第4章

HIGH—SCHOOLANDCOLLEGEDAYS

TheendoftheCivilWarbroughtfreedomtome，too。Whenpeacewasdeclaredmyfatherandbrothersreturnedtotheclaiminthewildernesswhichwewomenofthefamilyhadlaboredsodes—

peratelytoholdwhiletheyweregone。Tous，astoothers，thefinalyearsofthewarhadbroughtmanychanges。MysisterEleanor’splacewasempty。

Mary，asIhavesaid，hadmarriedandgonetoliveinBigRapids，andmymotherandIwerealonewithmybrotherHarry，nowaboyoffourteen。Afterthereturnofourmenitwasnolongernecessarytode—

voteeverypennyofmyearningstothemaintenanceofourhome。ForthefirsttimeIcouldbegintosaveaportionofmyincometowardthefulfilmentofmycollegedream，butevenyettherewasalong，aridstretchaheadofmebeforethecollegedoorscameevendistantlyintosight。

ThelargestsalaryIcouldearnbyteachinginourNorthernwoodswasonehundredandfifty—sixdollarsayear，fortwotermsofthirteenweekseach；andfromthis，ofcourse，Ihadtodeductthecostofmyboardandclothing——thesoleexpenditureIallowedmyself。Thedollarsforaneducationaccumulatedvery，veryslowly，untilatlast，indesperation，wearyofseeingtheyearsofmyyouthrushpast，bearingmyhopeswiththem，Itookasuddenandradicalstep。Igaveupteaching，leftourcabininthewoods，andwenttoBigRapidstolivewithmysisterMary，whohadmarriedasuccessfulmanandwhogenerouslyofferedmeahome。There，Ihadde—

cided，Iwouldlearnatradeofsomekind，ofanykind；itdidnotgreatlymatterwhatitwas。Thesoleessentialwasthatitshouldbeamoney—makingtrade，offeringwageswhichwouldmakeitpossibletoaddmorerapidlytomysavings。Inthosedays，almostfiftyyearsago，andinasmallpioneertown，thefieldsopentowomenwerefewandunfruitful。

Theneedleatoncepresenteditself，butatfirstI

turnedwithloathingfromit。Iwouldhavepre—

ferredthediggingofditchesortheshovelingofcoal；

buttheneedlealonepersistentlypointedoutmyway，andIwasfinallyforcedtotakeit。

Fate，however，asifwearyatlastofseeingmebetweenherpaws，suddenlyletmeescape。BeforeIhadbeenworkingamonthatmyuncongenialtradeBigRapidswasfavoredbyavisitfromaUniversalistwomanminister，theReverendMariannaThompson，whocametheretopreach。Herser—

monwasdeliveredonSundaymorning，andIwas，I

think，almosttheearliestarrivalofthegreatcon—

gregationwhichfilledthechurch。Itwasawonder—

fulmomentwhenIsawmyfirstwomanministerenterherpulpit；andasIlistenedtohersermon，thrilledtothesoul，allmyearlyaspirationstobe—

comeaministermyselfstirredinmewithcumulativeforce。AftertheservicesIhungforatimeonthefringeofthegroupthatsurroundedher，andatlast，whenshewasaloneandabouttoleave，Ifoundcouragetointroducemyselfandpourforththetaleofmyambition。Heradvicewasaspromptasifshehadstudiedmyproblemforyears。

``Mychild，’’shesaid，``giveupyourfoolishideaoflearningatrade，andgotoschool。Youcan’tdoanythinguntilyouhaveaneducation。Getit，andgetitNOW。’’

Hersuggestionwasmuchtomyliking，andIpaidherthecomplimentofactingonitpromptly，forthenextmorningIenteredtheBigRapidsHighSchool，whichwasalsoapreparatoryschoolforcol—

lege。ThereIwouldstudy，Idetermined，aslongasmymoneyheldout，andwiththeoptimismofyouthIsucceededinconfiningmyimaginationtothissideofthatcrisis。Myhome，thankstoMary，wasassured；thewardrobeIhadbroughtfromthewoodscoveredmesufficiently；toonewhohadwalkedfiveandsixmilesadayforyears，walkingtoschoolheldnodiscomfort；andasforpleasure，Ifoundit，likeaheroineoffiction，inmystudies。

