The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-07
The EVENING STORY
Pauline, the Suffragette.
(By Lawrence Alfred Clay.)

always referred to as "Pauly.'' But
she decided to become a suffragette-
certain young man named Claude Tai
bot, and the promise she had given
MIN an evening or two previous. and
as she was losing consciousness she
IeIt that the world was all right and
that 1t was a good place to live in.
When Miss Pauline awoke with q
sudden start it was exactly one min
ute and fifty-five seconds after 1
was right there in front OF her, and
there could be no mistake. It was a
clock on which She could depend.
she awoke to realize that among the
thousands or more wrong things in
this old world was the fact that wom-
en- were denied the ballot. She had
heard and read something of this be-
fore, but had had no interest in the
subjects Now it came upon her with a
oyerpowering force. It was almost
personal matter that she should start
out and secure an amendment to the
constitution without unnecessary de-
lay. Her mother. her grandmother,
her great-grandmother and several
great-grandmothers beyond that had
been held in bondage like slaves. She
was being held now. Man had riven 4
the chains on her and was adding new
padloclxs. Revolution must come, and
revolution should come.
Having decided this point the young
lady fell back on her pillow and slept
again.
Next morning there was an an
nouneement at the breakfast table
calculated to shake the earth for
miles around. It was:
Papa and mamma. have decided
to become a suffragette!"
"Yes?,' replisd the father, who was
a college professor and was doing a
sum in mental arithmetic.
.Yes?' replied the mother with the
same interest as if Pauly had declar-
n
and play houses. Some girls would
have been discouraged and let the ~
rant man go right along casting all
the ballots and doing all the betting,
but Pauly was only upset for mo-
ment.
AS soon as breakfast was finished
she went over to see Mrs. Dashford.
Mrs. Dashford was known as the
strong woman Of the town-strong in
her opinions on the suffrage question.
She advocated cold poison, the axe
and the shotgun if necessary to Sc
cure woman's lights. 1t was to be ex-
recruit a warm welcome, but she dis
appointed her caller.
my dear, you are only a young and
frivolous thing" she announced, "and
1t will be altogether better for you
to let wiser heads handle the matter.
Man is not afraid of you. Neither are
you qualified Tor office in case we get
the ballot. You can contribute toward
our expenses and let it be known that
you sympathize, but it is a woman's
BATTLE"
That was another shock, but it
didn't bring despair. with it. Miss
Pauly remembered that her grand
father on her mothers side fell at
Lexington, and that she must be
worthy of the sacrifice. She contrib
uted IS and went home to read up on
tyrants and their victims, and inciden-
tally to think over what she must an
mr. fn
He would argue. but she would be
firm. If women had been firm in the
first place mar would be now wash
ing the dishes instead of making the
laws. Perhaps she was too young
and frivolous to take an august senator
by the throat and threaten him with
a dagger, but she could sacrifice and
she could be firm.
Evening came and punctually at 81
o'clock Mr.. Talbot rang the bell. He
was not kept long in suspense after
admission. Re was only seated when
the announcement was made:
Claude have become suffra-
INSTEAD of having the measles" he
laughed.
4 shall attend all meetings. write
for the papers and learn how to make
speeches for the cause. This bondage
must end"
Mr.. Talbot, grinned. laughed, ar
gued and ridicdled, but he found Miss
Pauly firm. Then it was with very
serious face that he asked:
Does this stand that you have TAX
en- mean that we are not to be mar
ried 2" 4
Not unless you can assure me that
your whole. heart is in the cause,
and that from now on until enslaved
woman is set free, you will devote
your time to it,
"Pauly, you have lost your head"
Thousands of women are making
.-sf xx-t7~ zf7 n1rT6 rS&
Mr.. Claude Talbot was a level
headed young man and had a bit of
philosophy in his makeup. He didn't
rear around and tear his hair and rush
out of doors, but decided to Fay out
on the rope and see what would come
| of it,.
Next day Miss Pauly called to see
Mrs. Ravens. Mrs. Ravens was tall
the voice of a man and when that
! voice got to relating the bondage of
| her sex, the grocers' boy at the back
door shivered in his shoes. He thought
she had found a shortage in the
weight of the butter. She had an
apathetic welcome waiting for the re-
cruit
"You cannot hope to distinguish
yourself" she said. IT have some
printed arguments it will be well for
| you to read. and when you use them
| in talking to others please mention
that they are my arguments. Did you
wish to leave a cash donation for the
great cause2"
And Pauly made a call on Mrs.
Washington Glenn. A few weeks pre-
viously Mrs. Glenn had marched to the
polls on election day and offered her
| ballot. When the inspectors had re-
fused it she had drawn herself up and
said:
| 1.-The downfall of man in the United
| States dates from this houri It may
1 take us years to do it. but the time is
coming when we shall have our feet
ron your necks. And then. you shall
squirm and s-q-u-i-r-m!'
| Miss Pauly stated her convictions