National Republican., 1883-01-23
WOMAN'S WORK.
First Meeting Of the National Woman's Suffrage
Convention.
Mrs. Amy Talbot Dunn os "Zelslc's Wifc"
Miss Anthony and Others.


Miss Anthony and Others.
The fifteenth annual Washington convcn-
tion of the National Woman Suffrage ossocia-
tiou began it's sc sion last night at Lincoln
hall. As usual ON such occasions, the largo
hall was crowded with an attractive and well
dressed audience who seemed to be in sym
pathy with the purposes Of the meeting.
THE PLATFORM WAS OCCUPIED ny
Miss Susan b. Anthony, Mrs. May Wright
scwall, and Mrs Amy r. Dunn, of lndianapo-
lis; Miss Phubc w. Couzns, of st. Louis;
Nine. Clara Newman, of New York city
DIR. Caroline b. Winslow, Of Washington city;
Mrs. Caroline &. Rogers, Of Detroit Mrs.
Harriet II. ShattuclS. Of Boston; Mrs. Jane
Mckinney, of Iowa: Miss Della Bacon and
Mr.. Bacon, of Washington city. Miss An
thony opened the mecting in short,
but Characteristic address, at the conclu-
sion of which she introduced Miss Della
Bacon, the clocutionist. Rachael g. Foster,
OF Philadelphia, was on the programme for
the recitation of "Thc Vine Story" but site
was sick and Miss Bacon volunteered to
supply her place She selected Nasby's
sketch, " Hannah Jane" which was rendered
in full accordance with the demands of that
humorous story.
The especial feature of the evening was
the appearance in costumca as "Zeltlcs Wife" of
Mrs. AMY TALBOT DUNN, OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Mrs Dunn is II slender, graceful woman, n
blonde with refined and pretty features, and
voice of rather more than average clearncss
and sweetness. In costume she simulated
an old woman Of 20, genuine type Of the
antique feminine New Englander-onc of Mrs
Stoves women, out of "Oldport," for exam
plc-transplamted when going to the buck
cye-shadCd prairics of Ohio, and grown up
beneath the crushing weight of the pioneer
life. An old-iAshioncd cap, somewhat like to
an undress Quaker bonnet, half hid her feat
urcs from the audience; awhile shawl GOV.
cred shoulders and bust TO the waist a black
silk apron suggested the hOusckCCpCr, and the
gown of graysh stuff fitted stiilly as the
best dress" worn only on Sundays q hum
dred years ago, was wont to do. "Iekle 5
Wifo" related her somhrc and melancholy eX-
periences to an audience that chCerCd and
laughed and piticd. II was a satire on mans
laws for women, on mans treatment of
women, and fairly deserved the bursts of
mirth that greeted its humorous points. Some
of its hits showed II caustic wit prompting n
keen glance for observation, and shrcwd in
sight into human motives and actions 1t
was sad story, and by no means an
uncommon one. young woman,
with all the romance of youth and
innocence and love stirring in her
heart, marrics an illitcrate man,
and thence dcyotes herself to the work OF
brewing, baking, cleaning, sweeping, cooking,
rearing children, and mending clothes-un-
attractive duties at best. The world stands
still for her, while the husband, taught to
read by his wife, gradually grows beyond her
grows in intellect, i'll wider range of vision,
but in narrower grasp of heart goes out into
the world, leaves her alone with her babies
and her work, pungcs into politics, moves
from one state to another, finally in his old
age becomes n member of n state legislature,
and there, yielding to the original coarseness
of his nature and to lax principles of morality,
forgcts his youth and his marital VOWS. The
one straw which broke the camels back is
thus applied, and the wife of fifty years, tho
faithful drudge for half century, leaves him
TO earn her living elsewhere. Mrs. Dunn''
personation of Ickle'S Wife" was a very
credtable performance, and presented the
suffrage idea fully fOrcibly.
MISS ANTHONY ADDRESSED THE AUDIENCE
after Mrs Dunn left the stage, in allusion to
the character. Mrs. Dunn was the author Oi
the piece, she said, and though founded on
fact it was not that lady's personal ex,
pcricnCe For she was a happy wife, and hci
husband was in perfect accord with her
Making IL n text for subsequent remarks
Miss Anthony said that every woman should
remember that the whole of her life depended
on the kind of men with whom that life il
cast. Briefly rcverting to the old days wher
such characters as "Zellle's Wifi" were far
more numerous than now, she commented
on the struggle that had taken place. Wher
thirty years ago the movement commenced
there was not state in the country where q
married woman had the control of hcrperson
her property, or her earnings. All this hat
been greatly modified by the movement, more
so in the states than in the District of Column
bia, where the old laws were still too much in
force. But for that reason, among others
were they there for the purpose of showing
congress that women DprSOug and pitlZpnS
She urged upon her hearers, happy in the pos
session of comfortable homes to rcmembe
the poor women who had none, and help then
by helping the cause.
MISS CoUZINs HERE REPEATED AN EPITAPI
on woman who spent her life baking, scrub
ing, and cooking, and in expressing her JOY
at leaving the world said heaven had its pc
culiar charm, because there she was goinl
To do nothing for ever and ever"
Mrs. ScWHll here came to the front of thu
platform with Mrs. Dunn, who had discarded
her costume and assumed her proper hubili
mcnts. She recognized the applause of til,
audience by a few pleasant words.
The convention then adjOurncd until to
day. The first executive session of otlccr
and members will be held at Lincoln hal
this morning at 10 o'clock, The first regula
session of to-day will commence mt 2 o'CloCl
p. m. Miss Anthony will deliver the opening
address and tell "Why We Come to Congress.
Rachel &. Foster and Ellen IL. Sheldon vii
review the "Work of the year" The treas
urer's report will be read by Mrs. James II
Spotlord, and the "LcssOn of the Nebraska
Campaign " be taught by Mary Wright Sewall
AT the evening session, beginning at 7:3l
p. m, Lille DevereauX Blake will discuss Tho
question as it a Crime to be Woman ~ anC
Miss Phnbe Cou2ins will deliver an Grafton
entitled "a Woman Without Country"
Members of the association are admitted
free.
The convention will hold to-day, to-mor
row, and Wednesday.
The Fish Commission.