Forthefirsttimelifewassmilingatme，andwithallmyyoungheartIsmiledback。

ThepreceptressofthehighschoolwasLucyFoot，acollegegraduateandaremarkablewoman。

Ihadheardmuchofhersympathyandunderstand—

ing；andontheeveningfollowingmyfirstdayinschoolIwenttoherandrepeatedtheconfidencesIhadreposedintheReverendMariannaThompson。

Mytrustinherwasjustified。Shetookanimmedi—

ateinterestinme，andproveditatoncebyputtingmeintothespeakinganddebatingclasses，whereI

wasgiveneveryopportunitytoholdforthtohelp—

lessclassmateswhenthespiritofeloquencemovedme。

AsanaidtopublicspeakingIwastaughtto``elo—

cute，’’andIrememberineverymournfuldetailtheoccasiononwhichIgavemyfirstrecitation。

Wewerehavingourmonthly``publicexhibitionnight，’’andtheaudienceincludednotonlymyclass—

mates，buttheirparentsandfriendsaswell。TheselectionIintendedtorecitewasapoementitled``NoSectsinHeaven，’’butwhenIfacedmyau—

dienceIwassoappalledbyitssizeandbythesud—

denrealizationofmyowntemeritythatIfaintedduringthedeliveryofthefirstverse。Sympatheticclassmatescarriedmeintoananteroomandrevivedme，afterwhichtheynaturallyassumedthattheentertainmentIfurnishedwasoverfortheevening。

I，however，feltthatifIletthatfailurestandagainstmeIcouldneverafterwardspeakinpublic；andwithintenminutes，notwithstandingtheprotestsofmyfriends，Iwasbackinthehallandbeginningmyrecitationasecondtime。Theaudiencegavemeitseagerattention。Possiblyithopedtoseemetoppleofftheplatformagain，butnothingofthesortoccurred。Iwentthroughtherecitationwithself—possessionandreceivedsomefriendlyapplauseattheend。Strangelyenough，thosefirstsensationsof``stagefright’’havebeenexperienced，inalesserde—

gree，inconnectionwitheachofthethousandsofpublicspeechesIhavemadesincethattime。I

haveneveragaingonesofarastofaintinthepresenceofanaudience；butIhaveinvariablywalkedoutontheplatformfeelingthesinkingsen—

sationatthepitofthestomach，theweaknessoftheknees，thatIfeltinthehourofmydebut。Now，however，thenervousnesspassesafteramomentortwo。

FromthatnightMissFootlostnoopportunityofputtingmeintotheforegroundofourschoolaffairs。

Itookpartinallourdebates，recitedyardsofpoe—

trytoanyaudiencewecouldattract，andevenshonemildlyinouramateurtheatricals。ItwasprobablyowingtoallthisactivitythatIattractedthein—

terestofthepresidingelderofourdistrict——Dr。

Peck，amanofprogressiveideas。TherewasatthattimeamovementonfoottolicensewomentopreachintheMethodistChurch，andDr。PeckwasambitioustobethefirstpresidingeldertohaveawomanordainedfortheMethodistministry。HehadurgedMissFoottobethispioneer，butherambitionsdidnotturninthatdirection。ThoughshewasaverydevoutMethodist，shehadnowishtobetheshepherdofareligiousflock。Shelovedherschool—work，andaskednothingbetterthantoremaininit。GentlybutpersistentlyshedirectedtheattentionofDr。Pecktome，andimmediatelythingsbegantohappen。

