatcrisis。Myhome，thankstoMary，wasassured；thewardrobeIhadbroughtfromthewoodscoveredmesufficiently；toonewhohadwalkedfiveandsixmilesadayforyears，walkingtoschoolheldnodiscomfort；andasforpleasure，Ifoundit，likeaheroineoffiction，inmystudies。
Forthefirsttimelifewassmilingatme，andwithallmyyoungheartIsmiledback。
ThepreceptressofthehighschoolwasLucyFoot，acollegegraduateandaremarkablewoman。
Ihadheardmuchofhersympathyandunderstand—
ing；andontheeveningfollowingmyfirstdayinschoolIwenttoherandrepeatedtheconfidencesIhadreposedintheReverendMariannaThompson。
Mytrustinherwasjustified。Shetookanimmedi—
ateinterestinme，andproveditatoncebyputtingmeintothespeakinganddebatingclasses，whereI
wasgiveneveryopportunitytoholdforthtohelp—
lessclassmateswhenthespiritofeloquencemovedme。
AsanaidtopublicspeakingIwastaughtto``elo—
cute，’’andIrememberineverymournfuldetailtheoccasiononwhichIgavemyfirstrecitation。
Wewerehavingourmonthly``publicexhibitionnight，’’andtheaudienceincludednotonlymyclass—
mates，buttheirparentsandfriendsaswell。TheselectionIintendedtorecitewasapoementitled``NoSectsinHeaven，’’butwhenIfacedmyau—
dienceIwassoappalledbyitssizeandbythesud—
denrealizationofmyowntemeritythatIfaintedduringthedeliveryofthefirstverse。Sympatheticclassmatescarriedmeintoananteroomandrevivedme，afterwhichtheynaturallyassumedthattheentertainmentIfurnishedwasoverfortheevening。
I，however，feltthatifIletthatfailurestandagainstmeIcouldneverafterwardspeakinpublic；andwithintenminutes，notwithstandingtheprotestsofmyfriends，Iwasbackinthehallandbeginningmyrecitationasecondtime。Theaudiencegavemeitseagerattention。Possiblyithopedtoseemetoppleofftheplatformagain，butnothingofthesortoccurred。Iwentthroughtherecitationwithself—possessionandreceivedsomefriendlyapplauseattheend。Strangelyenough，thosefirstsensationsof``stagefright’’havebeenexperienced，inalesserde—
gree，inconnectionwitheachofthethousandsofpublicspeechesIhavemadesincethattime。I
haveneveragaingonesofarastofaintinthepresenceofanaudience；butIhaveinvariablywalkedoutontheplatformfeelingthesinkingsen—
sationatthepitofthestomach，theweaknessoftheknees，thatIfeltinthehourofmydebut。Now，however，thenervousnesspassesafteramomentortwo。
FromthatnightMissFootlostnoopportunityofputtingmeintotheforegroundofourschoolaffairs。
Itookpartinallourdebates，recitedyardsofpoe—
trytoanyaudiencewecouldattract，andevenshonemildlyinouramateurtheatricals。ItwasprobablyowingtoallthisactivitythatIattractedthein—
terestofthepresidingelderofourdistrict——Dr。
Peck，amanofprogressiveideas。TherewasatthattimeamovementonfoottolicensewomentopreachintheMethodistChurch，andDr。PeckwasambitioustobethefirstpresidingeldertohaveawomanordainedfortheMethodistministry。HehadurgedMissFoottobethispioneer，butherambitionsdidnotturninthatdirection。ThoughshewasaverydevoutMethodist，shehadnowishtobetheshepherdofareligiousflock。Shelovedherschool—work，andaskednothingbetterthantoremaininit。GentlybutpersistentlyshedirectedtheattentionofDr。Pecktome，andimmediatelythingsbegantohappen。
Withouttellingmetowhatitmightlead，MissFootfinallyarrangedameetingatherhomebyin—
