The Arizona sentinel., 1888-05-26
SUFFRAGE PIONEERS.
The Days When Women Did Not Receive .
 Respectfu Hearing.

Respectful Hearing.
 Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Susan B.
 Anthony, Lucy Stone and Mrs. Joslyn
 Gage evidently had good time at the
 St ffrage Pioneers session, which end
 ed the remarkable gathering of wom- en at Washington. Gray beard is reminded by the reports of the first
 time when as young fellow just en- tering on an active life he bt came a participant in woman rights meet ing. It was in the early part of 1853, and at Troy. in this State. Gray beard. then beardlesS. was accidentally in that industrial hive. A small hand- bill. pasted on a wall, attracted his own and companion's notice. The latter was by the way a grand nephew of Charles James Fox, himself brilliant young Englishman. who was following the profession of music. He was an Ameri- can citizen, had strong anti-slavery views. and afterwards he resided in Boston. When ordered out as militia officer 10 assist in the rendition of An thony Burns, he broke his sword across his knee. refused to obey and was cashiered therefor. He died serving the Union army early in 1862. My friend noticed the bill mentioned. which announced that Lucy Stone and Susan B. Anthony would speak in a certain hall on anti-slavery and wom- an suffrage It was suggested that we go, and we did. On entering, the hall was found half filled with "toughs" and sprinkling of others more re- spcctable. There were score of Quakerish-looking auditors near the little stand or platform. close to which MT. Fox and G raybeard pressed their way. The hall was soon crowded and the racket began. The ladies came on. Let us see; that's thirty-fve years since.
 Lucy Stone was delightful with her sweet yet well-set and vigorous. fair face. round head, bright blonde hair and girlish but decided voice and man. ner. "Susan," our own and inimlt- able ''Susan." was good deal more peppery than she is nowadays. A "schoolmarm." traditionally speak ing and to the tips of her fingers she appeared to a couple of rather irrev- erent young chaps. What trenchant logic, what bitter wit came from their lips. With what strange. sal, yet non-masculine courage they faced that rude, even brutal audience, which, from coarse words. rude jibes and harsh retorts, soon became more demonstrative. Cabbage stalks and eggs offensive were thrown on the platform and at the speakers. Some male advocate was present. It might have been Frederick Douglas. In those days the men welc both wanted and needed, for toughs were often violent. Now the same men. when living, are ignored or snubbed if they should go to suffrage mec tings. A rush was made to the platform. Gray beard. with his companion, found himself fighting vigorously with a broken chair to protect non-rcsstant women from assault He carries on his scalp little scar as a memento of that evenings proceedings.
 A curious feature of the past twenty years of agitation has been the sys- tematic driving away or ignoring of nearly all the men advocates. Mr. Blackwell, husband of Lucy stone. has had his place as utility man. So did Lucretia M>tt's son-in-law. Edward M. Davis, while he lived. That was all. Frederick Douglas, sometimes and very seldom Robert Purvis. have spoken. In Boston, Colonel Higginson keeps his devotion warm. These five | cover all the men now admitted cs | speakers into the sacred arena of a woman's suffrage convention. An. one has been forgotten. and that is the im- mortal Hamilton Wilcox. and even he | the irrepressible Mrs. Blake has within two years put out in the cold. N r Graphic.