Tolland County press., 1883-02-01
Washington Letter.

WashingtOn, B., C.. Jan xt, loS5
 Lincoln Hall has been resounding this week to the ringing eloquence of numer- ous noted advocates of female suffrage. The 18th annual Washington convention of the National Woman's Suffrage Asso- citation has just closed it's interesting ses- siens, and among the delegates were many long and widely known workers in the cause. The irrepressible Susan B. Anthony still comes to the front and pre- sides with her usual ability, decision and pluck. Time treats her kindly, for, af- ter close scrutiny discover no new traces of his ravages, slnce two winters ago when she stood on the same platform. She de- livered the opening address "Why do we come to congress,' ina black satin dress, simply, but fashionably made with plaitings, ruffles, and lace this pretty dress on woman whose attire has been distinguished for it's severity, seemed al- most like an unspartan concession to frlv- olous fashion. These women have been considered totally devoid of capacity for tasteful dressing. It cannot be charged that they give their whole minds to their drapery, but their costumes were almost without exception tasteful and, in some instances, elegant and handsome. En- couraging proof that in woman the ce- quetry of dress cannot be wholly consum- ed by the fires of her higher enthusiasms.
 Mrs. Amy T. Dunn, of Indianapolis, gave very entertaining character lecture (Zekle's wife) She appeared in costume and simulated an old woman of seventy, a genuine type of the feminine New Eng lander of fifty years ego, who married and moved to the western states and territo. ries. It was satire on mans laws for woman, and mans treatment of woman. It was very crsditable performance, and presented the suffrage idea fully and for cibly. May Wright Sewall of Indianapo- lis gave s'the lesson of the Nebraska cam paign," which, by her interpretation is, that woman is capable of devising and ex- ecuting grand schemes in spite of over whelming disadvantages that women can act in uaanimity and from purely imper- sonal motives. All of which is calculated to abate ''vain mans" native arrogance of superiority. She is . strong woman and speaks with force and even eloquence. Phoebe Couzins told sWhat woman without country is. Ten years ago Miss Phoebe was the professional beauty O1 LA0 6ASLCX11OO0s Dub kAAb WAS bOA .y0hAD ago. Lillie Devereux Blake spoke from There were addresses also by Harriet spattuck of Boston, Virginia Minor of St. Louis, Dr. Caroline Winslow of Washing adelphia, and others equally well known. During one of the morning sessions which were of rather private character, being devoted to executive business, reporter succeeded in entering the hall and en- sconced himself in quiet corner. But he could not escape the eye of ever wig liant woman. He was approached, and kindly told that they wanted to have ga little family talk, wanted to have 8 chance to say something that would not get into the papers. So he was compelled to fold up his book and "quietly steal away. The public meetings of the convention were we'll attended, the large audiences being mostly composed ot women who seemed to be in sympathy with the cause, but there was also asssprinkling of con- gressmen and of some men, prominent in official life here. The committee on res olutions presented series which were read, discuessed, and adopted. The gist of it was that women are citizens of the United States, that by voting they could directly influence Legislation for the pro. motion of morality and good government, that they want congress to pass without delay sixteenth amendment to the feder. al constitution new pending in the senate which prohibits the several states from disfranchising United States citizens or account of sex. in short, they want tc vote, and they say they surely will vots in course of time.