第10章

ginningtostudymeclosely，soonswungmeintoactiveworkwithher，ofwhich，later，Ishallhavemuchtosay。ButbeforetakingupasubjectasabsorbingtomeasmyfriendshipforandassociationwiththemostwonderfulwomanIhaveeverknown，itmaybeinterestingtorecordafewofmypioneerexperiencesinthelecture—field。

Inthosedays——thirtyyearsago——thelecturebu—

reauswerewhollyregardlessofthecomfortoftheirlecturers。Theyarrangedascheduleofengagementswithexactlyoneideainmind——togetthelecturerfromonelecture—pointtothenext，utterlyregardlessofwhethershehadtimebetweenforrestorfoodorsleep。Soithappenedthatall—nightjourneysinfreight—cars，engines，andcabooseswerecasualcom—

monplaces，whilethirtyandfortymiledrivesacrossthecountryinblizzardsandbittercoldwereequallyinevitable。Usuallythesethingsdidnottroubleme。TheywerehighadventureswhichIenjoyedatthetimeandafterwardlovedtorecall。Buttherewasanoccasionalhiatusinmyoptimism。

Onenight，forexample，afterlecturinginatowninOhio，itwasnecessarytodriveeightmilesacrosscountrytoatinyrailroadstationatwhichatrain，passingabouttwoo’clockinthemorning，wastobeflaggedforme。Whenwereachedthestationitwasclosed，butmydriverdepositedmeontheplatformanddroveaway，leavingmealone。Thenightwascoldandverydark。AlldayIhadbeenfeelingillandintheeveninghadsufferedsomuchpainthatIhadfinishedmylecturewithgreatdifficulty。Nowtowardmidnight，inthisdesolatespot，milesfromanyhouse，Igrewalarminglyworse。Iamnoteasilyfrightened，butthattimeIwassureIwasgoingtodie。Offinthedarkness，veryfaraway，asitseemed，Isawafaintlight，andwithinfiniteeffortIdraggedmyselftowardit。Towalk，eventostand，wasimpossible；Icrawledalongtherailroadtrack，collapsing，resting，goingonagain，whippingmywillpowertothetaskofkeepingmybrainclear，untilafteranightmarethatseemedtolastthroughcenturiesIlayacrossthedooroftheswitch—towerinwhichthelightwasburning。TheswitchmanstationedthereheardthecryIwasabletoutter，andcametomyassistance。Hecarriedmeuptohissignal—roomandlaidmeonthefloorbythestove；

hehadnothingtogivemeexceptwarmthandshel—

ter；butthesewerenowallIasked。Isankintoacomatoseconditionshotthroughwithpain。Tow—

ardtwoo’clockinthemorninghewakedmeandtoldmemytrainwascoming，askingifIfeltabletotakeit。Idecidedtomaketheeffort。Hedarednotleavehisposttohelpme，buthesignaledtothetrain，andIbeganmyprogressbacktothestation。

IneverclearlyrememberedhowIgotthere；butIarrivedandwashelpedintoacarbyabrakeman。

Aboutfouro’clockinthemorningIhadtochangeagain，butthistimeIwasleftatthestationofatown，andwastheremetbyamanwhosewifehadofferedmehospitality。Hedrovemetotheirhome，andIwascaredfor。WhatIhad，itdeveloped，wasaseverecaseofptomainepoisoning，andIsoonre—

covered；butevenafteralltheseyearsIdonotliketorecallthatnight。

Tobe``snowedin’’wasafrequentexperience。

Once，inMinnesota，Iwasoneofadozentravelerswhoweredriveninanomnibusfromacountryhoteltothenearestrailroadstation，abouttwomilesaway。

Itwassnowinghard，andthedriverleftusonthestationplatformanddeparted。Timepassed，butthetrainwewerewaitingfordidnotcome。AtrueWesternblizzard，growingwildereverymoment，hadsetin，andwefinallyrealizedthatthetrainwasnotcoming，andthat，moreover，itwasnowimpossibletogetbacktothehotel。Theonlythingwecoulddowastospendthenightintherailroadstation。

