The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-03
How the Women Voted.

This is the first year in the history of
Massachusetts that women have been
allowed to exercise the right of fran
chise on the selection of municipal or
State officers. and, though the privilege
in the present instance is restricted to a
voice in the election of School Commit
teemen, it is obviously the entering
WEDGE to still greater and broader in
novations in behalf of women's politi-
cal rights. This is the first day in the
annals of Boston on which her women
have actually cast ballots in city cleo
ton, though they have recently voted
in the caucuses called for the purpose
of nominating the candidates chosen
yesterday.
The predominant number of female
voters were ladies who appeared to
have arrived at the meridian of life,
and not many young faces were OBJ
served. While not strictly coming
within the category of woman S
rights" females, and not bearing the
masculine appearance common to such
beings, look of invincible determine
ton to die, if need be, in the defense of
their heaven-born and law-given privi-
lege was impressed upon the counte-
nances of each and every lady. Intelli-
gence was indelibly stamped upon the
low, broad brows of maid and matron;
earnestness beamed in their eyes, and
the demure demeanor of most of the
recipients of the boon for which they
had craved convinced one at once that
theywere school teachers and the friends
of education.
The ladies, as they entered the poll
ing places, formed a deeply interesting
and pleasant study. A pale, intellec-
tual-looking and nervous lady would
approach the door, hesitate, take one
backward step as the odors of stale
smoke assailed her nostrils, and then,
resolving not to be debarred by any
such circumstances from exercising
her right, would resolutely glide up to
the ballot-box, announce her name, de-
post her vote and depart, all the while
daintily keeping her skirts from con-
tact with the Shiny floor, and wearing
an expression denoting the deepest dis
gust at the gentlemen's stationary
smoking-car. Some of the females did
not seem to be incommoded in the least
by their surroundings, and chatted in
the most pleasant manner with some of
their male acquaintance, who almost
invariably asked them how they liked
it, and the reply almost as invariably
was, 80, first-rate." Many of the la
dies seemed to have taken lessons in
the art of voting, for they went through
the routine with all the nonchalance of
the man who cast his first vote for
George Washington and his last for
General Grant. In some precincts lit
tie groups of ladies would tarry for sew
eral minutes, compare their ballots,
predict the success or defeat of certain
candidates for School Committee the
only municipal officers for whom they
were allowed to vote scrutinize in a
feminine way the attire of their COM
panions, say Good-bye; call and see
me-" and then retire from the scene.
Here, as in other cases, that character
istic trait of all womankind, curiosity,
was exhibited in marked degree, and
as they filed behind the rail to deposit
their votes they could not resist the i'm
pulse to peep into the ballot-box to see
how many ballots it contained; and
when the warden, as is usual under all
circumstances, shut the cover of the
box immediately upon the deposit of
the printed forms, the ladies exhibited
the utmost chagrin and disappoint-
ment. Boston Globe.