Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/609

570 Susan B. Anthony, according to Mrs. Stanton, was born at the foot of the Green Mountains, South Adams, Massachusetts, February 15, 1820. Her father, Daniel Anthony, was a stern Quaker; her mother, Lucy Read, a Baptist, but being liberal and progressive in their tendency they were soon one in their religion. In girlhood years Miss Anthony attended Quaker meetings with aspirations toward high-seat dignity, but this was modified by the severe treatment accorded the father, who, having been publicly reprimanded twice, the first time for marrying a Baptist, the second for wearing a comfortable coat with a large cape, was finally expelled from "meeting" because he allowed the use of one of his rooms for the instruction of a class in dancing, in order that the youth might not be subjected to the temptations of a liquor-selling public house.

Miss Anthony's father was a cotton manufacturer, and the first dollar she ever earned was in his factory, for, though a man of wealth, the idea of self-support was early impressed on all the daughters of the family. Later, after their removal to Rochester, she became a teacher and fifteen years of her life were passed in teaching school in different parts of the state of New York. Although superintendents gave her credit for the best disciplined schools and the most thoroughly taught scholars in the county, yet they paid her eight dollars a month, while men received from twenty-four to thirty dollars. After fifteen years of great labor and the closest economy she had saved but three hundred dollars. This experience taught her the lesson of woman's rights. She became an active member of the New York State Teachers' Association and in their conventions made many effective pleas for higher wages and for the recognition of the principle of equal tights for