Withouttellingmetowhatitmightlead，MissFootfinallyarrangedameetingatherhomebyin—

vitingDr。Peckandmetodinner。Beinguncon—

sciousofanysignificanceintheoccasion，Ichattedlight—heartedlyaboutthelargeissuesoflifeandprobablysettledmostofthemtomypersonalsatis—

faction。Dr。Peckdrewmeoutandledmeon，listenedandsmiled。Whentheeveningwasoverandwerosetogo，heturnedtomewithsuddenseriousness：

``MyquarterlymeetingwillbeheldatAshton，’’

heremarked，casually。``Iwouldlikeyoutopreachthequarterlysermon。’’

Foramomenttheearthseemedtoslipawayfrommyfeet。Istaredathiminutterstupefaction。

ThenslowlyIrealizedthat，incredibleasitseemed，themanwasinearnest。

``Why，’’Istammered，``_I_can’tpreachaser—

mon！’’

Dr。Pecksmiledatme。``Haveyouevertried？’’

heasked。

IstartedtoassurehimvehementlythatIneverhad。Then，asifTimehadthrownapictureonascreenbeforeme，Isawmyselfasalittlegirlpreach—

ingaloneintheforest，asIhadsooftenpreachedtoacongregationoflisteningtrees。Iqualifiedmyanswer。

``Never，’’Isaid，``tohumanbeings。’’

Dr。Pecksmiledagain。``Well，’’hetoldme，``thedoorisopen。Enterornot，asyouwish。’’

Heleftthehouse，butIremainedtodiscusshisoverwhelmingpropositionwithMissFoot。Asud—

densoberingthoughthadcometome。

``But，’’Iexclaimed，``I’veneverbeenconverted。

HowcanIpreachtoanyone？’’

Webothhadtheold—timeideaofconversion，whichnowseemssomistaken。WethoughtonehadtostrugglewithsinandwiththeLorduntilatlasttheheartopened，doubtsweredispersed，andthelightpouredin。MissFootcouldonlyadvisemetoputthematterbeforetheLord，towrestleandtopray；andthereafter，forhoursatatime，sheworkedandprayedwithme，alternatelyurging，pleading，instructing，andsendinguppetitionsinmybehalf。

Ourlastsessionwasadramaticone，whichtookuptheentirenight。Longbeforeitwasoverwewerebothwornout；buttowardmorning，eitherfromexhaustionofbodyorexaltationofsoul，Iseemedtoseethelight，anditmademeveryhappy。WithallmyheartIwantedtopreach，andIbelievedthatnowatlastIhadmycall。ThefollowingdaywesentwordtoDr。PeckthatIwouldpreachtheser—

monatAshtonashehadasked，butweurgedhimtosaynothingofthematterforthepresent，andMissFootandIalsokeptthesecretlockedinourbreasts。

Iknewonlytoowellwhatviewmyfamilyandmyfriendswouldtakeofsuchastepandofme。Tothemitwouldmeannothingshortofpersonaldis—

graceandablottedpageintheShawrecord。

Ihadsixweeksinwhichtopreparemysermon，andIgaveitmostofmywakinghoursaswellasthoseinwhichIshouldhavebeenasleep。Itookformytext：``AndasMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness，evensomusttheSonofManbeliftedup；thatwhosoeverbelievethinHimshouldnotperish，buthaveeternallife。’’

ItwasnotuntilthreedaysbeforeIpreachedthesermonthatIfoundcouragetoconfidemypurposetomysisterMary，andifIhadconfessedmyinten—

tiontocommitacapitalcrimeshecouldnothavebeenmoredisturbed。Wetwohadalwaysbeenveryclose，andthedeathofEleanor，towhomwewerebothdevoted，haddrawnusevennearertoeachother。NowMary’stearsandprayerswrungmyheartandshookmyresolution。But，afterall，shewasaskingmetogiveupmywholefuture，toclosemyearstomycall，andIfeltthatIcouldnotdoit。Mydecisioncausedanestrangementbetweenuswhichlastedforyears。OnthedayprecedingthedeliveryofmysermonIleftforAshtonontheafternoontrain；andinthesamecar，butasfarawayfrommeasshecouldget，Marysataloneandweptthroughoutthejourney。Shewasgoingtomymother，butshedidnotspeaktome；andI，formypart，facingbothalienationfromherandtheordealbeforeme，foundmyonecomfortinLucyFoot’spresenceandunderstandingsympathy。

