The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-02

eo earCn. NOW eJaculateu hlrS. Mcrl-
wether, 81 never knew any man, preach
er or otherwise, who ever brought heav-
en- and earth within 10000 miles Of each
other" And yet there are some saint
ly men in this world, and the Redecmer
of it was not n woman.
Colonel" Susan relunctantly called
time upon this fiery Southhead the sign
fiicantly, jerked out: 81 told you there
would be extra snap in this NOV -ment
when Southern women joined it,"
Then, after a mild protest from Miss
Anthony, the son Of Mrs. Meriwcthcr,
was introduced by his fond parent. He
had just come from Europe, and, after
handsomely eomplimenting his mother,
proceeded to make mouths at the wo-
men Of Spain and Italy, who, not being
strong minded, have caused, in his opin-
ion, the decay of those nations. And
yet Spain and Italy compare rather
favorsbly with Missouri and Tennessee,
in the qaulity Of men and women, to
say nothing Of art and science. Then
the young hopeful got in his dynamite
on the ''nigger.'' The explosion came
later on. Col Susan cut him down
when he began to quote Tacitus, and
brought forward Mrs. Clara Neyman, of
New York, the German lady mentioned
in the beginning St this article.
Her address was so noble. so grand,
SO pure. so full OF thought and spirit,
that it dwarfcd the fippant, boisterous
beings around her, and lifted the whole
convention into dignity and sublimity'
She compared the American and Ger
man governments as we'll as the Ameri-
can and German women, pointing out
skillfully their respective virtues and
defects. She anathcmatizcd the rich
American women who shirk from ma
ternity and cared for nothing but dis
play. The picture she drew Of an ideal
Republic, refined by women in all par
ticuizrs. was so beautiful and exalted
that the men present more than the
women. paid hcr the homage Of Nh ap-
plansc Chat was sincere, although reason
hewailed that such an Arcadia did not
and could not exist this side of Para
disc. declare, under the inspiration
and magnetism Of this gifted and de-
voted woman, my senses were taken
captive for the moment, and even Susan
B Anthong and her sardonic sisterhood
melted into something lovely and
serene.
But there was a rude awakening.
Instead Of dismissins the audience un-
der sucha powerful and pleasing spell,
old Susan had To lug out tall, vcner-
able. white haired and bearded man,
who was said to he colored, but could
hardly be SO discovered. This man
was presented ''as the noblcst woman
of them ALL" and some Of tho audience
seemed to hail him as much by clapping
their hands. In deep, solemn, sonor.
Gus voice he proceeded to rcbuke young
Meriwether for batting the negro in
the wood-pile,' and, in ton Of resent
ful thunder, shouted !: "Southern peo-
pie can never find eternity long enough
to make atonement for wrongs done the
negro - The audience, in part, echoed
that sentiment. md the colorcd orator
was aboat to amplify his wrathful indig-
nation when Colonel Susan nipped him
in the bud. The "noblest Roman"
suct u nbed to the resolute little white
woman. and retired with dramatic resig-
nation. AS she strobe back, like Forest
as Spartacus, Mrs. Merriwether her
bangs all awry and her frame heaving
with excitement, rushed to the foot
lights, and, in defiance of Miss An
thony's quick remonstrance, shoute
Ladies and gentlemen, what that boy
said was from his head not his heart
It was inadvertent. He was brought
up to believe in freedom, for the black
as well as the white man. The "noble
Roman" bowed his head in proud propi
tation. Miss Anthony shook her cork.
screw curls benignantly, and the strong.
minded were uproarious. But the eff.
feet Of Mrs. Neyman's radiant prose.
poem was dissipated in smell Of sui.
phur and tho purgatory of discondant
| clainor.
Representative Perry left the hal
with me and we walked together to-
ward the hotel. '.What did you thinl
Of that convention" asked. "It was