The Olivia Letters: Being Some History of Washington City for Forty Years as Told by the Letters of a Newspaper CorrespondentBriggs, Emily Edson
History
The Olivia Letters: Being Some History of Washington City for Forty Years as Told by the Letters of a Newspaper Correspondent
Briggs, Emily Edson
United States -- Politics and government -- 1865-1933; Washington (D.C.) -- History
Laws have been changing at woman’s instigation for
the last thirty years, which proves that woman knows what is good for
her. We are obliged to build sidewalks and other improvements and
have we not a right to say how our money shall be expended? You have
seen dogs in the street quarreling over a bone; if you throw them two
bones the quarrel is over. The “drunken scene” was left out, like
everything else which in a way could have a personal application.
After some more talk Mrs. Stanton sat down, and Susan B.--bless
her heart!--faced the Congressional guns. The great pumping power
which this woman carries in her brain had lifted the blood into her
cheeks, and her eyes blazed with the fire of early day. Lilac kid
gloves covered her kind, strong hands and it was astonishing to us
all to see how much she looked like a woman. She put her hands behind
her as if it was best to have them in a safe place, and commenced
by telling the gentlemen that they had it in their power to strike
the word “male” out of the Constitution. (Susan has a way of saying
the word “male” so that it sounds like the snapping of small arms.)
In the District the experiment was tried of giving colored men
their rights, and it seems as if this is a fitting place for the
inauguration of a grander experiment--that of doing for the woman
what you did for the negro. It is only a long custom which you hate
to break.
Mrs. Stanton now prompted Susan to speak of Kansas. She then told the
story of the schoolhouse, and it was ascertained that the reason why
the women had to rise at 11 o’clock at night to vote was because the
men had determined to settle the question that day. The men wrangled
and could not come to a conclusion, so the women were called as the
last feather to break the camel’s back.
A little time before Senator Sumner had come in and taken a seat at
the foot of the table. Susan now asked the Senator a question, and
forgot and called him “Mr. Sumner,” just as if he was like other
men. But she was called to order by Mrs. Stanton, and made haste to
repair the wrong by begging his pardon and saying “Senator” with a
snap to it. She asked the Senator how it worked in Massachusetts by
having women vote on the school question. The Senator said it worked
well. As there seemed no chance for an argument, she paused for fresh
inspiration, but she was interrupted by Phœbe Couzins, and prompted
to say something she had already said.
Whilst they were parleying, Mrs. Pauline Davis took the floor and
said a few words in a voice too low to be heard except by those at
the table. Before Miss Anthony sat down, Mrs. Beecher Hooker touched
her by the arm and begged her not to be too severe. Susan said she
did not mean to be severe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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