The Van Buren press., 1893-07-01
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
BEGAN UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

O61FNbN oN06n TYSOI IG0s
Susan II. Anthony's First Speech Was
Straight to the Point.
"a woman preaching is like dogs
walking on its hind legs. 1t Is not done
we'll, but we are surprised to find It
done Mt all"
1t is a long time since johnson gave
vent to this statement. In the mean.
time, the spectacle of woman speak.
ing ''in public on the STAGE has
become SO common that 1t is
no longer either n circus or .
sacrilege, in both of which lights
it was formerly viewed. But as nm his
torical curiosity, the early experience
of such women as Susan B. Anthony are
extremely interesting. 1t is just forty
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 commotion her act excited.
1t was at the New York state teach
er's convention, in the city of Roches-
ter. and Miss Anthony WAS in attend.
ance for the first time in her
life. There were about thou
sand woman teachers there and about
two hundred men. But the men were
certainly a glorious minority. They
gave the reports, made all suggestions,
nominated committees-of themselves
and, in short, they were the conven-
tion. Not one of the women had ever
raised her feeble voice in approval or
protest.
At this meeting several Of the men
loudly bewailed the fact that society
did not respect teachers a : IL did law
yers, doctors and ministers They said
that they were called Miss Nancys and
old grandmothers, which terms they
did not seem to consider respectful.
They declared that the vocation of
teacher was superior in importance to
that of a lawyer or doctor. Yea! even
of n minister. At this point of the dis
cussion strange and awful thing oc-
Cured. A woman rose and said, Mr.
President That woman was young
Miss Anthony. This is the way she
tells of what followed:
"When the president stepped to the
front of the platform he said: What
will the lady have?' just as If some one
had tainted away or something had
happened. The thought had never en-
tered the mans head, never even
cracked the shell, that one of thou
sand women should speak when there
were two hundred men present for that
purpose.
".Mr. President said, 4 would like
TO speak on the question under dis
eussion.'
"Whnt do you think he said? lie
looked down at the handful of men,
who, of course, had the good seats in
front, and inquired solemnly what was
the pleasure of the convention! Then
some gentleman arose and made
motion that the lady be allowed
allowed, mind you-to speak. For
half an hour they discussed that
motion. Finally, by a small majority,
was permitted to say what had ON
my mind. All this time had stood |
there, determined to keep the floor at |
any cost There was big lump In my
throat, but choked it down.
"'Mr. President and gentlemen !
said as bravely as i could, I have
listened to your discussion with great
deal of interest, but II seems to me
that none Of you quite comprehend
the cause of the disrespect you COM
plain of. Do you not see that while
woman has not brains enough TO be q
minister, doctor, or q lawyer, but has
ample brains to be teacher, every man
of you distinctly acknowledges that he
has not any more brains than .
woman?'
when l sat down three men walked |
the length of the hall, shook hands
with me, and thanked mel hardly
know why. The newspaper accounts
very angry, but that hit the nail on
the head. But it did some good, any
way. After my plunge women were al
lowed to read papers. were placed on |
committees, and took an active part in |
the conventions. l myself was asked |
TO read paper-which, by the way, |
got my friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
to write for me-and, In . voice some
what the worse for having my heart In
my throat, read it before the conven-
tion. OF course the paper was good
MrS' otdnton WroVc lti Dut tnlS IL thc
cheerful way in which Father Hazclton |
complimented me on IL:
"'In matter and manner would not |
have asked that your address should be |
different; but, madam, would rather
have followed my wife and daughter to |
Greenwood cemetery than have had
them stand before this audience and |
read that address,
"Now, wasn't that nice of him?" says |
Miss Anthony, quizzically, and then |
murmurs, reflectively: 1.-THE world do
move IN. Y. Sun.