Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-04-05
The Strong Minded millennium
woMAN's JOURNAL IN TIE GOOD
TINE COME.

Tne Strong- -NlnQeQ WliisnElnn
woMAN's JOURNAL IN TIE GOOD
TIME COME.
November 5, 1877, My first
thought this morning was of the
change which a few years have
brought about in the position Of wo-
men. Ten years ago women were
either household pets or drudges;
now we are emancipated, equal with
men and able delightfully."- to work
with them IN all that concerns the
public good. 1 say delightfully."-. for
though the conquest of our rights
cost hard struggle, and though
bitterness still fingers in many hearts,
ye' when men come to experience
the blessings of the new state Of
things we will be more than repaid
for any trials we may nov have to
undergo. / am thankful that my
husband does not oppose me. TO be
sure heis incredulous, and sometimes
1 think he wants to laugh at me, but
he is very good and never says q
harsher word in answer to my en-
thusiastic prophesies than "Wait and
see." Dear good john! He will see
and be convinced. know.
To-day, for the first time, I AIN to
vote. IT is strange, after longing for
the day to come, how l dread it, after
all. / hope John will 90 with me. ]
have read all could get time TO read
on political questions. and have
thought and talked more. DO be
lieve have decided rightly. The
presidential candidate for whom l
shall vote has sent his photograph
to our league. He has 4 glorious
face-such brow and eyes? The
moment l saw his picture felt that
we were right. No one not prejudi
ced could help believing that he is 4
noble man, and has the best interests
of the country at heart.
Evening" am so tired that | can
hardly hold the pen. Yet [ ought
not to complain, for am tired in 4
good cause. As soon as | could get
ready this morning went down town.
l was later than l meant it should
be, for baby was unusually fretful,
and indeed l should not have felt like
leaving him in any ordinary canse. ]
dressed myself very nicely, for L felt
that every woman ought to do honor
to the occasion. John could not
possibly go with me and said l would
better call Tor Mrs. Benson, and so ]
did, and we had a pleasant walk
down town, both our hearts being full
of the great subject. But when we
reached the entrance to the hall
where we were to vote, our troubles
began. There was a great crowd:
there were little boys perched on
every post and railing, hurrahiBg for
the ''strong minded women" and for
the "women's president" and it was
all the police could do to keep them
from annoying US severely. And
some Of the men stared at us, and
some laughsd in our faces. and a
great burly Irishman, seeing could
hardly get along, roared out, "Out
wild We, and let the lady save the
country" The air was sitting, and,
what was worst of all, some of the
women were discussing the merits ol
respective candidates, and really
scolding terribly. Nothing but my
sense of duty made me keep on and
deposite my vote, and then it was as
hard to get out. When we did at
last, l saw John looking for me, and
it was all could 20 not to cry, when
he said how tired / looked, and drew
me out of the crowd into a quiet
street. My bonnet was awry, my
silk cloak nearly spoiled, and my
dress torn in ever so many places by
being stepped On. John took me to
friends near by, where arranged
my disordered garments as we'll as /
could; and when he proposed to send
me home in a carriage, l told him
no, for l must buy some cloth for the
boys jackets, as the tailoress was
waiting for it. put my haGd in my
pocket for my purse, but it was not
there; in fact there was only half a
pocket; the rest had been cut OF in
the crowd by some adroit thief. 1
did cry then, heartily, for besides
the money (about nifty dollars
which was loet, there was in the purse
ring which had been my mothers
that / had taken to get mended
John was just-as good as he could
be, ami only said, "You ought not to
have carried your purse in such a
crowd, Emily" But supposed that
nobody went to the polls except to
vote. Well, John went with me to
do my shopping, and then L cam e
home, worried and tired enough. 1t
was all so different fr, m what l had
anticipated. Imust say 1 sm disap-
pointed, but then / presume / ex-
pected too much must get over
this nervousness in doing unpleas.