The Washington herald., 1908-01-27

'Tis a hard world
Here is a woman, Miss Emma Goldman.
who used to carry three or four tons Of
dynamite in her skirt pockets. and who
could. without winking, walk up to any
Nihilist who ever strode the Nevsky Pros
pekt with a sense Of insecurity and a
four-foot beard and she can't come down
to Washington and talk to the Equal
Educational League at Pythian Temple.
Not by a considerably extended shot
can she so do
1t all figures out that woman Is in
pretty hard straits if she has reformed.
like the Miss Goldman. and wants 10
learn all about the American people and
Washington. and. TO pay her way like
peace-loving citizen. would talk about
Ibsen. Bernard Shaw. or Diamond
Dick, jr.
Didn't Come to Washington.
The Miss Goldman, il seems. even didn't
get to come to Washington; or if she did,
the members of the Educational League
and two reporters. who were out 10 get
her talk for wide public distribution,
couldn't find her yesterday.
It's just possible she didn't come be-
cause she felt piqued over the opinion Of
the police Of this city that her reported
reform isn't genuine. But the story. as
told yesterday, reads otherwise, and also
wise. on the part Of some one
The members Of the Educational League
some time ago conceived the proposition
that they wanted some more light I'm
1nediately they bethought themselves Of
the Miss Goldman as the highest candle
power attraction that was then in the
radiation business.
Arrangements were made to bring the
Miss Goldman TO our fair city. The MISS
Goldman seemed willing, and said so.
Attempt TO Hire Hall.
The Educational League dispatched its
emissary to the Pythian Temple with
view TO securing the said Pythian Temple
for the speech OF the said Emma Gold
man. along the said educational lines,
dealing. perhaps. with the said Bernard
Shaw, the aforesaid Ibsen, or the hind
said Diamond Dick, jr.
The representatives Of the Pythian Tenn
pie went to the police department 70 OBJ
tain information regarding the point OF
view from which those officials might
look at the purely educational lecture OF
the Miss Goldman.
The Pythian Temple representatives
were Informed that the Miss GOldman's
rather "outre" views on personal equality
and the etiquette Of bombs were not con-
sidered as in keeping with local moral
tone. and that she might be a persona
non grata If she came here.
Purpose Is Baked.
In spite OF this-the members OF the
Educational League having assured ths
Pythian Temple persons that there was
nothing dynamic in the Miss G0ldmans
intended utterances-all might have gone
merry as a Russian plot if the cold, stern
records OF the assessors Office had not
been called into requisition as a pre-
ventive.
The Pythian Temple. il would seem.
procures an annual license which entities
il to allow performances. &c, to be given
within its walls. When the license eX-
pired last year and an attempt was made
10 renew It there was not a ready re-
spOnse upon the part Of the assessor
Office and fire department In fact, until
some changes and repairs nave been made
the assembly room of the temple. 1t IS
said, cannot be rented out for lectures. &c.
The police were not eager for the Miss
Goldman ~ speak here. So. when they
found the license was not in effect. It
gave them opportunity, promptly seized,
to balk in its enthusiastic desire TO hear
the Miss Goldman
Lecture Called OF.
This was last Thursday. As it was then
deemed too late to make other arrange
ments. the lecture was called of The
Miss Goldman was informed she had no
chance TO educate Washington on literary
matters at this time.
Yesterday afternoon people streamed
into the Pythian Temple 10 listen to the
Miss Goldman. but they were greeted by
a daintily written placard. which said
that the Miss Goldman would not speak
Two policemen, however, were there, and
ready to preserve order in case the Miss
Goldman did speak
Mai. Sylvester said last night he did
not care to have any such speeches as
the Miss Goldman might make delivered
in Washington. but that the lecture was
stopped merely because there was no
license for the hall
People who walked down to hear the
lecture were indignant over their disap-
pointment and spoke right out In the
lobby. where the two reporters and the
janitor. who was not interested, could
hear them.
Some couldn't see why the Miss Gold
man wasn't allowed to speak. just as
long as she didn't transcend the bounds
Of prOpriety. or something like that, and
said so But. then. they didn't know
there are more ways to catch a rabbit
than TO salt its tail
It's a pretty cold world. especially after
you've just begun TO reform and are try
ing to learn all about Americans.