vitingDr。Peckandmetodinner。Beinguncon—
sciousofanysignificanceintheoccasion，Ichattedlight—heartedlyaboutthelargeissuesoflifeandprobablysettledmostofthemtomypersonalsatis—
faction。Dr。Peckdrewmeoutandledmeon，listenedandsmiled。Whentheeveningwasoverandwerosetogo，heturnedtomewithsuddenseriousness：
``MyquarterlymeetingwillbeheldatAshton，’’
heremarked，casually。``Iwouldlikeyoutopreachthequarterlysermon。’’
Foramomenttheearthseemedtoslipawayfrommyfeet。Istaredathiminutterstupefaction。
ThenslowlyIrealizedthat，incredibleasitseemed，themanwasinearnest。
``Why，’’Istammered，``_I_can’tpreachaser—
mon！’’
Dr。Pecksmiledatme。``Haveyouevertried？’’
heasked。
IstartedtoassurehimvehementlythatIneverhad。Then，asifTimehadthrownapictureonascreenbeforeme，Isawmyselfasalittlegirlpreach—
ingaloneintheforest，asIhadsooftenpreachedtoacongregationoflisteningtrees。Iqualifiedmyanswer。
``Never，’’Isaid，``tohumanbeings。’’
Dr。Pecksmiledagain。``Well，’’hetoldme，``thedoorisopen。Enterornot，asyouwish。’’
Heleftthehouse，butIremainedtodiscusshisoverwhelmingpropositionwithMissFoot。Asud—
densoberingthoughthadcometome。
``But，’’Iexclaimed，``I’veneverbeenconverted。
HowcanIpreachtoanyone？’’
Webothhadtheold—timeideaofconversion，whichnowseemssomistaken。WethoughtonehadtostrugglewithsinandwiththeLorduntilatlasttheheartopened，doubtsweredispersed，andthelightpouredin。MissFootcouldonlyadvisemetoputthematterbeforetheLord，towrestleandtopray；andthereafter，forhoursatatime，sheworkedandprayedwithme，alternatelyurging，pleading，instructing，andsendinguppetitionsinmybehalf。
Ourlastsessionwasadramaticone，whichtookuptheentirenight。Longbeforeitwasoverwewerebothwornout；buttowardmorning，eitherfromexhaustionofbodyorexaltationofsoul，Iseemedtoseethelight，anditmademeveryhappy。WithallmyheartIwantedtopreach，andIbelievedthatnowatlastIhadmycall。ThefollowingdaywesentwordtoDr。PeckthatIwouldpreachtheser—
monatAshtonashehadasked，butweurgedhimtosaynothingofthematterforthepresent，andMissFootandIalsokeptthesecretlockedinourbreasts。
Iknewonlytoowellwhatviewmyfamilyandmyfriendswouldtakeofsuchastepandofme。Tothemitwouldmeannothingshortofpersonaldis—
graceandablottedpageintheShawrecord。
Ihadsixweeksinwhichtopreparemysermon，andIgaveitmostofmywakinghoursaswellasthoseinwhichIshouldhavebeenasleep。Itookformytext：``AndasMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness，evensomusttheSonofManbeliftedup；thatwhosoeverbelievethinHimshouldnotperish，buthaveeternallife。’’
ItwasnotuntilthreedaysbeforeIpreachedthesermonthatIfoundcouragetoconfidemypurposetomysisterMary，andifIhadconfessedmyinten—
tiontocommitacapitalcrimeshecouldnothavebeenmoredisturbed。Wetwohadalwaysbeenveryclose，andthedeathofEleanor，towhomwewerebothdevoted，haddrawnusevennearertoeachother。NowMary’stearsandprayerswrungmyheartandshookmyresolution。But，afterall，shewasaskingmetogiveupmywholefuture，toclosemyearstomycall，andIfeltthatIcouldnotdoit。Mydecisioncausedanestrangementbetweenuswhichlastedforyears。OnthedayprecedingthedeliveryofmysermonIleftforAshtonontheafternoontrain；andinthesamecar，butasfarawayfrommeasshecouldget，Marysataloneandweptthroughoutthejourney。Shewasgoingtomymother，butshedidnotspeaktome；andI，formypart，facingbothalienationfromherandtheordealbeforeme，foundmyonecomfortinLucyFoot’spresenceandunderstandingsympathy。