Iwastheonlywomaninthegroup，andmyfellow—

passengerswerecattlemenwhowhiledawaythehoursbysmoking，tellingstories，andexchangingpocketflasks。Thestationhadatelegraphoperatorwhooccupiedatinyboxbyhimself，andhefinallyinvitedmetosharetheprivacyofhismicroscopicquarters。Ienteredthemverygratefully，andhelaidaboardonthefloor，covereditwithanover—

coatmadeofbuffalo—skins，andcheerfullyinvitedmetogotobed。Iwent，andsleptpeacefullyuntilmorning。Thenweallreturnedtothehotel，themengoingaheadandshovelingapath。

Again，oneSunday，IwassnowboundinatrainnearFaribault，andthistimealsoIwastheonlywomanamonganumberofcattlemen。Theywereanodoriferouslot，whosmokeddiligentlyandplayedcardswithoutceasing，butindeferencetomypres—

encetheysworeonlymildlyandundertheirbreath。

Atlasttheyweariedoftheirgame，andoneofthemroseandcametome。

``Iheardyoulecturetheothernight，’’hesaid，awkwardly，``andI’vebintellin’thefellersaboutit。

We’dliketohavealecturenow。’’

Theircard—playinghadseemedtomeasinfulthing（IwasstricterinmyviewsthenthanIamto—day），andIwasgladtocreateadiversion。I

agreedtogivethemalecture，andtheywentthroughthetrain，whichconsistedoftwodaycoaches，andbroughtintheremainingpassengers。Afewofthemcouldsing，andwebeganwithaMoodyandSankeyhymnortwoandtheappealingditty，``Whereismywanderingboyto—night？’’inwhichtheyalljoinedwithspecialzest。ThenIdeliveredthelecture，andtheylistenedattentively。WhenI

hadfinishedtheyseemedtothinkthatsomeslightreturnwasinorder，sotheyproceededtomakeabedforme。Theytookthebottomsoutoftwoseats，arrangedthemcrosswise，andonemanfoldedhisovercoatintoapillow。Inspiredbythis，twoothersimmediatelydonatedtheirfurovercoatsforupperandlowercoverings。Whenthebedwasreadytheywavedmetowarditwithamosthospitableair，andIcreptinbetweentheovercoatsandslumberedsweetlyuntilIwasarousedthenextmorningbythewelcomemusicofasnow—plowwhichhadbeensentfromSt。Paultoourrescue。

Todrivefiftyorsixtymilesinadaytomeetalectureengagementwasafrequentexperience。I

havebeendrivenacrosstheprairiesinJunewhentheywerelikeamammothflower—bed，andinJan—

uarywhentheyseemedonehugesnow—coveredgrave——mygrave，Ithought，attimes。Onceduringathirty—miledrive，whenthethermometerwastwentydegreesbelowzero，Isuddenlyrealizedthatmyfacewasfreezing。Iopenedmysatchel，tookoutthetissue—paperthatprotectedmybestgown，andputthepaperovermyfaceasaveil，tuckingitinsideofmybonnet。WhenIreachedmydestinationthetissuewasaperfectmask，frozenstiff，andI

hadtobeliftedfromthesleigh。Iwasdueonthelectureplatforminhalfanhour，soIdrankahugebowlofboilinggingerteaandappearedontime。

ThatnightIwenttobedexpectinganattackofpneumoniaasaresultoftheexposure，butIawokenextmorninginsuperbcondition。Ipossesswhatiscalled``anironconstitution，’’andinthosedaysIneededit。

Thatsamewinter，inKansas，Iwaschasedbywolves，andthoughIhadbeenmoreorlessinti—

matelyassociatedwithwolvesinmypioneerlifeintheMichiganwoods，Ifoundtheoccasionextreme—

lyunpleasant。Duringthelongwintersofmygirl—

hoodwolveshadfrequentlyslunkaroundourlogcabin，andattimesinthelumber—campswehadevenheardthemprowlingontheroofs。Butthosewereverydifferentcreaturesfromthetwohuge，starving，tirelessanimalsthathourafterhourlopedbehindthecutterinwhichIsatwithanotherwoman，who，throughoutthewholeexperience，neverlostherheadnorhercontrolofourfrantichorses。Theyweremadwithterror，for，tryastheywould，theycouldnotoutrunthegrimthingsthattrailedus，seeminglynottryingtogainonus，butkeepingal—

waysatthesamedistance，withapatiencethatwashorrible。FromtimetotimeIturnedtolookatthem，andthepicturetheymadeastheycameonandonisoneIshallneverforget。TheyweresonearthatIcouldseetheireyesandslaveringjaws，andtheywereasnoiselessasthingsinadream。Atlast，littlebylittle，theybegantogainonus，andtheywerealmostwithinstrikingdistanceofthewhip，whichwasouronlyweapon，whenwereachedthewelcomeoutskirtsofatownandtheyfellback。

