Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-15
Written for The Star.

would be called the headquarters of wom-
ems clubs. but then was known as the
''Woman'S Bureau, in East 23d street, be-
tween 4th and 18th avenues. New York,
where now stands the Metropolitan Life In
surance building. Miss Anthony had then
been engaged in public work about twenty
years and had wide acquaintance. Among
the leaders in the. movement to celebrate
her fiftieth birthday was Mrs Charlotte B.
Wilbour, wife of the Psychologist who now
not far from eighty herself, is president of
Sorosis and leader in the club life of New
York.
A Most Daring Feat.
Publicly to admit her age may be classed
as Miss Anthony's most daring feat, and If
there was a newspaper in the country which
failed to have an alleged funny editorial on
this fact 1t escaped notice There is an idea
that the newspapers of those days had only
disagreeable things to say of the pioneers
In the cause of woman suffrage, but they
were most complimentary on this occasion.
Among many tributes was poem from
her friend. Phoebe Cary, sparkling with
delicate humor.
There were ten stanzas, beginning:
We touch our caps and place tonight
The victors wreath upon her
The woman who outranks all
In courage ard In honor.
While others in domestic broils
Have proved by word and carriage
That of the United States
Is not the state of marriage.
she caring not for loss of men.
Nor for the worlds confusion,
Has carried on civil war
And made a Revolution -
Miss Cary referred to Miss Anthonys and
Mrs Stanton's paper, the Revolution, which
they were then publishing in New York A
thousand dollars in money was presented to
her, with jewelry, lace, etc. In responding
she said. with much emotion:s"If this were
an assembled mob opposing the rights OF
women 1 should know what to say. l never
made a speech except to rouse people 10 &C
ton My work is that of subsoil blowing.
| ask you tonight, as your best
testimony to my services. to join me in
making q demand on Congress for a six
teenth amendment giving women the right
to vote. When this has been gained
then Susan B. Anthony will stop workout
not before
1t is a significant fact that thirty-six
years later-on her eighty-siXth birthday
Miss Anthony appeared before the congress
sional committees, still making her plea for
this amendment to the national Constitu--
ton. and this she has done during every
one of the eighteen Congresses which have
assembled during this time. A perseverance
and patience, a courage and indomltable
will which never have been equaled in man
or woman
A national celebration by all the suffrage
clubs in the United States was first sug
gested by Mrs Elizabeth Boynton Herbert
about 1880 in her department in the Chicago
Inter Ocean. and since that time the 18th
of February has been annually observed by
many thousands of women in all parts of
the country.
Amusing Account of Distress.
An amusing account of Miss Anthony's
distress, because tickets were sold for this
banquet, and her anxiety that every one
who wished should be permitted to speak
(which led Mrs. Foster-Avery to write:
1.-THE banquet would have to last through
eternity'D, with the many delightful trib-
utes from George William ~Irtfs, William
IIoyd Garrison, Senator Hoar Senator Pal
mer. Thomas B. Reed, Frank G. Carpenter,
John G. Whittier, Lucy Stone. Frances E.
Willard and others, may be found in her
biography.
Al the banquet given in the E,bbitt House.
on her seventy-fifth birthday anniver-
sary Miss Anthony's friends presented her
with an annuity yielding $500 a year which
has been an acceptable addition to her mod
est income. as most of the many thousands
of dollars that she has earned in years past
have been freely given 10 the cause to
which she has devoted almost nearly three
score years of unceasing effort
The seyenty-seventh birthday was made
the occasion of great demonstration In
her home city of Rochester, N Y, where
she has resided for over sixty years. Tt
was given under the auspices of sixteen
womens clubs in the handsome Powers Art
Gallery, and was attended by more than
2 coo citizens. The newspa pers OF the city
paid glowing tributes to ats NEST distin-
guished citizen.
Resigned the Presidency.
None who was present ever will forget
Miss Anthonys eightieth birthday celebra-
ton in the Lafayette Opera House, Wash
ington in 1900. She had just resigned the
presidency of the national association,
which she had helped to found in 1869, and
of which she had always been virtually the
head Her loyal friends felt the deep Sig
nificance of this movement, and for them
the birthday festivities were mingled with
sadness. The theater was filled with an
audience representative of the national cap
ital. Miss Anthony occupied the center OF
the stage, and grouped about her. bringing
tributes of gratitude and appreciation, were
representatives of many national and inter-
national associations of women In the vari-
GUS professions and of those from the four
states where they have the full suffrage.
1t was indeed an unprecedented and a
memorable occasion.
And now. on the eighty-sixth birthday OF
this grand old woman, she receives con-
gratulatiops from the President of the
United States, and the value of her work
is recognized in public address and letters
from members of the cabinet the Senate
and the House Of Representatives. and
from the presidents and professors of the
largest colleges for women.
No woman In America ever was so hon.
ored. No woman In the world ever received
such honors because of her own services to
mankind 1t is matter OF the keepest re-
greet that Miss Anthony cannot 1--we to see
the compete success OF the cause to which
she has given a lifetime of splendid en-
deayor, but 1t Is one of the greatest re-
jolcing that she has lived to know that It's
victory is absolutely certain and
that she has received the recognition of her
work which seldom comes during the life
Inc OF great reformers.
For women In all the future there will be
q third birthday which shall be sacrediy
observed In the month of February-that or
Susan b. Anthony. uberator OF woman.