The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-24
PHGBE COUZINS' IDEAS.
She Greatly Enjoys the Discussions
of the Women in This
Congress-,


of the Women In This
Congress.
There is no more picturesque figure to be
seen in the Women's Congress than Miss
Phoebe Couzins.
high-bred face, lit up by large black
eyes and crowned with silver hair, dis
| tinguished carriage, notwithstanding the
slight limp caused by the lingering traces
of the rh eumatism that has been an almost
fatal enemy, stylish black satin gown
and broad hat heavy with plumes, go to
make up striking ensemble. But the his
tory of this woman, who has from time to
time made telling speeches, is more pic
| turesque. Hers is keen and brilliant in
tellect. She was precocious child, a
bright young law student, lecturer of
promise, good lobbyist as ladies go, a
consulting lawyer of merit; yet there has
been as much of romance and pain as OF
su ccess and Joy in her life.
| She has had scores of suitors, it is said,
but fatality such as attended the love
affair with the late ex-senator from Cali
fornia seemed to follow their suits. So
Miss Couzins is unwed. The recent death
of much loved parents has left her with
out home. Her health is much i'm
|
the condition of her invalid brother.
Hence the happiness of Miss Couzins, the
progressive woman and able leader, is not
| to be measured by her public successes.
81 could but think as l sat in Golden
Gate Hall yesterday" she said to a rep
resentative of the CALL, ''of how the plan
of the suggestion of women's congresses
has been modified. 1t was the plan of
Mrs. Paulina Wright Davis, wife of Sen
ator from Rhode Island, and she proposed
that women's congress be formed of
matrons elected from Congressional dis
tricts by women and that that body sit at
Washington during the session of the
National Congress and discuss the identi-
cal questions there discussed by the men
in congress-.
Miss Couzins praised the work of the
Woman's Congress and expressed her be-
lief that it would give great impetus to
the woman suffrage campaign of next
year.
81 have criticism, or perhaps I should
call it a suggestion, for [ would not be
thought to adversely criticize this or any
other convention of women laboring for
the betterment of their sex-in regard to
debate. There should be from half hour
to an hour for the discussion of each topic.
If necessary, some speakers might yield
their time to another who is handling
their theme exhaustively, but that length
of time is necessary for the careful consid-
eratlOn OF almost any question.
Il should say, too, that debate should
have two sides. 1t does not consist of
statements made by the first speaker and
heartily Endorsed in every particular by
those who follow. a live, spirited debate
is what brings out native talent. Still
when lady said the other day, what we
all know to be true, that the progress of
women has been hindered by the church,
there was such a noise of dissent as would
make us think there is no such thing as
freedom of speech. When the question
was first discussed there was much said,
and that fercely on both sides. l remem-
Der feeling alarmed at some demonstra-
tons in a debate once, and that John
Hutchinson of Il come from the noun
tains of the old Granite State fame
Whispered to me, Don't be frightened
Why, in abolition debates no one was in
terested till man had his coat-tail torn
off,
~ have been astounded here and else
where" she continued, "by the rapid de-
and parliamentarians. The whole theme
of this congress- | believe, is Home. yet
have been astonished at the changes rung
on what might be called limited theme.
Miss Couzins quoted the words of
Zenobia, heroine of "The Blithedale Ro-
nance" as having local application:
" when woman shall have attained her
freedom there will be ten eloquent women
for one eloquent man. Women are
allowed to write little, it is true but
only on limited range of subjects. The
world holds woman's throat by two
gigantic hands. The pen is not enough
for women. Their influence is too natural
and too immediate for that. It is with
the living voice alone that she can make
the world realize the power of her intellect
and the depth of her loving heart
1.-THE woman question has been SO
thoroughly discussed that have come to
the conclusion it does not need further
advocacy. TO me the financial question is
the burning one of the hour, and to it l
shall devote my time in the future
AS an afterthought she said: "Miss
Shaw's argument yesterday, that the nu-
merical force of the degraded class of
women is too small to make it any factor
in politics, was good, although l take
less optimistic view of the goodness of the
sex that is seeking acknowledgements. be-
lieve there are as many good women as
good men, and no more" Miss Couzins
will return to San Jose in few days, and
contemplates leaving shortly for the south
ern part of the State, where she will de-
liver lectures on the financial question
She may extend the lecturing tour through
out Texas, Alabama and other of the
Southern States, and intends to take up
her residence after few months in New