The New York herald., 1869-07-14
WOMAN,S RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.

Quiet Little Chus-PrOfessor Wilcox
Speaks-Woman's sphere Defined.
The regular weekly meeting OF the Woman's
Rights Association was held yesterday afternoon,
~ the W0mans Bureau, 40 East Twenty third street.
The attendance was unusually slim, the members
not being in sufficient force TO stare even the most
bashfui representative Of the press out Of counte-
nance. EmbOldened by the absence OF such awe
inspiring members az the venerable Mrs. Stanton,
The majestic Miss Anthony and other equally deter
mined characters, even Professor WILCOX managed
TO hold up his head little.
Punctuai!y al haif-past three the Mrs. Phelps
arose from the crimson depths o the capacous arm
chair In which she had been gracefully reclining.
and raising her clear manly voice, called the
meeting to order. Mrs. Crosby who oniciated as
secretary, having read the minutes OF the previous
meeting and had the satisfaction Of recording them
passed." the Chairwoman suggested the advisa-
bility OF laying ASIDE all formaty and proposed "a
nice, quiet chat together"
This proposition agreed TO, Mrs. Blake at once
went through the formailty OF reading the re-
port OF the executive committee for draw
ing up certificates OF the election of dele
gates TO the Saratoga Convention, by which 1t
appeared that meeting was held at Mrs. So-and-
SOS MISS Wharsner-name LOOK the chair and MRS.
Whatdo you-c a-her proposed MISS Thlng-um-bob,
who was duly elected, and tue meeting then ad-
journed. This report was accepted without muir
mur.
By way Of inaugurating the mice quiet chat to-
gether" hrs. Phelps called upon "some one'' for
speech Inefeupon everybody declared thae i they @
sombody else. The chalrwolnan rated the members
soundly ior tner modesty and after great deal OF
desutOry chatter, Mrs. DR.. SOmerville summoned
uD suiicient courage to address the meeting.
The medical lady had observed That the hearts
Of the cause in which hey had enlisted that they
did not want TO speak unless they wanted to say
something. Politics we're demoralizlng. Professor
Wilcox had said SO, and il was go. Mrs. DR.. SOmer-
Vile went on to say that she mad worked In the holy
cause OF reform for over eieven years. with head
and heart, but did not wish TO jump into the fire
or TO make any more heartrending sorrow In the
world. (fhe Professor nodded his head vigorously,
as II IN approval OF this noble sentinent.l "Ask
SOmerville, excitedIy, TASK me- Why, l tell
you her sphere Is just whatever she is ca
sU What sphee
understand 1t. because he isn't woman. tSensa-
tion) Man isn't wonian-l say he never can be
woman--and consequently he never will be able to
understand what w0man's sphere is." The PrOles.
sOr lau1 he'd in such knowing manner at this that
1t seemed as If he was in the secret In concIud-
ing her spirited address the medical lady acknow-
edged that she had spoken aher incoherently, but
said she had spoken her mind and ielt considerably
Rising as abruptly as the previous speaker had
resumed her seat, the Professor stammered
aev aSv ,dr wnn Hsrv obS,ons 5e @
feet he expressed the deepest sorrow. But although
he was not a LADY he would say that the govern
ment was corrupt to the core, and that he looked
upon the ballot as a machine for elevating woman
to "higher plane." On sitting down again the
Professor manifested the utmost detection OF spirits
but the cause OF his misery was not apparent.
The irrepressibie Mrs. Blake next took the noor.
Ethereal creature as she appears to be, she came
down" upon the reporters present IKE thousand
OF brichs. She didn't want them to publish any
more OF her speeches If they could not give them
rerbdtina. She didn't want TO be called nicknames,
either. The HERALD called her the perttna-
cious Mrs. Blake. Another paper mad dubbed
her "the invincinle," and so ON, and SO on. II
they couldn't say anything complimentary she
would rather they would say nothing at all.
Having demolished the press, Mrs Blake ratified on
In her sprigntly way ABOUT woman's rights and
wrongs, talking at the rate Of about hve columns an
hour, ana wound up with little story about TWO
gentemen OF Philadelphia, who had handsome resi-
dences on Warren and Chestnut Streets and who
attended primary meeting and were overheated,
surrounded, Outnumbered and finally annhated
by set OF nasty, dirty, odious, horrid politicians,
VINO wanted TO get their own candidates elected.
After spirited debate on the merits and dement's
OF the reporters who were in the habit OF attending
the meetings OF the association an adjournment was
moved and agreed to.