TherewasnochurchinAshton，soIpreachedmysermoninitsonelittleschool—house，whichwasfilledwithacuriouscrowd，eagertolookatandhearthegirlwhowasdefyingallconventionsbygettingoutofthepewandintothepulpit。TherewasmuchwhisperingandsuppressedexcitementbeforeIbegan，butwhenIgaveoutmytextsilencefellupontheroom，andfromthatmomentuntilIhadfinishedmyhearerslistenedquietly。Akerosene—

lampstoodonastandatmyelbow，andasIpreachedItrembledsoviolentlythattheoilshookinitsglassglobe；butIfinishedwithoutbreakingdown，andattheendDr。Peck，whohadhisownreasonsfornervousness，handsomelyassuredmethatmyfirstsermonwasbetterthanhismaidenefforthadbeen。

Itwasevidentlynotafailure，forthenextdayheinvitedmetofollowhimaroundinhiscircuit，whichincludedthirty—sixappointments；hewishedmetopreachineachofthethirty—sixplaces，asitwasde—

sirabletoletthevariousministershearandknowmebeforeIappliedformylicenseasalocalpreacher。

Thesermonalsohadanotherresult，lessgratify—

ing。Itbroughtout，onthefollowingmorning，thefirstnoticeofmeeverprintedinanewspaper。

Thiswasinstigatedbymybrother—in—law，anditwasbriefbutpointed。Itread：

AyounggirlnamedAnnaShaw，seventeenyearsold，[1]

preachedatAshtonyesterday。Herrealfriendsdeprecatethecoursesheispursuing。

[1]Amisstatementbythebrother—in—law。Dr。Shawwasatthistimetwenty—threeyearsold。——E。J。

Thelittlenoticehadsomethingoftheeffectofalightedmatchappliedtogunpowder。Anex—

plosionofpublicsentimentfollowedit，theentirecommunityaroseinconsternation，andIbecameaboneofcontentionoverwhichfriendsandstrangersalikewrangleduntiltheyworethemselvesout。

Themembersofmyfamily，meetinginsolemncouncil，sentforme，andIresponded。Theyhadapropositiontomake，andtheylostnotimeinput—

tingitbeforeme。IfIgaveupmypreachingtheywouldsendmetocollegeandpayformyentirecourse。TheysuggestedAnnArbor，andAnnArbortemptedmesorely；buttodescendfromthepulpitIhadatlastentered——thepulpitIhadvisualizedinallmychildishdreams——wasnottobeconsidered。

Wehadalongeveningtogether，anditwasaveryunhappyone。AttheendofitIwasgiventwenty—

fourhoursinwhichtodecidewhetherIwouldchoosemypeopleandcollege，ormypulpitandthearcticlonelinessofalifethatheldnofamily—circle。Itdidnotrequiretwenty—fourhoursofreflectiontoconvincemethatImustgomysolitaryway。

ThatyearIpreachedthirty—sixtimes，ateachofthepresidingelder’sappointments；andthefollow—

ingspring，attheannualMethodistConferenceofourdistrict，heldatBigRapids，mynamewaspre—

sentedtotheassembledministersasthatofacan—

didateforalicensetopreach。Therewasunusualinterestintheresult，andmyfatherwasamongthosewhocametotheConferencetoseethevotetaken。

DuringtheseConferencesaministervotedaffirma—

tivelyonaquestionbyholdinguphishand，andnegativelybyfailingtodoso。Whenthequestionofmylicensecameupthemajorityoftheministersvotedbyraisingbothhands，andinthepleasantexcitementwhichfollowedmyfatherslippedaway。

