The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-16
Mrs. Duniway Explains.

MIS' OuA4"@J 0APLaInS'
THAT is TO SAY, TELLS ABOUT HER POss sEssIoN
OF REPRESENTATIVES, HALL SATURDAY EVEN
ING.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Jan. %, 1877.
To the City Press ~ rise to ex plain"
At the conclusion of my lecture, on
Friday evening, upon constitutional
Liberty and the Aristocracy of Sex" it
occurred to me that the next evening,
being Saturday, the Hall of Represen-
tatives would be unoccupied by the
HonOrables, so l asked Secretary Har-
low and Senator Robinson, who were
on the platform, if they knew of any
objection to my having its use for Sec
ond hearing. They answered that they
had no jurisdiction, but presumed there
would be no objection. Then the gen.
tlemanly Secretary of State introduced
me to q member of the House, who
eourteOusly agreed to comply with the
legal formula to secure the Hall, and
the meeting for Saturday night was an
nounced.
The evening was fine, and a company
| assembled, large enough to pack the
| floor aud galleries. When l went to
meet the appointment, was met by re-
| turning crowds, who were expressing
themselves as much disappointed be-
CduSC bu0 Ildll was nOb al OuI SGINlCO
| for the lecture. "What does il all
mean ?" | asked as 1 entered the front
door, ga clear case of buLL-doziRg !'
exclaimed boy. II am partial to boys,
and they're always on my side in emer-
gencies.)
| Then, Col. Harlow being out, called
upon gentleman in his office, and
asked an explanation. He was cour-
teOus, as gentlemen always are, and dis
patched himself to the place of "intim-
Idation,n to investigate. Returning in
a few minutes, he informed me that the
ldOor-keeper was obstinate, the members
mad about missing paper, and so forth,
and they had refused the use of the Hall
for the lecture.
''There's a crowd in the room, wait
ing anyhow" exclaimed bright young
lady with a handsome escort.
Then [ ordered the "regulars" to the
scene of confusion, and we marched to
the front in good order.
"There'S the 6uLL-dOzer" said the
lady.
"Where ?' L asked, wondering what
had SO disturbed the serenity of the
aristocracy of sex.
"Yonderv answered a pleasant-look-
ing, matronly lady of uncertain age.
That big man with dark butternut
beard and canary-colored cane. He's
sent hundreds of people away from
here, and he's been saying all sorts of
slurring things about you. He says
you shan't lecture"
''Is he an Honorable ?" 1 asked with
a smile that was childlike and bland.
"He's the reverse of that" replied
the lady, "but holds the position of q
} legislator"
"Never mind" 1 said, there's no harm
in him. When a man says disreputable
things about lady he's too great a cow
ard for her to notice. Come o."
: L walked down the carpeted aisle,
past the revolving chairs, under the
glittering chandeliers, and up to the
seat of "Mr. Speaker amid a general
, cIapping of hands, none Offering to mo-
J lest or make me afraid.
Then 1 said: "Friends: It seems that
the aristocracy of sex is opposed to al
lowing the taxed and unrepresented cit
zeus of this Commonwealth to occupy
5 these otherwise empty seats, this even
ing. l have heard no official objection,
however, and am at a loss as to what
may be etiquette on my part. Is there
r gentleman present who can tell US
what to do? We do not want to break
the laws; we would obey them till they
are amended, bad as they are"
A member then arose and explained
l that during the Senatorial ballOtiDg
: the resolution to tender the Hall had
r been fOrgOtten;" that was all; and he
knew of no reason why we might not
use it. Then another member, the two
D constituting themselves a Returning
r BOardn of the first order, acquiesced in
O his decision, and the lecture went on,
enough people remaining and returning
after all was quiet, to crowd the floor,
# while others looked wistfully into the
: locked galleries, and went away, won
. dering why the doors could not be
opened for the use of One-half of the
y people that were taxed to build the
d Hall, as well as the other half. A mau
= in dark butternut whiskers and canary
colored cane, who answered the descrip-
Lion of the Honorable who had been ac-
II cused of "bull-dOZing" the crowd and
VI saying disreputaOle things about me
d came down the aisle to the Speakers
stand; but [ looked so sublimely limo
cent of any other thought than that he
d had come 10 shut the side door aud keeL
e the draught away from the Speaker
l. that he simply shut the door and sal
# down; so it might have been case ol
- mistaken identity after all; and if so, l
l. beg pardon. When L thought of him
l. again he was gone. The Returning
i Board" had counted the a0ODaen tT1r and
nobody but Nasty could do the subject
:, justice.
II In conclusion, am sorry if have
70 been the cause of any Inconvenience tt
\ the members, and only ask them, i
they feel aggrieved, to lay all the trou
II ole to the fact of wOman's political dis
st abilities, and her determ!nation to pro
ir test against them as her forefathers did
Meanwhile L respectfully return thank,
., for favors received, aud only regret tina
II the Senatorial chiId's play III whiet
l. they are engaged is not yet over, 81
y that majority of them can be happy
o. again. Very respectfully,
ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIWAY.
u The Historian says the twelve fishing