Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-23

Mrs W. +. Thomas Of Seattle, W. T.,
writes lively and graphic letter describing
her experience az voter and juror. We
quote these passages l have been in this
territory nine or ten years. / was perfectly
satisfied with my condition had all the rights
I cared for in fact, was entirely indifferent
to woman's ballot. My interest and effort in
the temperance cause brought me in contact
with so much Inconsistency in protested tenn
perance men when election day came that,
womanlke l reasoned IF women could on
ly vote they would not simply pray, Lord
save the druukard, but would put their vote
toward it too" While l was, chicken-like,
just breaking my shell, l Rwoke one morning
TO find myself a full aedged citizen. l was
little ashamed, somewhat astonshed and al
together mystifed at what should do Be-
lieving that 1.-THE powers that be are ordained
of God" as Christian my duty was plain,
whatever the result might be. With this idea
before me my mind was made up; but judge
OF my surprise when found that the mind
of most other women was not settled on the
subject. While was thus perplexed and sur
prised was one day summoned from my
room a gentleman had called. l rose to
confront a stranger, who said; MADAM l
am the sheriff of King county This is Mrs.
Thomas presume2 l have called to notify
you to appear at the court house to serve M
juror"
why, sir, am not fit to serve on the in
ry," stammered
"Why, madam, what reason have you to
offer 2"
why" 1 replied, 81 am not capable you
want some one who eau keep track of both
sides Of case, and then have judgment and
discrimination.
Have you no other excuse ? II not you
must allow me to be the Judge" aud he very
politely bowed himself out leaving me in
such a state Of bewiderment as | never be-
fore experienced My trembling knees at
his first appearance had telegraphed the pur-
port OF his message, but concluded that my
case WAS a hopeless one as far AZ the sheriff
was concerned.
But would go TO Judge Greene he would
let me of. Well, l did CO. After listening
to my excuses he smiled and said it was out
of his power to excuse me, and II II were in
his power he would not let me off, for was
the right person to be there II any poor
womRn's mind went through Kaleidoscope
experience the intervening days it was mine
The dreaded morning came, and l went to
my doom. Such place the court house APP
peared to me! The fact that lawyers had OBJ.
jected to women on the grand jury the pre-
vious day did not better things.
There were no special objections made that
day, and after certain forms of law had been
ulspoScu VI BhnDllDB Chb6 WAS calleu up.
was called to serve, but was objected to.
Truly, what next? l simply stepped out of
that jury box and tried to find a corner. l
did not know whether to feel sighted or COM
plimented. l was sure of only one thing, l
was not wanted on that case. But soon had
some company one, two, more ladies we're
called of, and as they left what a smile pass
ed over the faces of the lawyers But more
ladies were in the jury box, so they gave that
up The case was heard and conviction fol-
lowed. Next day, several men came to plead
guilty in similar cases, by advice of lawyers,
and 30 the work went on. There were seven
teen cases at that term of court and thirteen
convictions four forfeited bail l sat through
term Of five weeks was on two cases which
occupied a week each was locked up We
were all locked up one night on a Chinese
case, and as We passed into court next day some
of our fello ownsmen in court were inter
ested to see how the women stood it, The
verdict was that we looked brighter and bet.
ter than the men. We were also escorted sew
eral times through the streets by court Off
cials to meals at Uncle Sans expense. On
one case which we took down into the jury.
room the ballot stood eleven to one, with the
blissfu prospect Of staying out all night, as
it was clearly case of eleven obstinate ju-
rors. But when certain transactions crept
out, and woman protested that she would
not be party to cover up the fact should
they return to court, twelve votes were cast
next time and the case settled.
The men were all that could be desired,
with the exception of one who insisted that
real nice woman" would not sit on the ju-
ry. He made himself very conspicuous in
his efforts to 'let them have enough of it,"
But somebody else got enough of him before
long, and he was excused from further SER
vice before half the term was over. At the
commencement of the term the introduction
of women into the jury box caused some anx-
iety to the older and most experienced gen.
tlemen jurors, but at its close they expressed
themselves unqualfiedly pleased and salts
fed. There was a little change in that estab-
lishment. Tobacco smoke, cigars and spit
toons disappeared before the restless knitting.
needle, and ladies' paraphernalia were seen
in many parts of the court house where such
things had never been seen before. Truly the
change was great improvement in the sani-
tary conditions of that important institution.
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