Someofthememoriesofthosedayshavetodowithpersonalencounters，briefbutpoignant。OncewhenIwasgivingaseriesofChautauqualectures，IspokeattheChautauquainPontiac，Illinois。

TheStateReformatoryforBoyswassituatedinthattown，and，afterthelecturethesuperintendentoftheReformatoryinvitedmetovisititandsayafewwordstotheinmates。Iwentandspokeforhalfanhour，carryingawayamemoryoftheplaceandoftheboyswhichhauntedmeformonths。A

yearlater，whileIwaswaitingforatraininthestationatShelbyville，aladaboutsixteenyearsoldpassedmeandhesitated，lookingasifheknewme。

Isawthathewantedtospeakanddarednot，soInoddedtohim。

``Youthinkyouknowme，don’tyou？’’Iasked，whenhecametomyside。

``Yes’m，Idoknowyou，’’hetoldme，eagerly。

``YouareMissShaw，andyoutalkedtousboysatPontiaclastyear。I’moutonparolenow，butI

’ain’tforgot。Usboysenjoyedyouthebestofanyshowweeverhad！’’

Iwastouchedbythisartlesscompliment，andanxioustoknowhowIhadwonit，soIasked，``WhatdidIsaythattheboysliked？’’

Theladhesitated。Thenhesaid，slowly，``Well，youdidn’ttalkasifyouthoughtwewereallbad。’’

``Myboy，’’Itoldhim，``Idon’tthinkyouareallbad。Iknowbetter！’’

AsifIhadtouchedaspringinhim，theladdroppedintotheseatbymyside；then，leaningtowardme，hesaid，impulsively，butalmostinawhisper：

``Say，MissShaw，SOMEOFUSBOYSSAYSOURPRAYERS！’’

RarelyhaveIhadatributethatmovedmemorethanthatshyconfidence；andoftensincethen，inhoursofdiscouragementorfailure，Ihaveremindedmyselfthatatleasttheremusthavebeensomethinginmeoncetomakealadofthatagesoopenuphisheart。Wehadalongandintimatetalk，fromwhichgrewtheabidinginterestIfeelinboysto—

day。

NaturallyIwassometimesinconveniencedbyslightmisunderstandingsbetweenlocalcommitteesandmyselfastothesubjectsofmylectures，andthemostextremeinstanceofthisoccurredinatownwhereIarrivedtofindmyselfwidelyadvertisedas``Mrs。AnnaShaw，whowhistledbeforeQueenVictoria’’！Transfixed，Igapedbeforethebill—

boards，andbyreadingtheiradditionalletteringdiscoveredthegratifyingfactthatatleastIwasnotexpectedtowhistlenow。Instead，itappeared，Iwastolectureon``TheMissingLink。’’

Asusual，Ihadarrivedintownonlyanhourortwobeforethetimefixedformylecture；therewasthebriefestintervalinwhichtoclearupthesepain—

fulmisunderstandings。Irepeatedlytriedtoreachthechairmanwhowastopresideattheentertain—

ment，butfailed。AtlastIwenttothehallatthehourappointed，andfoundthelocalcommitteethere，graciouslywaitingtoreceiveme。Withoutwastingpreciousminutesinpreliminaries，Iaskedwhytheyhadadvertisedmeasthewomanwhohad``whistledbeforeQueenVictoria。’’

``Why，didn’tyouwhistlebeforeher？’’theyex—

claimedingrievedsurprise。

``Icertainlydidnot，’’Iexplained。``Moreover，I

wasnevercalled`TheAmericanNightingale，’andIhaveneverlecturedon`TheMissingLink。’

WhereDIDyougetthatsubject？ItwasnotonthelistIsentyou。’’

