Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/593

554 called the first woman's rights convention at Seneca Falls, Mrs. Stanton's home. This convention, as is generally supposed, was not called for the consideration of political rights. In fact, at that time it was the least thought of, personal rights, property rights, religious rights were demanded. In fact, there was much opposition to including political rights, and but for Elizabeth Cady Stanton that clause would have been left out.

The storm of ridicule which burst forth as soon as these reports were issued by the press frightened many of the women, but a few held fast. To their bravery, foresight and conviction is due the fact that to-day women vote in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Washington upon exactly the same terms as men vote. They vote for all officers, from the lowest to the president, and can hold any office to which they can be elected.

Susan B. Anthony did not attend that convention; in fact, she rather doubted the wisdom of calling it. However, she seldom missed another throughout her long life, her last being at Baltimore in 1906. During all those years she gave her life to the political enfranchisement of women. In the early days, Mrs. Stanton not being able to leave her family, Miss Anthony would go to her home, help with the work and the care of her babies, while she wrote an argument suitable for the legislators, and then, armed with this, Miss Anthony would appear before that legislature and make her demands. In this way these two women caused to be changed most of the old New York laws under which women were not much more than chattels.

The friendship between Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony was one of the most beautiful, strongest and purest of which history writes. Together they worked for a great cause with perfect love and understanding for nearly fifty years. They supplemented each other, and their joint work was powerful.

A little later than the 1848 convention Lucy Stone, a gentle, strong, able, conscientious woman, who had completed a course