The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-06
SHE BEGAN UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
But Susan p. Anthony's First Speech wa
Straight to tho Point.

But Susan D. Anthony's First Speech Wa.
Straight to tho Point.
"a woman preaching Is like n dog walk
ing on its hind legs. II Is not done well,
but we are surprised to find it done Mt ALL
1t is long time since johnson gave vent
20 this statement. In the meantime the
spectacle OF woman speaking ''in public
on the stage" has become SO common that
lt is no longer either circus or sacrilege,
IN both of which lights it was formerly
hewed. But as historical curiosity tho
the carly experiences of such women as Su-
san u. Anthony are extremely interesting,
1t is 40 years since Miss Anthony first lifted
her voice in public. She spoke exactly
three sentences on that occasion, but they
cost her an effort almost greater than the
sommotion her act excited
1t was ut the New York state teachers
convention in the city of Rochester, and
Miss Anthony was in attendance for the
first time in her life. There were about
LOCO women teachers there and about 200
mon. But the men were certainly a glor-
ious minority. They gave the reports, made
all suggestions, nominated commlttees-of
themselves-and, in short, they were the
convention. Not one Of the women had
aver raised her feeble voice in approval or
protest
At this meeting several of the men loud
ly bewailcd tho fact that society did not
respect teachers as it respected LAWYERS
doctors and ministers. They said that they
were called Miss Nancys and old grand
mothers, which terms they did not seem to
consider respectful. They declared that tho
vocation of teacher was superior in i'm
portance to that Of u lawyer or OF n DOCTOR
Yea! even of q minister. At this point of
the discussion strange and nwful thing
occurred, A woman rose and said, "Mr,
President" That woman was young Miss
Anthony. This is the way she tells of what
followed:
"Whcn the president stepped to the front
OF the platform, he said, What will the
lady haver-just as if some one had faint
ed away or something had happened The
thought had never entered that mans
head, never even cracked the shell, that
one e thousand women should speak
wher there were 200 men present for that
purpose.
"'Mr. President, said. I would like
to speak on the question under discussion.
what do you think he said? He looked
down at the handful of men, who of
course had the good seats in front, and in
CURED solemnly what was the pleasure OF
the convention. Then some gentleman
arose and made a motion TINT the lady be
nllowed-allowed, mind you-to speak.
For half an hour they discussed that mo-
ton. Finally, by small majority, was
| permitted to say whet had on my mind.
All this time had stood there determined
to keep the floor at any cost. There was a
big lump in my throat but | choked it
down.
| Mr. President and gentlemen / said
as brayely rs | could, Il have listened to
your discussion with great deal of inter
est, but it seems to me that none of You
quite comprehend the cause of the disre-
spect you complain OF. Do YOU not see
that while woman has not brains enough
to be minister, doctor or lawyer, but
has ample brains to be n teacher, every
man of you distinctly acknowledges that
he has not any more brains than womany'
Nv hen sat down, three men walked the
length of tho hall, shook hands with me
and thanked mel hardly know why. The
newspaper accounts the next day said TINT
made the men very angry, but that / hit
the nail on the head. But it did some
good anyway. After my plunge women
were allowed to read papers. were placed
on committees and took an active part in
INC conventions. myself was asked to
read paper-which, by the way, | got nv
friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton to write for
me-and in n voice somewhat the worse for
having my heart in my throat read it be-
forc the convention, OF course the paper
was good-Mrs. Stanton wrote it-but this
was the cheerful way in which Father Ha-
zleton complimented me on IL;
"In matter and manner I would not
have asked that your address should be
different but, madam, would rather have
followed my wife and daughter to Green
wood cemetery than have had them stand
before this audience and read that address,
Nov, wasn't that nicc of himg" says
Miss Anthony quizzically, and then MUIR
murs rcilcctiyely, THE world do move -
New York Sun