Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-04

FEMALE SUFFRAGE IN BOSTON.
Women Crowai.g she Assessor, Osisce
| TO Qualify Themselves.
From the Boston Daily Globe
Influenza, measles. malaria, the epizootic the
fifteen puzzle, or any other mysterious affliction
never laid heavier hand upon o stricken COM
munity than does the epidemic which has seized
upon the good and charming women OF Boston. II
is the rage the craze for voting. It Is more than
| simple fashion-it Is q mania The dear creatures
have got it, and got it badly. too.
! IA revolution Is coming" said one OF them "a
| mighty, sweeping revolution, that shah make us
free; that shall give US back our God-given rights
that shall make US the equals Of our masters
| Don't you see"
the gentle enthusiast paused to catch her sweet
corner OF lace handkerchief. while the reporter
| looked 70 see the women who were at last awak-
enjng, &C. IL was In the assessors ONCE at CITY
hall where he and his fair interOcutor were stand
| Ing. Inc room was not crowded with women It
was rammed, TANNED full OF the gentle sex Old
OF the genuine Bostonese type. haue6ty. severe.
cold and Intellectual looking; wssherwomen,
| col0red women-all eager for the ballot
Ana tne head and heart breaking questions
asked oy the innocent dears? Here are some Of
"Where can vote, Don't they vote here,u
| "Why can't pay the tax to-day and be regis
| Veled ald nave II all done wtth?"
do you have TO tell now you're going to voter"
onvS Ian we vote for President and governor and
"Do you have to be born in Boston If you want
Must pay tax on property my daughter ownsgn
co,lscI tb Sou send man around to my house TO
IL takes woman to ask questions She will out
Ine most ptralyziDg queries in the most ingenious
manner. sometimes, however. they wear out the
patience OF the ladies who have volunteered their
services 10 help along the work OF assessment.
The reporter overheard yesterday afternoon this
conversation between o member of the woTnen's
Waao ana city committee and female applicant for
| oon,t know what it means"
Have you ever voted before?n
Were you born In this country?n
mo. But live here.n
was your father ever naturalized?"
, Lne appucant looked as If she didn't quite un-
Iersland the question, and finally said she didn't
"Are you married?"
May" 'A ''"As "s' '"e'
rs your husband naturalized?"
in snn;n worked Tor tin years in blacksmith shop
T., II asked you II he had ever been naturalized-lf
ne mad ever got his papers"
What papers, NUM-"
wv hy. MS naturalization papers, of course"
him Snuie ana DON'T know, mum; I niver asked
This was too much for the female workers pa-
uence, ana she SNAPPED out:
vo,I can waste my time here talking with you. II
Ialzeo or not. There's use In your getting as
ses,ea II you are not entitled TO vote"
anu Lne discouraged applicant for the right of
summrage engeu her way out through the crowd.
inc nine women who are giving their services
ifee IN order TO facilitate and hasten the work OF
tne assessors, n out the blanks for the applicants
anu answer the thousand aud one relevant and
iIreleVant questions When the aSsessee gets to
assessor sue generally plies him with the same
IS. nnn fvcff ,xa
sake OF being sociable like, and OF making the
women behind her wait a little.
IN spite OF these obstacles and numberleSs OF hers
there were just 4, 12O women assessed YESTERDAY.
10 iasI night the total number thus far assessed
was ~, 4Ol or ABOUT seven times as many as were
assessed IN 1855, when only l,S45 women paid a
poil-tax, This was the heaviest year for women
SOsers since they secured In 1879 the right OF
were assessed, only ABOUT One-lenth as many as
visited the city han yesterday.
VI course The Whole agitation has its serious
Sue, JUST as everything has Looked at In one
way lt Is stirring up Of religious passion and
pre1uulce, furious light Of furIOus fanatics. an
nendoSs al a oo1 ne6 of Sa xcaos ire
deplored by the conservative and the wise on both
Sides But 1t has Its amusing features, too tust
as all nights have which are waged BY wo,nen
They don't pull one anOtners halr or scratch one
anOther's lovely eyes out, but they look daQuers
and swords and dynamite and everything else.
And they get so dead In earnest, so enUhusiastic
so Intense, that you are almost persuaded that the
fate OIL the nation and OF ali MANKIND is going TO
sremoie 10 tne balance OF the approaching school
The assessors were all attention.
why, Mrs. -, am very glad to see you; do
you want 10 get assessed 2" one OF the assistants
would say.
II have come for that purpose the applicant
wo9i !, answer, IN very buslness-ke way, which
"G Got TO that desk right there and the clerk will
twenty pretty female clerks, all assessed and in
!tlated, were seated, The applicants would be 'sput
reminded them OF a civil service examlnation.
Where did you live on the nrst day of last
what ward is that in?" (This question was
usually "stcRer," and the clerk mad 10 get
announcer Clerk 20 ASK another CLERK 70 find out)
1882" w may -
!R.ght here was the time to show grocery re-
ceipts ana rent b1llS.)
'tiave you any money at interest7"
Sine answers 10 lhs question always make the
slow much?"
chow much cash have you on hand,y
tnere wa proper place to open pocketbooks>
s,oi ha y, you any goods, wares, MERCHANDISE or
"a suitable occasion for giving a list OF house.
hold furniture and new dresseS)
''Have you income Wnicu exceeds 60 mn a
Year," s~'oo0
Usual answer "Oh, Lord! no. Wish had.Y
"horseS or carriages, and how MANY of each,n
us your household furniture worth over 81 OOO,p
lMany replied TO this by saying ~ wish IL waSa
Have you any shares In Insurance. Railroad
manufactu ing or other Incorporated comnan i.s
anu II So Where are they aud what value?"
iApropos TO this, some said, MY husband has
his LIE Insured y
Msys you any guSs stock railroad bonds or
zone woman replied, II have q fne Qoatm
tOn?" Wv" Va ooS-
After all OF these had been answered. the annli.
cant was told TO sign her name TO the Document
before ner, ana, having paid her tax, was allowed
10 ~, wnich Sue did, usually saying as she lerl,
III nave this receipt framed As q keepsaken
Small Lotteries and Mig Corners.
From the New York World, October g.
"Now woulc like TO be fair In this case. What
IL the difference between the man who puts his rs
cents for a share In this bust and the man who
bets his money In Wall street,, asked Justice
Duny when the alleged lottery OF the Anti-Poyerty
Fair came up for another hearing yesterday.
81 don't See any," said Lawyer Moss counsel for
the Society for the Prevention OF Crimen
Ihen why don't you go for higher gamer
"Tnat Is not the case here" put In Mr. Moss
ut Is the same. Why don't you 20 Tor Corners
In wheat? Here Is q man making million dav
In wheat and starving poor people. Why DOM