Thosewhosawhimtoldmehelookedpleased；buthesentmenomessageshowingachangeofview—

point，andthegulfbetweenthefamilyanditsblacksheepremainedunbridged。ThoughthewarmthofMary’sloveformehadbecomeamemory，thewarmthofherhearthstonewasstillofferedme。I

acceptedit，perforce，andwelivedtogetherlikeshadowsofwhatwehadbeen。TwofriendsaloneofallIhadmadestoodbymewithoutqualification——MissFootandClaraOsborn，thelattermy``chum’’atBigRapidsandadwellerinmyhearttothisday。

Inthemeantimemypreachinghadnotinter—

feredwithmystudies。Iwasworkingdayandnight，butlifewasverydifficult；foramongmyschool—

mates，too，thereweredoubtsandmuchhead—shakingoverthischoiceofacareer。Ineededthesoundoffriendlyvoices，forIwasverylonely；andsuddenly，whenthepressurefromallsideswasstrongestandIwasgoingdownphysicallyunderit，avoicewasraisedthatIhadneverdaredtodreamwouldspeakforme。MaryA。LivermorecametoBigRapids，andasshewasthenattheheightofhercareer，theentirecountrysidepouredintohearher。FarbackinthecrowdedhallIsataloneandlistenedtoher，thrilledbythelectureandtremulouswiththehopeofmeetingthelecturer。WhenshehadfinishedspeakingIjoinedthethrongthatsurgedforwardfromthebodyofthehall，andasIreachedherandfeltthegraspofherfriendlyhandIhadasuddenconvictionthatthemeetingwasanepochinmylife。

Iwasright。SomeoneinthecirclearoundustoldherthatIwantedtopreach，andthatIwasmeetingtremendousopposition。Shewasinterestedatonce。

Shelookedatmewithquickeningsympathy，andthen，suddenlyputtinganarmaroundme，drewmeclosetoherside。

``Mydear，’’shesaid，quietly，``ifyouwanttopreach，goonandpreach。Don’tletanybodystopyou。Nomatterwhatpeoplesay，don’tletthemstopyou！’’

ForamomentIwastooovercometoanswerher。

Thesewerealmostmyfirstencouragingwords，andthemorningstarssingingtogethercouldnothavemadesweetermusicformyears。BeforeIcouldrecoverawomanwithinhearingspokeup。

``Oh，Mrs。Livermore，’’sheexclaimed，``don’tsaythattoher！We’realltryingtostopher。Herpeo—

plearewretchedoverthewholething。Anddon’tyouseehowillsheis？Shehasonefootinthegraveandtheotheralmostthere！’’

Mrs。Livermoreturneduponmealonganddeeplythoughtfullook。``Yes，’’shesaidatlast，``Iseeshehas。Butitisbetterthatsheshoulddiedoingthethingshewantstodothanthatsheshoulddiebecauseshecan’tdoit。’’

Herwordswereatonicwhichrestoredmyvoice。

``SotheythinkI’mgoingtodie！’’Icried。``Well，I’mnot！I’mgoingtoliveandpreach！’’

IhavealwaysfeltsincethenthatwithouttheinspirationofMrs。Livermore’sencouragementI

mightnothavecontinuedmyfight。Hersanctionwasashield，however，fromwhichthecriticismsoftheworldfellback。Fate’smorefriendlyinterestinmyaffairsthatyearwasshownbythefactthatshesentMrs。LivermoreintomylifebeforeIhadmetAnnaDickinson。MissDickinsoncametoustowardspringandlecturedonJoanofArc。NeverbeforeorsincehaveIbeenmoredeeplymovedbyaspeaker。WhenshehadfinishedheraddressImademyhappywaytothefrontofthehallwiththeotherswhowishedtomeetthedistinguishedguest。Itwasourlocalmanagerwhointroducedme，andhesaid，``ThisisourAnnaShaw。Sheisgoingtobealecturer，too。’’

