The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-04

whittier 1 went per invitation to speak |
upon the question of "Why Woman |
Needs the Ballot" and, judging from
the good attention of the large audience
that greeted me, the unanimous invita- |
ton to return and deliver a course of
three lectures at an early day, and last,
though by no means least, the highly
complimentary notice given me by the
editor of the GilrOy advocate, the
good people of Gilroy are ready to grant
the right, to some of US, at least, of that
universal safeguard ofliberty, the ballot.
Much to my advantage, my coming
had been heralded to the people by the
Methodist minister whose church had
been secured for the occasion. This
reverend gentleman having neglected
to inform himself upon the great ques-
ton of equality of the nation, and desir-
ing to protect his flock, proceeded with
out discrimination to denominate all
advocates of "woman's rightsr as free
lovers, free mothers, dissatisfied wives,
and spinsters seeking affiuities. This
volley of unjust accusations wounded
the self-interest and sense of justice of
the intelligent and highly cultured suf-
fragists, many of whom were members
of his church. But it did not in the
least cool their enthusiasm or repress
their courage; they went about talking
up the lecture" and the merits of the
lecturer, printing and scattering hand
bills until Friday, when, under the di-
rection of good Mrs. Perrin, the walls of
the church, the rostrum and desk, were
beautifully decorated with flowers and
evergreens of the choicest varieties.
DR.. Huber introduced me with few
timely remarks. He said: "a few
years ago, in introducing lady lee
turer to an intelligent audience like the
one before me, an apology would have
been necessary, so rude and out of place
it appeared for a woman to speak in
public. But 1 thank God the time
has come when men and women can,
without seeming improperly, speak
from the same pulpit spiritual and prac-
tical facts, which were alike necessary
for the advancement of the race"
Dear readers, you who have known me
personally, can we'll imagine with what
/, degree of pride 1 took my place upon
that stand, Notwithstanding the slurs oI
the ignorant egotist regarding the
r | spbara of yUOD,op ond oDsworad tO fIe
best of my ability the objections against
woman's political emancipation, anC
} presented host of reasons why "wom
: an should have the ballot"
was the honored guest of Mrs. J. A
Whitney, a lady of rare intellectual
gifts and refinement, proof of which il
; furnished by a glimpse of the littl,
rose-em powered California cottage, th'
fine array of choice plants and flowers
5 the tastefully-trained wires, which ar
T conducted through the window sash b.
, a neat little cOntrivance, up alongsid
, of the window, around, through an,
under the elegant lace curtains, owe
the top of the large mirror, and acros
] the room to another window, where he
q deft fingers had so artistically finished
p cornucopia of loveliness. Here Mrs
0 Whitney and her husband, who is no
. by any means dissatisfied with hi
. "strong-minded" wife, live and enjo,
4 life in it's fullest sense.
e Miss Sarah Severance, lady wei
q and favorably known throughout SAINT
Clara Valley, resides here, and is prin
: cipal of the Gilroy Seminary for boy
\ and girls. She has been a strong an
!. true friend to the suffrage cause, an
d expresses herself willing to do anythin
p in her power to carry through the Six
: teenth Amendment question, the i'm
v pOrtance of which we are trying t
:. bring before the people of California.
!. 1 enjoyed pleasant call at the offic
d of the Gilroy Advocate, which is abl
e conducted by Messrs. Dryden an
s Vaughn, both of whom are fine appear
: ing young gentlemen, and their int
II mate friends assured me they wer
IS "quite as good as they looked"
A ride throughout the princips
It streets and out into the suburbs enable
i me to form an exalted opinion of the lc
IS cation of Gilroy, nestled down beneat
g the shade of the western hills, whic
shelter it from the winds of the oceaI
e These winds filter over these hilltop
t and temper the atmosphere so that th
K extreme heat of summer felt in othe
localities nearer the bay is modified
II the time it reaches that section; a goo
b climate, would suggest, for the cor
l. sumptive.
o 1 had left the little ones in the care
o a dear good mother, and there was n
Q occasion for being uneasy, but as tht
4 was the first time had ever been ava
h from them, was extremely anxious
10 return, having been gone a day an
t night from "my baby"
" Next Friday 1 am advertised to spea
n at Saratoga, twelve miles southwe!
f. from San Jose. 1 shall not forget I
canvass for the NEW NORTHWEST, an
d hope to secure many new subscribers.
I Faithfully yours,
r CLARA NJ. FoLTz.
,r San Jose, Cal, April 10, 1877.