Themembersofthecommitteeseemeddazed。

Theywithdrewtoacornerandconsultedinwhis—

pers。Then，withclearingbrow，thespokesmanre—

turned。

``Why，’’hesaid，cheerfully，``it’ssimpleenough！

WemixedyouupwithaShawladythatwhistles；

andwe’vebeendiscussingthemissinglinkinourdebatingsociety，soourcitizenswanttohearyourviews。’’

``ButIdon’tknowanythingaboutthemissinglink，’’Iprotested，``andIcan’tspeakonit。’’

``Now，come，’’theybegged。``Why，you’llhaveto！We’vesoldallourticketsforthatlecture。

Thewholetownhasturnedouttohearit。’’

Then，asImaintainedadepressedsilence，oneofthemhadabrightidea。

``I’lltellyouhowtofixit！’’hecried。``Speakonanysubjectyouplease，butbringinsomethingaboutthemissinglinkeveryfewminutes。Thatwillsatis—

fy’em。’’

``Verywell，’’Iagreed，reluctantly。``Openthemeetingwithasong。Gettheaudiencetosing`America’or`TheStar—spangledBanner。’Thatwillgivemeafewminutestothink，andIwillseewhatcanbedone。’’

Ledbyaverynervouschairman，thebigaudiencebegantosing，andundertheinspirationofthemusicthesolutionofourproblemflashedintomymind。

``Itiseasy，’’Itoldmyself。``Womanisthemiss—

inglinkinourgovernment。I’llgivethemasuf—

fragespeechalongthatline。’’

WhenthesongendedIbeganmypartoftheen—

tertainmentwithaportionofmylectureon``TheFateofRepublics，’’tracingtheirgrowthanddecay，andpointingoutthatwhatourrepublicneededtogiveitastablegovernmentwasthemissinglinkofwomansuffrage。Igotalongadmirably，foreveryfiveminutesImentioned``themissinglink，’’andtheaudiencesatcontentandapparentlyinterested，whilethemembersofthecommitteeburstintobloomontheplatform。

VIII

DRAMAINTHELECTURE—FIELD

MymostdramaticexperienceoccurredinacityinMichigan，whereIwasmakingatemperancecampaign。Itwasanimportantlum—

berandshippingcenter，anditharboredmuchintemperance。Theeditoroftheleadingnews—

paperwaswiththetemperance—workersinourfightthere，andhehadwarnedmethattheliquorpeoplethreatenedto``burnthebuildingovermyhead’’ifIattemptedtolecture。Wewereusedtosimilarthreats，soIproceededwithmypreparationsandheldthemeetinginthetownskating—rink——

ahuge，bare，woodenstructure。

Lectureswererareinthatcity，andrumorsofsomespecialexcitementonthisoccasionhadbeencirculated；everyseatintherinkwasfilled，andseveralhundredpersonsstoodintheaislesandatthebackofthebuilding。Justoppositethespeak—

er’splatformwasasmallgallery，andabovethat，intheceiling，wasatrap—door。BeforeIhadbeenspeakingtenminutesIsawamandropthroughthistrap—doortothebalconyandclimbfromtheretothemainfloor。Ashereachedthefloorheshouted``Fire！’’andrushedoutintothestreet。Thenextinstanteverypersonintherinkwasupandapanichadstarted。Iwasverysuretherewasnofire，butIknewthatmanymightbekilledintherushwhichwasbeginning。SoIsprangonachairandshoutedtothepeoplewiththefullstrengthofmylungs：

``Thereisnofire！It’sonlyatrick！Sitdown！

Sitdown！’’

Thecoolerpersonsinthecrowdatoncebegantohelpinthiscalmingprocess。

``Sitdown！’’theyrepeated。``It’sallright！

There’snofire！Sitdown！’’

Itlookedasifwehadthesituationinhand，forthepeoplehesitated，andmostofthemgrewquiet；

butjustthenafewwordswerehisseduptomethatmademyheartstopbeating。Amemberofourlocalcommitteewasstandingbesidemychair，speakinginaterrifiedwhisper：

``ThereISafire，MissShaw，’’hesaid。``ForGod’ssakegetthepeopleout——QUICKLY！’’

Theshockwassounexpectedthatmykneesal—

mostgaveway。Thepeoplewerestillstanding，wavering，lookinguncertainlytowardus。Iraisedmyvoiceagain，andifitsoundedunnaturalmyhearersprobablythoughtitwasbecauseIwasspeak—

ingsoloudly。

``Aswearealreadystanding，’’Icried，``andareallnervous，alittleexercisewilldousgood。Somarchout，singing。Keeptimetothemusic！

