The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 1 of 2): Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty YearsHarper, Ida Husted
History
The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 1 of 2): Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty Years
Harper, Ida Husted
Anthony, Susan B. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906
After Miss Anthony returned home, outraged nature asserted itself and
at every moment the pain in her back was excruciating. She went to a
doctor for the first time in her life and was given a fly-blister and
some drugs to put in whiskey. The last two she threw away but applied
the blister, which only increased her misery. She suffered terribly all
summer but was busy every moment writing a new speech and sending out
scores of letters for a second woman's rights convention which had been
called to meet at Saratoga in August. Most of the replies were
favorable. T.W. Higginson wrote: "With great pleasure will I come to
Saratoga Springs on August 15 and 16. It is a capital idea to have a
convention there, coax in some curious fashionables and perhaps make
those who come to scoff, remain to pray." Lucretia Mott sent a letter
full of good cheer. From Mrs. Stanton, overwhelmed with the cares of
many little children, came this pathetic message: "I can not go. I have
so many drawbacks to all my efforts for women that every step is one of
warfare, but there is a good time coming and I am strong and happy in
hope. I long to see you, dear Susan, and hear of your wanderings."
Paulina Wright Davis said, in discussing the convention; "I get almost
discouraged with women. They will work for men, but a woman must ride
in triumph over everything before they will give her a word of aid or
cheer; they are ready enough to take advantage of every step gained,
but not ready to help further steps. When will they be truer and
nobler? Not in our day, but we must work on for future generations."
Lucy Stone, enjoying her honeymoon at the Blackwell home near
Cincinnati, wrote in a playful mood: "When, after reading your letter,
I asked my husband if I might go to Saratoga, only think of it! He did
not give me permission, but told me to ask Lucy Stone. I can't get him
to govern me at all.... The Washington Union, noticing our marriage,
said: 'We understand that Mr. Blackwell, who last fall assaulted a
southern lady and stole her slave, has lately married Miss Lucy Stone.
Justice, though sometimes tardy, never fails to overtake her victim.'
They evidently think him well punished. With the old love and good will
I am now and ever,
LUCY STONE (only)."
[Illustration: H Anthony
AT THE AGE OF 95, IN HIS OWN ROOM AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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