IlookedupatthebrilliantMissDickinsonwiththetrustfulnessofyouthinmyeyes。Iremem—

beredMrs。LivermoreandIthoughtallgreatwom—

enwerelikeher，butIwasnowtoexperienceabitterdisillusionment。MissDickinsonbarelytouchedthetipsofmyfingersasshelookedindifferentlypastthesideofmyface。``Ah，’’shesaid，icily，andturnedaway。InlateryearsIlearnedhowimpossibleitisforapublicspeakertoleaveagraciousimpressiononeverylifethatforamomenttouchesherown；butIhaveneverceasedtobethankfulthatImetMrs。LivermorebeforeImetMissDickinsonatthecrisisinmycareer。

Intheautumnof1873IenteredAlbionCollege，inAlbion，Michigan。Iwastwenty—fiveyearsofage，butIlookedmuchyounger——probablynotmorethaneighteentothecasualglance。ThoughIhadmadeeveryefforttosavemoney，Ihadnotbeensuccessful，formyexpensesconstantlyoutranmylittleincome，andmypositionaspreachermadeitnecessaryformetohaveasuitablewardrobe。

WhenthetimecametoentercollegeIhadexactlyeighteendollarsintheworld，andIstartedforAlbionwiththisamountinmypurseandwithouttheslightestnotionofhowIwastoaddtoit。Themoneyproblemsopresseduponme，infact，thatwhenIreachedmydestinationatmidnightanddis—

coveredthatitwouldcostfiftycentstoridefromthestationtothecollege，Isavedthatamountbywalkingtheentiredistanceontherailroadtracks，whilemyimaginationbusieditselfpleasantlywithpicturesoftheenginethatmightbethunderinguponmeintherear。IhadchosenAlbionbecauseMissFoothadbeeneducatedthere，andIwasencouragedbyanincidentthathappenedthemorningaftermyarrival。Iwasonthecampus，walkingtowardthemainbuilding，whenIsawabigcopperpennylyingontheground，and，onpickingitup，Idiscoveredthatitboretheyearofmybirth。Thatseemedagoodomen，anditwasemphaticallyunderlinedbythefindingoftwoexactlysimilarpennieswithinaweek。ThoughtherehavebeendayssincethenwhenIwassorelytemptedtospendthem，Ihavethosethreepenniesstill，andIconfesstoacertaincomfortintheirpossession！

AsIhadnotcompletedmyhigh—schoolcourse，myfirstdaysatAlbionwerespentinstrenuousprep—

arationfortheentranceexaminations；andonemorn—

ing，asIwascrossingthecampuswithaHistoryoftheUnitedStatestuckedcoylyundermyarm，Imetthepresidentofthecollege，Dr。Josclyn。Hestoppedforawordofgreeting，duringwhichIbe—

trayedthefactthatIhadneverstudiedUnitedStateshistory。Dr。Josclynatonceinvitedmeintohisofficewith，Iamquitesure，thepurposeofex—

plainingaskindlyashecouldthatmypreparationforcollegewasinsufficient。Asanopeningtothesubjecthebegantotalkofhistory，andwetalkedandtalkedon，whileunheededhourswerebornanddied。WediscussedthehistoryoftheUnitedStates，thegovernmentsoftheworld，thecauseswhichledtotheinfluenceofonenationonanother，thephilo—

sophicalbasisofthedifferentnationalmovementswestward，andthelike。ItwasthelongestandbyfarthemostinterestingtalkIhaveeverhadwithahighlyeducatedman，andduringitIcouldactuallyfeelmybrainexpand。WhenIrosetogoPresidentJosclynstoppedme。

``Ihavesomethingtogiveyou，’’hesaid，andhewroteafewwordsonaslipofpaperandhandedthesliptome。When，onreachingthedormitory，Iopenedit，Ifoundthatthepresidenthadpassedmeinthehistoryoftheentirecollegecourse！This，moreover，wasnottheonlypleasantresultofourinterview，forwithinafewweeksPresidentandMrs。

