Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-23
LADY COOK IN CELL
Merely Visitor to Scene OF
Former Incarceration.
CALLS BACK BITTER DAYS
Former Tennessee Clafin Shows
Where She Suffered.
WITH VICTORIA WOODRUFF
Could Not Find Farewell Message
They Scratched on Wall, An
ticipating Death.
WITH VICTORIA WOODRUFF

NEW YORK, October 23.-Lady Cook,
the Tennessee Clafn Of thirty-seven
years ago. who went with her sister, VIC
toria Woodruff. as prisoner to Ludlow
street Jail. revisited yesterday the scene
O: that old persecution" and in memory
lived again those stirring days as she
stood in the cell they had occupied
Still beautiful. though her hair Is now
SHOW white. still as vivacious as when. In
her youth, she defied the authorities and
wrote her burning letters in Woodhulfs
ana Clafiin's Weekly. she mounted the
twisting iron stairs to the second tier
ard peeped into cell No. 2.
Her party, comprising her nephew. MIL
Lard Sparr. Mrs. Sofia Loebinger and Miss
Helen Murphy. leaders of the American
suffragettes with two or three others. re-
manned on the threshold while Lady Cook
stepped inside and went to the wall above
the cot. With eyes and fingers she
sought long but vainly.
1T was q message we wrote she said.
I'VE traced It with the pin of brooch
and we promised each other that years
later we might come again to find 1t. We
traced on the wall the words. We have
come here to die. We are ready to die.
Good-bye.' We signed it, Victoria and
Tennie.
Farewell Long Painted Out.
Many coats of paint since then have
blotted out that farewell, which, like
PATHS. was only an au revoir after all.
Detaching the yellow Votes for Wom-
en-" button from her coat. Lady COOK
tried to scratch her name on the stone'
but the pin shrked the issue.
When Tennessee Clafiin and Victoria
woodruff were taken to the jail they were
at the height Of the sensational career
the social reform movement had brought
about.
.'The charges against US were so many
said Lady Cook, that We could not get
bail on all, and We spent about six weeks
here They wanted to separate US, but
each was afraid the other would die IN
the night and we chung together The
bed was go ridicuousiy narrow that vic
toria slept with head at the top and
with mine at the foot.
Il recollect they would not give US any
thing TO eat in the Jail but eggs. II had
been threatened that we would be pois-
oned, and they were afraid the blame
might fall on them
Jailed a Second Time.
The second time the sisters We're arrest
ed on complaint of illegal use Of the mails
was at meeting in Cooper Union. Vic
toria Woodruff was to make an address
on The Naked Truth.
"A mob was trying to keep her out,
said Lady Cook, but she slipped in
through the police lines in the disguise
OF a Ouakeress. When she threw back
the cloak there was an uproar. and they
we're going to turn out the lights, but
Peter Cooper said If they did there would
be a massacre
"She spoke and then they bundled her
downstairs and out to a carriage.
Lady Cook walked past the taoles out
side the lower tier OF cells on the second
floor to No 5. which, like No 2. was
unoccupied. That seemed to disappoint
her, for she would have liked to compare
notes with her successor.
II remember there is a garden she
lowed to go to II then, but l should like
TO see II now.
Not allowed" asked the warden.
eff you paid your board in those days,
she explained. you could walk in the
garden.
Glad Successors Are Happier.
She stood on the paved walk under the
trees and said she was glad other prison
srs could see the green and the sky.
AS she went out to her auto a crowd
surrounded her. Cameras were leveled
md some one cried Speed" The old
fire came back She threw up her head
and said in voice that carried over
the heads of the crowd:
81 have come to revisit Ludlow street
iaiL where / was confined nearly forty
wears ago. / was then lighting for the
rights and purity of women. Thank
d., lov fc