The New York herald., 1870-03-08
THE FEMALE JURY IN WYOMING

THE FEMALE JURY IN WYOMING.
HYDE PARK, Mass, March 7, 1870.
The movement among the women OF the country
20 secure universal and impartial suffrage and be-
come equals with the masc scune members OF human
ity in the matter OF civil and political rights seems
20 be gaining most remarkable headway In Massa-
chusetts. II may be said. In fact to have reached
the very paroxysm OF delight, for IL mas most un-
questionably passed through the various stages OF
doact ana ridcule, and Is fast becoming question
which is TO be met 10 opposition only by sober and
serious argument Here in Massachusetts, as well
As In other sections OF New England. the matter
has been frequently and vigorously aRtated
curing the past few years. and 1t has finally
ripened into q formidable movement ON the
part OF the petticoat brigade, which win give
encouragement to their sister sympathzers all
The land, and this little obscure town OF Hyde
Park, dozen miles from Boston, will pop into his
tory as the renowned and sacred territory where
the women OF America asserted and demanded civil
and political equality in spite Of all law and pubic
sentiment. For about TWO months the wllful and
strong minded femiainss OF the town have been agi-
tarng the matter OF appearing at the polls to-day
and demanding the privilege OF throwing their
ballots for town officers. and IN pursuance OF the
agitation and determination they were on hand for
OF them walking long distances, and all
Drawing one OF the most severe AND binding
snow storms OF the season. Two three days ago a
preliminary meeting was neld and the arrangements
and details were decided upon and nominations
made for town officers whom they should support
the ticket selected including couple Of women as
candidates for School Commissioners. They admitted
sympathizing men to this primary gathering, and
their most industrious and able champion and Co.
Cx,lr Cof,t,t t,Ia
story writer and through his efforts and the
movement gained sufficient strength 10 assert itself
conspicuousY upon the world.
The occasion which afforded the oppressed sex an
opportunity to assert their wrongs and demand an
adjustment was the annual election Of town officers.
The election took place IN the Music Hall building,
which, by the way, is nothing more than the old
Apollo Garden lager beer building, recently trans
ported hither from Boston.
The polls were opened at two O'Clock, but long
before tnis hour all the townspeoDle had assembled
and many had come from Boston ana elsewhere to
witness the triumph or defeat Of 1.-The women who
dared" The weather, as already stated, was most
nnpropitious, and the general conclusion was that
the elements, If nothing more, would chill ana, per-
haps, wholly destroy the feminine ardor which would
have been expected under other circumstances.
Wind and weather. however, had no ter.
rors for the indomitabe ana persevering
women OF hyde Park. it was town meeting day,
and they were bound to attend to the duties Of the
hour, II not prevented by the cruel men or the laws
OF the land. Shortly after the polls were opened
they began to come slngy and in pairs but instead
OF entering the building where the balloting was
o oa 'aey 20 o. M Inc House and
steIner sex being admitted save the HERALD re-
porter.
OF South Carolina, who voluntarily liberated her
slaves and became the first public female speaker in
al0uvo
the leader In all the deliberations but the counseis
and suggestions OF other women were considered
and everything was harmonious. II was finally de-
cided that at halfpast four O'Clock the women
assembled should proceed to the polls IN body and
Ofncers. This arrangement having been agreed
upon, the intervening time until The mOmentous
hour was occupied IN discussing the justice o. female
suffrage and exchanging COMMUNICATIONS with each
other upon the everlasting and national fame which
would crown their coming action. They were all
jubiant, and some seemed actually intoxicated with
the bold movement they were individually and col
lectiyely inauguratng. During all this mutual cd
miratlon buzzing there was the utmost anxiety and
curiosity existing among the men assembled IN the
voting hall across the street.
The delay OF the women m making their appear
ance ied.t the rum0r tnat their courage mad failed
Them and the anti-female suffrage masculines were
IN nyn slee @ - Their Joy noweyeI soon rse9 9oh TO
received dellcately written note, and proclaimed
its contents In a oud and eloquent tone The DRIFT
OF II was that q number OF the citizens OF Hyde
PARK, OF the feminine gender, were assembled
near by and proposed soon 10 enter the hall anu de-
for the officers OF the town for the ensuing year.
Mr., Cobb said that he did not wish to interfere with
men who voting, but he would suggest that II
there were any friends OF universal suffrage in thc
TO ss Everett House aUs snd escdT re
present Mr.. Cobb said, might nave wives. daughters
or mothers among the nnmDer and he hoped that
for this reason, II Tor other, the ladies would be
treated decorousy. They only asked the favor OF
coming over, perhaps more than anything else for
the purpose or driliHg themselves In the form OF
casting the ballot and thus preparing for the great
God at no very distant day be conferred upon them.
Their votes, he said OF course would not be counted
and would have no influence for or against the cleo
ton. He then again expressed the hope that the
ladies woud be treated with civillty ana respect
which there were affirmative responses and cheers
When Mr. CoOb had finished his few remarks the
eyes OF all were turned towards the door to witness
pense was only momentary, for there soon appeared
= couple OF elderly danes whose frosty locks had
ters. Mrs. weld with cotton umbrella % ~ one, one
hand and . ballot In the other, was foremost. She
came forward wholly indifferent to the astonsned
gaze OF the other sex ana dropped her ticket In the
box and passed Of the hall with Of triumph
and delight worthy OF the hero OF hundred battles.
Her companion, OF like maturity with spsctacles OF
DrodgiOus size, followed by anorner woman OF
years. then dropped the ballots In. The crowd
meanwhile became noisy and demonstratve In the
extreme. Some cneered, some groaned, some Missed,
and all united In making a. much noise and
CONFUSION as possible One Rurrahed for Brigham
Burns and Billy Edwards for school committee, ana
Lucy stone. Hughey Dougherty, Harriet Beecner
stowe and Lady Byron were suggested az nI per-
SONS Tor other Offices OF trust and emolument
just az me confusion seemed bordering on riot,
aud as the strong-minded women were becoming
timd, Mr. Cobb, with determination in his counte
nance declared IN loud stentorian that unless
order was maintained he would have certain men IN
the room arrested. Then, looking in the direction
from whence the disturbance originated, pointing
MS nnger ~ Webster an manner, he SAID,
IN tone at once sarcastic and fu Of rebuke
"Aint you ashamed OF yoursevesp Don't Won |
think you acting like mens We VIII forgive you
for all this If You VIII now Try behave IKE or.
Gerly genremen.u
These words OF the Ledger novelist so determined
aud unmistakabe In their meaning, were momsn- |
Iarlly effectual, the voting by the women was
resumed The elder ones led Off az bafore and af,or