Lateryoucancomebackandtakeyourseats！’’

Themanwhohadwhisperedthewarningjumpedintotheaisleandstruckup``Jesus，LoverofMySoul。’’Thenheledthemarchdowntothedoor，whilethebigaudienceswungintolineandfollowedhim，joininginthesong。Iremainedonthechair，beatingtimeandtalkingtothepeopleastheywent；

butwhenthelastofthemhadleftthebuildingI

almostcollapsed；fortheflameshadbeguntoeatthroughthewoodenwallsandtheclangofthefire—

engineswasheardoutside。

AssoonasIwassureeveryonewassafe，however，IexperiencedthemostintenseangerIhadyetknown。

Myindignationagainstthemenwhohadriskedhundredsoflivesbysettingfiretoacrowdedbuildingmademe``seered’’；itwasclearthattheymustbetaughtalessonthenandthere。AssoonasIwasoutsidetherinkIcalledameeting，andtheCongre—

gationalminister，whowasinthecrowd，lentushischurchandledthewaytoit。Mostoftheaudiencefollowedus，andwehadawonderfulmeeting，dur—

ingwhichwewereableatlasttomakecleartothepeopleofthattownthecharacteroftheliquorinterestswewerefighting。Thatepisodedidthetemperancecausemoregoodthanahundredordinarymeetings。Menwhohadbeenindifferentbeforebecameourfriendsandsupporters，andatthefol—

lowingelectionwecarriedthetownforprohibitionbyabigmajority。

Therehavebeenotheroccasionswhenourop—

ponentshavenotfoughtusfairly。Once，inanOhiotown，agroupofpoliticians，hearingthatIwastolectureontemperanceinthecourt—houseonacertainnight，tookpossessionofthebuildingearlyintheevening，onthepretenseofholdingameeting，andhelditagainstus。When，escortedbyacom—

mitteeofleadingwomen，Ireachedthebuildingandtriedtoenter，wefoundthatthemenhadlockedusout。Ouraudiencewasgatheringandfillingthestreet，andwefinallysentacourteousmessagetothemen，assumingthattheyhadforgottenusandre—

mindingthemofourposition。Themessengerre—

portedthatthemenwouldleave``abouteight，’’

butthattheroomwas``blackwithsmokeandfilthywithtobacco—juice。``Wewaitedpatientlyuntileighto’clock，holdinglittleoutsidemeetingsingroups，asouraudiencewaitedwithus。Ateightweagainsentourmessengerintothehall，andhebroughtbackwordthatthemenwere``notthrough，didn’tknowwhentheywouldbethrough，andhadtoldthewomennottowait。’’

Naturally，thewaitingtownswomenweredeeplychagrinedbythis。Soweremanymenintheout—

sidecrowd。Weaskediftherewasnootheren—

trancetothehallexceptthroughthelockedfrontdoors，andweretoldthatthejudge’sprivateroomopenedintoit，andthatoneofourcommitteehadthekey，asshehadplannedtousethisroomasadressingandretiringroomforthespeakers。Aftersomediscussionwedecidedtostormthehallandtakepossession。Withinfiveminutesallthewomenhadformedinlineandwerecrowdingupthebackstairsandintothejudge’sroom。Thereweunlockedthedoor，againformedinline，andmarchedintothehall，singing``Onward，ChristianSoldiers！’’

Therewerehundredsofus，andwemarcheddi—

rectlytotheplatform，wheretheastonishedmengotuptostareatus。Moreandmorewomenentered，comingupthebackstairsfromthestreetandfillingthehall；andwhenthemenrealizedwhatitallmeant，andrecognizedtheirwives，sis—

ters，andwomenfriendsinthethrong，theysheep—

ishlyunlockedthefrontdoorsandleftusinposses—

sion，thoughwepolitelyurgedthemtoremain。Wehadagreatmeetingthatnight！

Anotherreminiscencemaynotbeoutofplace。

WewereworkingforaprohibitionamendmentinthestateofPennsylvania，andthenightbeforeelectionIreachedCoatesville。Ihadjustcom—

pletedsixweeksofstrenuouscampaigning，andthatdayIhadalreadyconductedandspokenattwobigoutdoormeetings。WhenIenteredthetownhallofCoatesvilleIfounditfilledwithwomen。Onlyafewmenwerethere；therestwerecelebratingandcampaigninginthestreets。SoIaroseandsaid：

