The Washington times., 1913-02-28
PUBLIC GREETING IS
BALM TO "H|KERS'
Warmth of Welcome Makes Up
for Vexations Met i'm Trip
to Nations Capital.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First PageD
seemed to them after their weary tramp
of weeks like welcome harbor to a
mariner
From a hut by the roadside a bent
little old lady tottered out as fast as
she could, and, grabbing Rosalie Jones
kissed the generals hand while she
wept tears of joy.
Il have waited long for this day to
come,' said the quaverins old voice;
the day of womankiRd is at hand" q"
General Jones patted her kindly on
the hand and presented her withone Of
her personal badges which had shared
the long hike
] was very much surprised and fat
tered. although somewhat amazed. when
an old lady came up to me and said
she could recognize me as Colonel
Craft from my photographs. Powder
puffs and mirrors were in great de-
mand. showing all femininity had not
been wiped away by a desire to vote, as
SO many antis claim A friend with me
possessed a powder puff, and l two
inch mirror, and our popularity was
assured
1t reminded me of a scene / once saw
in moving picture when Harriet Quinn
by, the intrepid aviatrice, was about
to make her record flight over the Eng
lish channel The car was all ready
to start, she shook hands with her
friends and got into the machine. Sud-
denly she remembered something and,
turning back to a friend, got her TO
loan her mirror and powder puff, while
she powdered her face.
These incidents prove that the women
that achieve in any line are essentially
womanly women. In this age ii has
been made imperative that some women
must get out and accomplish things.
They have not failed to accomplish
them and in many notable instances
have remained the same splendid women
they would have been had not they left
the sheltered fireside.
Impressed By Earnestness.
The chief thing which my two days
experience with the suffrage army has
impressed upon me is the earnestness
and sincerity of these women who have
suffered so much for cause in which
they believed.
They have conclusively proven that
they are women OF purpose and of cour-
age, and 1 predict for them success.
The English suffragist martyr has
nothing on her American sister when
1t comes TO capacity for suffering in
a good and righteous cause, or when
perseverance, and a convincing power
of deeds that should convert the most
etubborn-hearted.
If ever women have suffered for the
L
this little band of pilgrims who today
reached the Mecca of their hopes and
with flying banners and happy hearts
entered the National Capital. The out
side world will in all probability never
know what they have endured because
they have suffered in silence.
Before ! came upon those heroic
women On the outskirts of Hyattsville
yesterday, plunging along knee-deep in
mud and in a heavy rain, l had re-
L. lrr
Honest confession is coed for the soul,
end IYfelt ashamed of myself for the
thought as soon as l looked into their
earnest. lovely faces. aglow with en-
thusiasm and high resolve. After that
saw ii was very serious thing and
could not but regard these women as
martyrs.
1t seems easy to talk suffrage in par
ior meetings, and even on street cor
ners, IL one has talent in that direc-
ton. but to get out in the mud and
walk from New York to Washington in
winter time through heavy rains, snow,
and freezing weather, to say nothing
of enduring the jeers of college students
and hoodlums. requires the spirit of
martyrs and physical courage Of a
high type.
Somehow, i am afraid l lack the quail
ity of nerve that would enable me to
hike that distance. even did my school
duties and my parents permit. How
L
have been able TO do il, and / hope
no one viii ever again say it is fool
fish. Many demonstrations of truth ap-
pear foolish until you know the un
derlying motives and the deep lessons
that they teach.
No woman ever got out in the rain,
the mud, and the snow. did without
physical comforts and racked her body
and nerves by a terrific strain of a
months hike for a foolish motive.
H. lii
they felt that every foot of the land
over which they have passed will be
mute witness Of their belief in the
cause under whose banner they have
been marching.
We first overlook the little army mid
way between Hyattsville and Bladens-
burg. The curious lined the roadside
intent on discovering the notables in
the party. On all sides came the cry,
where's the general and l myself
kept weather eye out for the famous
little commander-head of the strangest
army that ever went to battle for the
Lord.
In after years when suffrage is an
esta blished fact in every State of the
United States, and / hope every civil
lized country of the world, these pio-
neers in the cause of votes for women
will be A tradition in the annals of
equal suffrage. The scene is more his
toric than We of the present day imag-
inc. Not in brave array they marched.
with drums beating and colors flying
high, as men are wont TO do when they
go forth to war, but struggling .along
In the weakness of the physical woman.
buoyed by the greatness of their cause,
they came. a picturesque, tear compell-
ing spectacle. one that made me
ashamed of my comfortable seat in the
big touring car. especially when / saw
in the army women of years and silver.
locks marching valiantly along with
the younger women.
Are Womenly Women.
Men have for time immemorial used
the argument against any efficient work
Of womankind that they never can for
get their personal appearance in what
they are undertaking. This argument
was riddled to pieces today when these
attractive women, accustomed to every
comfort and luXury in their own homes,
marched along, not caring whether their
hair was in proper shape or even II
their noses were red with the cold and
rain. Women are in earnest when they
can forget these things, and these
mixers are womanly women. sympa-
thetic and tender, quick to tears and
April in smiles.
When We came upon the pilgrims We
found them excitedlv talking over an
incident. that occurred Just outside the
Maryland Agricultural College Some