Page:Eminent women of the age.djvu/409

Rh LUCRETIA MOTT.

It was in London that I first met Lucretia Mott. We chanced to stop at the same house, with a party of Amer- icans, who had come to attend the ** World's Convention. ** Seated by her at the dinner-table I was soon oblivious to everything but the lovely Quakeress, though a bride, with my husband by my side. She was then in her prime, small in stature, slightly built, with a large head, high, square fore- head, remarkably fine face, regular features, dark hair and eyes. She was gentle and refined in her manners, and con- versed with earnestness and e<ise. There were several cler- gymen at the table that day, who, in the course of conversa- tion, rallied Mrs. Mott on her views of woman. She calmly parried all their attacks, — now by her quiet humor turning the laugh on them, and then by her earnestness and dignity silenc- ing their ridicule and sneers. Though a stranger, I could not resist saying all the good things I thought on her side of the question, and I shall never •forget the look of recognition she gave me when she saw that I already comprehended the prob- lem of woman's rights and wrongs. She was the first liberal- minded woman I had ever met, and nothing in all Europe interested me as she did. We were soon fast friends, and were often rallied on our seeming devotion to each other. I was never weary listening to her conversation. On one occasion, with a large party, we visited the British Museum, where it is supposed all people go to see the wonders of the world. On entering, Mrs. Mott and myself sat down near the door to rest for a few moments, telling the party to go on, that we would follow. They accordingly explored all the departments of curiosities, supposing we were slowly follow- ing at a distance ; but when they returned to the entrance, after an absence of three hours, there we sat in the same