The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-21
SOMENOTEDREFORM
A MEETING OF THE NEW YORK
WOMAN SUFFRAGE SOCIETY.
Rev. Phoebe Hanaford, DIR. C1emence LO-
zier and lille Devereux Blake-The
First Governor of Wyoming Tells
Bit of Unwritten History.
fspeciaI CORRESPONDENCE

Suffrage Society Of this city sent me an
urgent invitation to the last monthly meet
ing of that striving body. / did not 60
Interesting speakers" ''guests Of emil
nence,D "matters of Importance to be dis
cussed," all failed to lure me thither Right
here viii record the fact that my failure to
respond to the invitation must not be
ascribed to any pre- judice against the prin-
cfples of woman suffrage. On the contrary,
] believe the movement is in the direction Of
justice, and that the blind goddess and Time
will fix it all up in accordance with what is
fit and proper, though long and painful the
delay. However, all this is of no account,
as learned some time ago that the process
of the sunsn was not likely to be interfered
with by any opinion Mr.. Oliver might hold.
So we'll have I learned this that Mr.. Oliver
is no longer tenacious of his opinions. Elk
perience has made him tolerant and even
humble. / mention my attitude on the
woman question to defend myself against
the charge of having written in malice what
am about to say.
No, didn't go to that meeting had
been to similar ones and knew what to ex-
pect. The society contains many sensible
and intellectual men and women, but its
meetings are distinguished by an utter abb
sence of system and order. A congress of
croc0diles would pay more attention to par
Hamentary usages. Now it isn't the women
who create this anarchy; it is the men.
Women are often alluded to as sable disin-
tegraters,'' and the term is not always UNI
Justly applied; but 1 have noticed that
when 'ttwo or more women are gathered
together" for any reformatory purpose,
Destiny is toIerably sure to raise up few
persistent men, who, while presumably aid
ing the cause, work its complete annihila-
ton.
Two men seem to be doing this effectually
for the New York suffrage society. They
are members, believe, and may be officers,
for aught know. They are on the carpet
early and stay late and they talk all the
time Any one who wanted to edge in a
word between their uprising and down
sitting, would be compelled to spring like
catamount between them, shriekfng as he
descended, in order to gain the floor These
men are creatures of infinite gable appar-
emily, fonder of hearing their own voices
than of benefiting the world. One is half
uncoiled while the other is speaking, ready
at the slightest indication of a downward
motion on his part to spring into a perpen-
dicular attitude and call out 81 Mrs. Presi
dent" before any human power can inter-
fefe. Both of these men are large, with
deep, coarse voices, and they are equally
endowed with power for tediousness and
persistence unknown out of the peculiar
realm of crankdom.
What do they talk about Nothing, if
one answers with fidelity to literal truth.
They simply talk, talk, talk, till they ex-
haust the vitality and patience of their
hearers, and then only subside because no
one will remain to listen to them. They
call this "refornatorY work" and it makes
them very happy. Their broad counten-
ances radiate self-satisfaction, while they
are destroying every vestige of nerve
strength their afflicted hearers are pos
sessed of.
Why are they not called to order and
compelled to keep the peace? Because the
president, DR.. Clemence Lozier, is far too
gentle and supplementary lady to en-
force strict discipline in meetings which
cranks and windbags of all degrees are
likely to frequent She is quite aged, and
the society feels itself honored in having her
at its head but she sits silent and placid,
without so much as a disappearing rap,
while able bodied male twaddlers monopo-
lie the precious hours. She opens the
handsome parlors of her house on East
Forty.eighth street to the meetings Of the
society, which has never yet been rich
enough to hire its own rooms, hence the
society owes her both honor and gratitude
That, however, does not argue that the So
ciety is poor; but that rooms fit for any or
ganization to meet in in this city are fabu-
lousy high in price. Rents are the sure de-
stroyers of all societies here, in time. Many
associations bravely hold out against all
manner of opposition, ridicule, persecution
and strife, external and internal; but when
the relentless hand of the landlord clutches
them they yield to mightier than them
selves and go swiftly to pieces.
Some interesting and well known person
ages are to be seen at these suffrage meet
ings. THERE'S Lille Devereaux Blake, the
secretary She is noticeable woman any
where, and when on suffrage ground IS pre-
eminently herself. Tall, with gray hair,
and refined, patrician face, whose chief
characteristic is handsome Roman nose, she
is not likely to be overlooked. Besides, she
is a fluent graceful speaker, and when the
talking men can be suppressed long enough
to give her chance, entertains the audience
no matter what she speaks about.
Sometimes Rev Phoebe HaHaford is
there. When she has the floor even the
cranks keep silence. She is a small woman,
with an extremely spiritual face, earnest
black eyes and voice as soft and sweet as 6
song. She is an enthusiast, too, but quiet
one. It IS more the enthusiasm of intense
conviction than expression. Everything she
says; everything she does is full of the spirit
uality with which her nature overflows. i
is Enthusiastically genuine, and in no way as
sumed spirituality. 1t speaks in the tones O.
her voice, beams from her eyes, and fairly
flows from her heart. Her motto, 81 shall ris'
again. finds expression in some new form
whenever and wherever she addresses al
audience.
One evening, nearly a year ago, wa
at one of these meetings and sat beside
bright little western woman, who had
tongue like Mrs. Carlyle's, capable of tax
ing the skin off every time" She ha'
strong suffrage proclivities, but still stronge
humorous tendencies. Her comments on tn
company as they assembled were far NOR
interesting than the proceedings Sh
surveyed the headwear pr esent. an
pronounced il LARGELY medieval, She Won