The Portland daily press., 1898-04-06
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.
The National Officers to Tour New Eng
land States.

During the latter part of April and the
first two weeks in May the officers of the
National Suffrage association in the in
terests Of equal suffrage are to make
tour of tho New England States. They
have accepted an invitation from tn
conferences in Portland of which the date
Is not yet fixed. The coming of these
women to the state will, we trust, MAJ k
an epoch In the suffrage movement Of
Maine.
Those who remember Miss Anthony
former visit will be all the more anxious
to again welcome her. Those who have
never heard her will doubtless avail them
selves Of this opportunity to hear this
foremost woman of the age, one of the
pioneers of the movement for equal
rights Even those who are not in
sympathy with the cause to which SHE
has consecrated her life-work can but ad
mire the woman. 1t is a happy day, in
that, women are learning that, like men
they may differ widely in opinions an
yet be warm personal friends and so it Is
her hope that no woman in America, nos
living is more beloved than Susan j.
Anthony. Last year the city Of Rochester,
that Miss Anthony was it's most famous
citizen The mayor, the officials of the
various municipal departments, the
ministers, the teachers and citizens eener
ally wed with each other in doing honor
to the woman who for SO many years bad /
lived before them her conscientious If
doing her work unselfshIy and always
and everywhere advocating equal rights
Of men and women. in education, in re
ligion and in citizenship. The state and
nation joined in the jubilee while Roches-
ter, to commemorate the event, put GA
holiday attire.
February Is of the present year while
the National Suffrage convention was in
session at Washington, D. c.. Mrs. John
K. Mclean, one of the leading society
women of the capital city, honored Miss
Anthony with birthday party. Fifty
covers were laid for the dinner. ANON
the guests were Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Sheri-
there is no ruore genial and courteous
woman in Washington.
Later, the delegates and friends, three
hundred of them, were received by Mrs
Mclean, Miss Anthony and Mrs. Grant
standing beside her. On the table was
the birthday cake, three feet in diameter,
around which burned seventy eight small
candles, all encircled with roses, which
were distributed to the guests. Though
almost an octogenarian, Miss Anthony is
still vigorous, and as a parliamentariaD
ranks hardly second to the Hon. Thomas
B. Reed.
Perhaps the best test of character is TINT
borne by ones closest associates. 1t h :
always been Miss Anthonys habit X
gather about her coterie of bright intel
ligent women, who have also been marlEe'
for sweetness of disposition. OF b.
present associates, ''my girls" she cal
them the Rev. Anna Shaw is her chi
supporter. She is q warm heartet
scholarly woman whom some one b.
styled, "a complete bundle of natural ar
acquired niceties of intellectual deqelcl
ment.' One who has heard Anna Sh.,
speak once, desires to hear her again.
Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery of Phil
delphia is devoted wife and motht
while at the same time warm, admi
Of ''Aunt Susan" as 'tthe girls, call he
For many years she has discharged tt
duties of corresponding secretary OF IL,
association.
Miss Alice Stone Blackwell the cor1c
spending secretary, inherits from be
parents. Lucy Stone and DIR. Hem
Blackwell, double portion of the spiri
Of liberty and equal rights
Mrs Harriet Taylor Upton, the treas
urer of the association, is said to dray
money to the cause through her nler
laugh that ripples and bubbles to othe
peoples hearts until purse strings fall in
to line and laugh themselves open.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, is much
loved and admired in the West, where
she has spoken frequently. AS chairman
of the organization Committee she has
been instrumental in extending the
suffrage work throughout the nation.
All of these women and possibly others
are to accompany Miss Anthony to Port
land where it is hoped they may receive
a cordial welcome, not only from the city
but from the entire state.
HELEN COFFIN BEEDY.