New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-24
s1APBOX BRIGADE HAS
IT'S BAPTISM OF FIRE
povices from Mrs. Cats Suf.
fraae School Try Out Their
Arguments in.ParkS.
VETERANS NEAR AT HAND
fried Speakers for Cause"
Rushed to the Front When
ever Green Recruits Waiver
Under Massed Attack.

With Principal Carrie Chapman Cats
.,rting blessing. with a last resounding
.dmonition from Professor Mary Garrett
Nav TO use your common sense, girls"
Nth final instructions from Professor
peat-ice Forbes-Robertson Hale on how
"A make ones voice carry into the next
block without cracking 1t, ffty-three
pupils from the School for Suffrage
workers went forth TO make their maiden
spseches in ffty-three city parks yester-
day.
The rest OF the one hundred and fifty
nunjls went along 10 sell literature and
buttons. II was Park Day"-planned by
the suffragists for last Saturday. but
postponed out Of respect TO the dead ex-
eeutive Of New York City. II was a big
ordeal for the students. most of whom
are from other and smaller places.
"My knees are just knocking together
with fright" murmured a fair-haired
rrl from Houston. Tex, as the soapbox
brigade started out.
''w-wili the soapbox hold me?" chat
tered a plump woman from Ohio.
"oh. p-please don't make me speak in
New York" implored fawn-eyed South
ern girl. II could do better at home
where know the people. and I'm sure
John wouldn't approve Of my speaking
here.
Now, now" said Mrs. Gait. reassur-
ingly. The greatest speakers have
stage fright before speaking In fact 81
q speaker doesn't feel afraid before be-
ginning it shows that She or he. is not
great"
The ifty-three perked up a bit at that
and went forth a trife less reluctantly.
They We're not unsupported. Mrs
James Lees Laidlaw. Mrs. Marie Jenney
Howe, Miss Winona Marlin. Miss Alberta
Hill. Miss Elizabeth Freeman and many
others OF the experienced speakers for
the cause went along One Of these ex-
-perts took charge OF each meeting, and
other experts whisked from park 10 park
IN automobiles. speaking wherever they
were needed-which was everywherc-for
few Of the novices were good for more
tran five minutes. The experts were also
handy to ask questions. Whenever
hoarse voiced citizen from the crowd
yelled out:
Aw, say, women votes in Colorado. an
they got child labor there'-the novice
could just gently fade away from the
soapboX. leaving the expert TO stagger
the hoarse-voiced citizen with statistics.
Tie meetings began at $3.50 o'clock in the
afternoon. and lasted as long as anybody
would listen TO them. Eighteen parks IN
Manhattan, were covered, among them
Union Square. Chelsea Park, Seward
Park. Battery Park and Columbus Circle.
Central Park was not invaded Sixteen of
the parks covered We're in Brooklyn, the
rest in Staten Island and The Bronx.
When the agony was over the $50 pupils
gathered at the Woman Suffrage party
headquarters. No IS East Sith street and
compared notes.
Harry was afraid ia get mannish II 1
came 10 a suffrage school," confided one.
but suffragists aren't mannish. Why.
was going from one park TO another with
Mrs James Lees Laidlaw, and she asked
could ! stop in at a certain toy store
She had left her little girls doll. John.
10 be mended; Johns arm was fractured,
and his young mother thought he was at
the hospital. and would be grieved If ne
wasn't home that night. Mrs. Laidlaw
went to the next meeting with the mend
ed doll under her arm"
The most exciting adventure the nov
fees had was when three young men,
passing the be-bannered automobile in
which they we're riding UP Fifth avenue
flung into their car a handful Of Young
Mems Christian Association pamphlets
entitled, How Men Succeed" with the
men" strongly underlined.