Josclyn，whosedaughterhadrecentlydied，invitedmetoboardwiththem，andImademyhomewiththemduringmyfirstyearatAlbion。

MytriumphinhistorywasfollowedbytheswiftandchasteningdiscoverythatIwasbehindmyas—

sociatesinseveralotherbranches。Owingtomyfather’searlyhelp，Iwaswellupinmathematics，butIhadmuchtolearnofphilosophyandthelanguages，andtotheseIdevotedmanymidnightcandles。

Naturally，Isoonplungedintospeaking，andmyfirstpublicspeechatcollegewasadefenseofXan—

tippe。Ihavealwaysfeltthatthepoorladywasgreatlyabused，andthatSocratesdeservedallhereceivedfromher，andmore。Iwasgladtoputmyselfonrecordasherchampion，andmyfellow—

studentsmustsoonhavefeltthatmyadmirationforXantippewasbasedonsimilaritiesoftempera—

ment，forwithinafewmonthsIwasleadingthefirstcollegerevoltagainsttheauthorityofthemenstudents。

Albionwasacoeducationalinstitution，andthebrightestjewelsinitscrownwereitsthreeliterarysocieties——thefirstcomposedofmenalone，thesec—

ondofwomenalone，andthethirdofmenandwomentogether。Eachofthesocietiesmadefriend—

lyadvancestonewstudents，andforsometimeI

hesitatedonthebrinkofthenewjoystheyoffered，uncertainwhichtochoose。Arepresentativeofthemixedsociety，whowasputtingitsclaimsbeforeme，unconsciouslyhelpedmetomakeupmymind。

``Women，’’hepompouslyassuredme，``needtobeassociatedwithmen，becausetheydon’tknowhowtomanagemeetings。’’

Ontheinstanttheneedleofdecisionswungaroundtothewomen’ssocietyandremainedthere，fixed。

``Iftheydon’t，’’Itoldthepompousyoungman，``it’shightimetheylearned。Ishalljointhewomen，andwe’llmastertheart。’’

Ididjointhewomen’ssociety，andIhadnotbeenamemberverylongbeforeIdiscoveredthatwhentherewasanadvantageofanykindtobesecuredthemeninvariablygotit。WhileIwasbroodingsomberlyuponthiswronganopportunitycametomakeaformalandeffectiveprotestagainstthemen’shigh—handedmethods。TheQuinquennialre—

unionofallthesocietieswasabouttobeheld，andthespecialfeatureofthisfestivitywasalwaysanoration。Thesimplemethodofselectingtheoratorwhichhadformerlyprevailedhadbeenfortheyoungmentodecideuponthespeakerandthenan—

nouncehisnametothewomen，whohumblycon—

firmedit。Onthisoccasion，however，whenthenamecameintous，Isentamessagetoourbrothersocietytotheeffectthatwe，too，intendedtomakeanominationandtosendinaname。

Atsuchunprecedentedbehaviortheentirestu—

dentbodyaroseinexcitement，which，amongthegirls，wascombinedwithequalpartsofexhilarationandawe。Themenrefusedtoconsiderournominee，andasafriendlycompromisewesuggestedthatwehaveajointmeetingofallthesocietiesandelectthespeakeratthisgathering；butthisplanalsothemenatfirstrefused，givinginonlyafterweeksofargument，duringwhichnoonehadtimeforthecalmerpleasuresofstudy。Whenthejointmeetingwasfinallyheld，nothingwasaccomplished；

wegirlshadonemorememberthantheboyshad，andwepromptlyre—electedourcandidate，whowasaspromptlydeclinedbytheboys。Twoofourgirlswereengagedtotwooftheboys，anditwassecretlyplannedbyourbrothersocietythatduringasecondjointmeetingthesetwomenshouldtakethegirlsoutforadriveandthenslipbacktovote，leavingthegirlsatsomepointsufficientlyremotefromcol—

lege。Wediscoveredtheplot，however，intimetothwartit，andatlast，whennothingbuttheun—