``Iwouldliketoaskhowmanymenthereareintheaudiencewhointendtovotefortheamendmentto—morrow？’’

Everymaninthehallstoodup。

``Ithoughtso，’’Isaid。``NowIintendtoaskyourindulgence。Asyouareallinfavoroftheamendment，thereisnouseinmysettingitsclaimsbeforeyou；and，asIamutterlyexhausted，I

suggestthatwesingtheDoxologyandgohome！’’

Theaudiencesawthecommonsenseofmyposition，sothepeoplelaughedandsangtheDoxol—

ogyanddeparted。AswewereleavingthehalloneofCoatesville’sprominentcitizensstoppedme。

``Iwishyouwereaman，’’hesaid。``Thetownwastohaveabigoutdoormeetingto—night，andtheoratorhasfailedus。Therearethousandsofmeninthestreetswaitingforthespeech，andthesaloonsaresendingthemfreedrinkstogetthemdrunkandcarrythetownto—morrow。’’

``Why，’’Isaid，``I’lltalktothemifyouwish。’’

``GreatScott！’’hegasped。``I’dbeafraidtoletyou。Somethingmighthappen！’’

``Ifanythinghappens，itwillbeinagoodcause，’’

Iremindedhim。``Letusgo。’’

Down—townwefoundthestreetssopackedwithmenthatthecarscouldnotgetthrough，andwiththegreatestdifficultywereachedthestandwhichhadbeenerectedforthespeaker。Itwasagorgeousaffair。Therewereflaringtorchesallaroundit，anda``bull’s—eye，’’takenfromtheheadofalocomotive，madeanespeciallybrilliantpatchoflight。Thestandhadbeenerectedatapointwherethecity’sfourprincipalstreetsmeet，andasfarasIcouldseethereweresolidmassesofcitizensextendingintothesestreets。Aglee—clubwasdoingitsbesttohelpthingsalong，andthemusicofanorganette，aninstrumentmuchusedatthetimeincampaignrallies，swelledthejoyfultumult。AsImountedtheplatformthecrowdwassinging``VoteforBettyandtheBaby，’’andItookthatsongformytext，speakingofthehelplessnessofwomenandchildreninthefaceofintemperance，andtellingthecrowdtheonlyhopeoftheCoatesvillewomenlayinthevotecastbytheirmenthenextday。

Directlyinfrontofmestoodahugeandex—

traordinarilyrepellent—lookingnegro。Aglanceathimalmostmadeoneshudder，butbeforeIhadfinishedmyfirstsentenceheraisedhisrightarmstraightabovehimandshouted，inadeepandwonderfullyrichbassvoice，``HallelujahtotheLamb！’’Fromthatpointonhepunctuatedmyspeecheveryfewmomentswithgood，old—fashionedexclamationsofsalvationwhichhelpedtoinspirethecrowd。Ispokeforalmostanhour。Threetimesinmylife，andonlythreetimes，Ihavemadespeechesthathavesatisfiedmetothedegree，thatis，ofmakingmefeelthatatleastIwasgivingthebestthatwasinme。ThespeechatCoatesvillewasoneofthosethree。Attheendofitthegood—naturedcrowdcheeredfortenminutes。ThenextdayCoatesvillevotedforprohibition，and，rightlyorwrongly，IhavealwaysbelievedthatIhelpedtowinthatvictory。

Here，bytheway，ImayaddthatofthetwootherspeecheswhichsatisfiedmeonewasmadeinChicago，duringtheWorld’sFair，in1893，andtheotherinStockholm，Sweden，in1912。TheInternationalCouncilofWomen，itwillberemembered，metinChicagoduringtheFair，andIwasinvitedtopreachthesermonattheSunday—morningsession。Theoccasionwasaveryimportantone，bringingto—

getheratleastfivethousandpersons，includingrepresentativewomenfromalmosteverycountryinEurope，andalargenumberofwomenministers。

Thesemadeanimpressivegroup，astheyallworetheirministerialrobes；andforthefirsttimeI