TherewasnochurchinAshton，soIpreachedmysermoninitsonelittleschool—house，whichwasfilledwithacuriouscrowd，eagertolookatandhearthegirlwhowasdefyingallconventionsbygettingoutofthepewandintothepulpit。TherewasmuchwhisperingandsuppressedexcitementbeforeIbegan，butwhenIgaveoutmytextsilencefellupontheroom，andfromthatmomentuntilIhadfinishedmyhearerslistenedquietly。Akerosene—
lampstoodonastandatmyelbow，andasIpreachedItrembledsoviolentlythattheoilshookinitsglassglobe；butIfinishedwithoutbreakingdown，andattheendDr。Peck，whohadhisownreasonsfornervousness，handsomelyassuredmethatmyfirstsermonwasbetterthanhismaidenefforthadbeen。
Itwasevidentlynotafailure，forthenextdayheinvitedmetofollowhimaroundinhiscircuit，whichincludedthirty—sixappointments；hewishedmetopreachineachofthethirty—sixplaces，asitwasde—
sirabletoletthevariousministershearandknowmebeforeIappliedformylicenseasalocalpreacher。
Thesermonalsohadanotherresult，lessgratify—
ing。Itbroughtout，onthefollowingmorning，thefirstnoticeofmeeverprintedinanewspaper。
Thiswasinstigatedbymybrother—in—law，anditwasbriefbutpointed。Itread：
AyounggirlnamedAnnaShaw，seventeenyearsold，[1]
preachedatAshtonyesterday。Herrealfriendsdeprecatethecoursesheispursuing。
[1]Amisstatementbythebrother—in—law。Dr。Shawwasatthistimetwenty—threeyearsold。——E。J。
Thelittlenoticehadsomethingoftheeffectofalightedmatchappliedtogunpowder。Anex—
plosionofpublicsentimentfollowedit，theentirecommunityaroseinconsternation，andIbecameaboneofcontentionoverwhichfriendsandstrangersalikewrangleduntiltheyworethemselvesout。
Themembersofmyfamily，meetinginsolemncouncil，sentforme，andIresponded。Theyhadapropositiontomake，andtheylostnotimeinput—
tingitbeforeme。IfIgaveupmypreachingtheywouldsendmetocollegeandpayformyentirecourse。TheysuggestedAnnArbor，andAnnArbortemptedmesorely；buttodescendfromthepulpitIhadatlastentered——thepulpitIhadvisualizedinallmychildishdreams——wasnottobeconsidered。
Wehadalongeveningtogether，anditwasaveryunhappyone。AttheendofitIwasgiventwenty—
fourhoursinwhichtodecidewhetherIwouldchoosemypeopleandcollege，ormypulpitandthearcticlonelinessofalifethatheldnofamily—circle。Itdidnotrequiretwenty—fourhoursofreflectiontoconvincemethatImustgomysolitaryway。
ThatyearIpreachedthirty—sixtimes，ateachofthepresidingelder’sappointments；andthefollow—
ingspring，attheannualMethodistConferenceofourdistrict，heldatBigRapids，mynamewaspre—
sentedtotheassembledministersasthatofacan—
didateforalicensetopreach。Therewasunusualinterestintheresult，andmyfatherwasamongthosewhocametotheConferencetoseethevotetaken。
DuringtheseConferencesaministervotedaffirma—
tivelyonaquestionbyholdinguphishand，andnegativelybyfailingtodoso。Whenthequestionofmylicensecameupthemajorityoftheministersvotedbyraisingbothhands，andinthepleasantexcitementwhichfollowedmyfatherslippedaway。
