Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-14
shoulder; score of women that know

shoulder; score of women that I know
of, smitten by this terrible curse, will
go with you, if you will lead the way.
Some are rich and some are poor, but
we all have common ground in this mat
ter. [ will send them word.
After little consultation, it was ar
ranged that we should start from Mrs.
Judge Ashman's at eleven. Much as I
shrank from the undertaking, T deter
mined to remain at the side of my be-
personal friends, and stated our pur-
pose; but SO far from joining us, they
seemed dismayed at the very idea
Mrs. Elliott then returned to her I'M
conscious husband. One look at him
seemed to turn her delicate frame into
steel, and at little before eleven she
walked to Mrs. Ashman's with as firm q.
tread as ever soldier marched into
battle.
[ shall never forget the group we
found assembled in the judges parlor.
There were young faces present besides
that of Mrs. Elliott But all were
pale and lined with call were
solemn with an earnest purpose, and
touched with the pathos of suffering.
Ladies', this is Mrs. Elliott" said
Mrs. Ashman, simply. ..
All rose to receive their leader, and
she assumed control with the simplicity
and dignity which only noble natures
can attain.
f" In the main, you are strangers to
me-" she said "but one common
danger and our common wrong knit our
souls together as one. The evil which
threatens our lives and homes has grown
so desperate that it seems to require a
desperate remedy. It is terrible cross
for us weak, tirnid women to go on this
mission. It brings back to us the days
of martyrdom. Yesterday [ thought [
would die rather than do this. Now [
feel that [ would die if [ did not go, for
dearer life than mine is in peril
At last we sailed forth, pale, as de-
termined a little phalanx as ever as
saulted deathswept breach. It was
sleetlng, but We carried no umbrellas.
This was not a pleasure excursion. We
marched as soldiers do.
Our appearance upon the street soon
attracted attention. People spoke
hurriedly and excitedly together.
''By thunder! it's broke out here, :"
l heard one man exclaim. 'sWhere will
they strike first 90
.." Harry Hills, as you ive," was
answered, "for that's Vint. Elliott s
wife a-leadin,'' ..... us @
The news spread fast, and soon we
had an ample but nondescript follow
ing. Still the crowd was respectful.
The worst man wo had caught glimps
of Mrs. Elliott face couldnot have been
otherwise. 81 60 .a. 500 -: a.a. o
BY turning corner, we came sud-
denly upon the entrance of Hill s saloon.
There was hustle within, as if they
would lock the door against US; but we
were too prompt for them, and entered.
The crowd thrOnged in after us, and,
with those already there, filed the place
completely.
Mrs. Elliott advanced at once to the
bar, and we grouped ourselves around
her-and such q group as had never
been seen in our city before. ..s .s.s
Where is Mr.. Hill % asked our
leader, in a firm voice.
The bartender started at her mo-
ment in blank dismay, and. then called:
''Mr. Hill, here, quickp 4u. ...s
Yes, tell him to come" said Mrs.
Elliott ......
"What does this mean?" asked Mr..
Hill, appearing from an inner room
with face on which surprise and anger
contended for the mast cry. He was a
ford, low-browed, thick-set man, SLOWLY
dressed, and with hard, sinister eye.
After one glance at him, I hoped little
from Mrs. Elliott's appeal. [ turned to
| look at the crowd for a moment, in
order to see on whose side their sym
pathy would assert itself, but the ex-
preston at this time was mainly one of
eager curiosity and excitement. But
Imagine my unmeasured surprise when
[ saw. side door open and Vinton
Elliott appear, overlooking the scene,
with a white, appalled, face. But all
were too intent on the scene before
them to note his entrance, for with a
voice that trembled, and yet with dig
nifty, Mrs Elliott had commenced speak
ing. ". - @- ''.'
s'Mr. Hill, you have the form and
semblance of a man, aud we give you
credit of possessing the heart of one.
You cannot realize the results of your
traffic as we poor women can, whose
homes you are destroying, whose hearts
yor are breaking. What is life to us
if our fathers, our brothers, our sons,
our husbands Ooh how her voice
thrilled at the world) go down into
the darkness and infamy of a drunk
ards gravel! Can you see that such
life would be to us but living death and
prolonged agony? Andvet not for our
selves are we pleading, but for those
whom you are destroying. Perhaps
we may find heaven hereafter, but
they cannot. You poison body and
soul at once, We are desperate, in
view of the peril of those we love. Yes
terday there was not, in all the city, a
more proud and happy woman than I
happy in my home !! happy in my hus-
band! happy in my hopes for the
future proud of his rich promise
and good name! But now my heart
is breaking. Oh! how it has ached
since you sent him staggering to me
long past midnight! What but hell.