Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-12-14
been a Harper's Ferrian and who was
serving the cause with such distinction.
As the dau pnre On fhare was scarcely

serving Inc cause Win SuCn ulSunCllOh'
As the day wore on there was scarcely
a man without a yellow boutoniere-
however he may have cast his ballot
and whether they were coming up town
from Harper's Ferry or down town from
Bolivar, all were wearing the yellow
Hover.
One man told us afterwards that he said
TO himself, al am not going to wear the
yellow flower" so he went down town
one back way and returning slipped up
another; all day he lodged the eloquent
little golden faces, but toward evening,
as he cut cross path in one OF his
back street meanderings, he saw little
yellow flower that had been dropped.
He said, al could not pass that bright
blossom, so pinned il on my coat say
ilg, TO it, Il have lodged those flowers
all day and here you are on my coat
One man said 10 one of the committee,
81 am glad to help you, your father show
ed me how 10 cast my first ballot"
And thus the day was spent IN pleasant
reminlscence and many almost tender
and inspiring incidents, auspiciouS OF a
hopeful future for suffrage and for the
good that will follow in its train.
II was truly wonderful day-we were
lifted out OF the common into The hope
fully speculative. think we were bet
ter patriots, with increased confidence in
our influence toward the good we desire
TO attain; we were not less womanly,
but more womanlY women.
We watched the sun rise through the
gap. and saw il set beyond the mountains.
and that day will always be remembered
as one OF the most splendid in our ex-
perience.
One thing, however, had we the ballot:
the Jail would moi be the voting place, as
il was in the Harper's Ferrv precinct.
Of course there were no prisoners within
since prohibition has gone into effect
the building seldom has an occupant
and OF course the stone walls told no tales
and the gray stone only toned in with The
rocky ledges OF the hillside to the rear
But the ballot is the sign of the free
man." and surely no jail is a fitting place
10 cast the vote. Economy is surely the
only reason such place could be select
ed-if so, and woman had the franchise
and economy was necessarily 10 be con-
sidered we think we could find some
place that would be donated for use on
election day more suitable for the high
privilege of which the voter avails him
SELF Or, we might raise the money to
rent something better-that is one thing
admittedly we car dove can help out
on money matters.
was afraid at first that jail would spoil
our day and weigh on our enthusiasm
and patriotic ardor, but | am happy 10
say il did not in the least The day was
gloriouSly beautiful and our experiences
splendid. We rose above name and as
ISOLATION, and the majesty OF the noun
tains and the occasion was not 10 be af-
fected by that small pile OF stone; and
the song of the nearby Shenandoah
rushing over its stony bed was louder,
more rythmiC, sweeter than any fdncied
echoes from within the walls where that
day freemen cast their ballots.
When we learned OF our victory at our
two precincts we felt very apprecIative OF
the support we received. So commit
tee OF the ladies' who had been busy at
the polls arranged plan 10 express our
thanks. Great cards were printed read
ing, "Thank You for Your Votes" and
these were placed mid flags and yellow
streamers and festoons that decorated the
carriage, and TO the accompaniment OF
iinkling bells on the harness we express
ed to all our thanks as we drove through
the main street OF Our two towns-Boli-
var and Harper's Ferry.
! have written you quite at length, but
the occasion was so rich in many ways
felt must touch upon some of them.
Thanking you, and those you brought
TO us 10 discourse on the issue, for our
inspiration and enlightenment, and not
forgetting the repeated help we received
from our Sh.pherdstown friends, who
stood nobly oy US, ! ann
Very truly yours,
MARY V. ID HALLAM