Thosewhosawhimtoldmehelookedpleased；buthesentmenomessageshowingachangeofview—
point，andthegulfbetweenthefamilyanditsblacksheepremainedunbridged。ThoughthewarmthofMary’sloveformehadbecomeamemory，thewarmthofherhearthstonewasstillofferedme。I
acceptedit，perforce，andwelivedtogetherlikeshadowsofwhatwehadbeen。TwofriendsaloneofallIhadmadestoodbymewithoutqualification——MissFootandClaraOsborn，thelattermy``chum’’atBigRapidsandadwellerinmyhearttothisday。
Inthemeantimemypreachinghadnotinter—
feredwithmystudies。Iwasworkingdayandnight，butlifewasverydifficult；foramongmyschool—
mates，too，thereweredoubtsandmuchhead—shakingoverthischoiceofacareer。Ineededthesoundoffriendlyvoices，forIwasverylonely；andsuddenly，whenthepressurefromallsideswasstrongestandIwasgoingdownphysicallyunderit，avoicewasraisedthatIhadneverdaredtodreamwouldspeakforme。MaryA。LivermorecametoBigRapids，andasshewasthenattheheightofhercareer，theentirecountrysidepouredintohearher。FarbackinthecrowdedhallIsataloneandlistenedtoher，thrilledbythelectureandtremulouswiththehopeofmeetingthelecturer。WhenshehadfinishedspeakingIjoinedthethrongthatsurgedforwardfromthebodyofthehall，andasIreachedherandfeltthegraspofherfriendlyhandIhadasuddenconvictionthatthemeetingwasanepochinmylife。
Iwasright。SomeoneinthecirclearoundustoldherthatIwantedtopreach，andthatIwasmeetingtremendousopposition。Shewasinterestedatonce。
Shelookedatmewithquickeningsympathy，andthen，suddenlyputtinganarmaroundme，drewmeclosetoherside。
``Mydear，’’shesaid，quietly，``ifyouwanttopreach，goonandpreach。Don’tletanybodystopyou。Nomatterwhatpeoplesay，don’tletthemstopyou！’’
ForamomentIwastooovercometoanswerher。
Thesewerealmostmyfirstencouragingwords，andthemorningstarssingingtogethercouldnothavemadesweetermusicformyears。BeforeIcouldrecoverawomanwithinhearingspokeup。
``Oh，Mrs。Livermore，’’sheexclaimed，``don’tsaythattoher！We’realltryingtostopher。Herpeo—
plearewretchedoverthewholething。Anddon’tyouseehowillsheis？Shehasonefootinthegraveandtheotheralmostthere！’’
Mrs。Livermoreturneduponmealonganddeeplythoughtfullook。``Yes，’’shesaidatlast，``Iseeshehas。Butitisbetterthatsheshoulddiedoingthethingshewantstodothanthatsheshoulddiebecauseshecan’tdoit。’’
Herwordswereatonicwhichrestoredmyvoice。
``SotheythinkI’mgoingtodie！’’Icried。``Well，I’mnot！I’mgoingtoliveandpreach！’’
IhavealwaysfeltsincethenthatwithouttheinspirationofMrs。Livermore’sencouragementI
mightnothavecontinuedmyfight。Hersanctionwasashield，however，fromwhichthecriticismsoftheworldfellback。Fate’smorefriendlyinterestinmyaffairsthatyearwasshownbythefactthatshesentMrs。LivermoreintomylifebeforeIhadmetAnnaDickinson。MissDickinsoncametoustowardspringandlecturedonJoanofArc。NeverbeforeorsincehaveIbeenmoredeeplymovedbyaspeaker。WhenshehadfinishedheraddressImademyhappywaytothefrontofthehallwiththeotherswhowishedtomeetthedistinguishedguest。Itwasourlocalmanagerwhointroducedme，andhesaid，``ThisisourAnnaShaw。Sheisgoingtobealecturer，too。’’
IlookedupatthebrilliantMissDickinsonwiththetrustfulnessofyouthinmyeyes。Iremem—
beredMrs。LivermoreandIthoughtallgreatwom—
enwerelikeher，butIwasnowtoexperienceabitterdisillusionment。MissDickinsonbarelytouchedthetipsofmyfingersasshelookedindifferentlypastthesideofmyface。``Ah，’’shesaid，icily，andturnedaway。InlateryearsIlearnedhowimpossibleitisforapublicspeakertoleaveagraciousimpressiononeverylifethatforamomenttouchesherown；butIhaveneverceasedtobethankfulthatImetMrs。LivermorebeforeImetMissDickinsonatthecrisisinmycareer。
Intheautumnof1873IenteredAlbionCollege，inAlbion，Michigan。Iwastwenty—fiveyearsofage，butIlookedmuchyounger——probablynotmorethaneighteentothecasualglance。ThoughIhadmadeeveryefforttosavemoney，Ihadnotbeensuccessful，formyexpensesconstantlyoutranmylittleincome，andmypositionaspreachermadeitnecessaryformetohaveasuitablewardrobe。
WhenthetimecametoentercollegeIhadexactlyeighteendollarsintheworld，andIstartedforAlbionwiththisamountinmypurseandwithouttheslightestnotionofhowIwastoaddtoit。Themoneyproblemsopresseduponme，infact，thatwhenIreachedmydestinationatmidnightanddis—
coveredthatitwouldcostfiftycentstoridefromthestationtothecollege，Isavedthatamountbywalkingtheentiredistanceontherailroadtracks，whilemyimaginationbusieditselfpleasantlywithpicturesoftheenginethatmightbethunderinguponmeintherear。IhadchosenAlbionbecauseMissFoothadbeeneducatedthere，andIwasencouragedbyanincidentthathappenedthemorningaftermyarrival。Iwasonthecampus，walkingtowardthemainbuilding，whenIsawabigcopperpennylyingontheground，and，onpickingitup，Idiscoveredthatitboretheyearofmybirth。Thatseemedagoodomen，anditwasemphaticallyunderlinedbythefindingoftwoexactlysimilarpennieswithinaweek。ThoughtherehavebeendayssincethenwhenIwassorelytemptedtospendthem，Ihavethosethreepenniesstill，andIconfesstoacertaincomfortintheirpossession！
AsIhadnotcompletedmyhigh—schoolcourse，myfirstdaysatAlbionwerespentinstrenuousprep—
arationfortheentranceexaminations；andonemorn—
ing，asIwascrossingthecampuswithaHistoryoftheUnitedStatestuckedcoylyundermyarm，Imetthepresidentofthecollege，Dr。Josclyn。Hestoppedforawordofgreeting，duringwhichIbe—
trayedthefactthatIhadneverstudiedUnitedStateshistory。Dr。Josclynatonceinvitedmeintohisofficewith，Iamquitesure，thepurposeofex—
plainingaskindlyashecouldthatmypreparationforcollegewasinsufficient。Asanopeningtothesubjecthebegantotalkofhistory，andwetalkedandtalkedon，whileunheededhourswerebornanddied。WediscussedthehistoryoftheUnitedStates，thegovernmentsoftheworld，thecauseswhichledtotheinfluenceofonenationonanother，thephilo—
sophicalbasisofthedifferentnationalmovementswestward，andthelike。ItwasthelongestandbyfarthemostinterestingtalkIhaveeverhadwithahighlyeducatedman，andduringitIcouldactuallyfeelmybrainexpand。WhenIrosetogoPresidentJosclynstoppedme。
``Ihavesomethingtogiveyou，’’hesaid，andhewroteafewwordsonaslipofpaperandhandedthesliptome。When，onreachingthedormitory，Iopenedit，Ifoundthatthepresidenthadpassedmeinthehistoryoftheentirecollegecourse！This，moreover，wasnottheonlypleasantresultofourinterview，forwithinafewweeksPresidentandMrs。
Josclyn，whosedaughterhadrecentlydied，invitedmetoboardwiththem，andImademyhomewiththemduringmyfirstyearatAlbion。
MytriumphinhistorywasfollowedbytheswiftandchasteningdiscoverythatIwasbehindmyas—
sociatesinseveralotherbranches。Owingtomyfather’searlyhelp，Iwaswellupinmathematics，butIhadmuchtolearnofphilosophyandthelanguages，andtotheseIdevotedmanymidnightcandles。
Naturally，Isoonplungedintospeaking，andmyfirstpublicspeechatcollegewasadefenseofXan—
tippe。Ihavealwaysfeltthatthepoorladywasgreatlyabused，andthatSocratesdeservedallhereceivedfromher，andmore。Iwasgladtoputmyselfonrecordasherchampion，andmyfellow—
studentsmustsoonhavefeltthatmyadmirationforXantippewasbasedonsimilaritiesoftempera—
ment，forwithinafewmonthsIwasleadingthefirstcollegerevoltagainsttheauthorityofthemenstudents。
Albionwasacoeducationalinstitution，andthebrightestjewelsinitscrownwereitsthreeliterarysocieties——thefirstcomposedofmenalone，thesec—
ondofwomenalone，andthethirdofmenandwomentogether。Eachofthesocietiesmadefriend—
lyadvancestonewstudents，andforsometimeI
hesitatedonthebrinkofthenewjoystheyoffered，uncertainwhichtochoose。Arepresentativeofthemixedsociety，whowasputtingitsclaimsbeforeme，unconsciouslyhelpedmetomakeupmymind。
``Women，’’hepompouslyassuredme，``needtobeassociatedwithmen，becausetheydon’tknowhowtomanagemeetings。’’
Ontheinstanttheneedleofdecisionswungaroundtothewomen’ssocietyandremainedthere，fixed。
``Iftheydon’t，’’Itoldthepompousyoungman，``it’shightimetheylearned。Ishalljointhewomen，andwe’llmastertheart。’’
Ididjointhewomen’ssociety，andIhadnotbeenamemberverylongbeforeIdiscoveredthatwhentherewasanadvantageofanykindtobesecuredthemeninvariablygotit。WhileIwasbroodingsomberlyuponthiswronganopportunitycametomakeaformalandeffectiveprotestagainstthemen’shigh—handedmethods。TheQuinquennialre—
unionofallthesocietieswasabouttobeheld，andthespecialfeatureofthisfestivitywasalwaysanoration。Thesimplemethodofselectingtheoratorwhichhadformerlyprevailedhadbeenfortheyoungmentodecideuponthespeakerandthenan—
nouncehisnametothewomen，whohumblycon—
firmedit。Onthisoccasion，however，whenthenamecameintous，Isentamessagetoourbrothersocietytotheeffectthatwe，too，intendedtomakeanominationandtosendinaname。
Atsuchunprecedentedbehaviortheentirestu—
dentbodyaroseinexcitement，which，amongthegirls，wascombinedwithequalpartsofexhilarationandawe。Themenrefusedtoconsiderournominee，andasafriendlycompromisewesuggestedthatwehaveajointmeetingofallthesocietiesandelectthespeakeratthisgathering；butthisplanalsothemenatfirstrefused，givinginonlyafterweeksofargument，duringwhichnoonehadtimeforthecalmerpleasuresofstudy。Whenthejointmeetingwasfinallyheld，nothingwasaccomplished；
wegirlshadonemorememberthantheboyshad，andwepromptlyre—electedourcandidate，whowasaspromptlydeclinedbytheboys。Twoofourgirlswereengagedtotwooftheboys，anditwassecretlyplannedbyourbrothersocietythatduringasecondjointmeetingthesetwomenshouldtakethegirlsoutforadriveandthenslipbacktovote，leavingthegirlsatsomepointsufficientlyremotefromcol—
lege。Wediscoveredtheplot，however，intimetothwartit，andatlast，whennothingbuttheun—