taininterestfromthefactthatIwasthefirstor—
dainedwomantopreachinachurchinGermany。
Itthentookonatingeofhumorfromtheadditionalfactthat，accordingtotheGermanlaw，assuddenlyrevealedtousbythepolice，noclergymanwasper—
mittedtopreachunlessclothedinclericalrobesinthepulpit。IthappenedthatIhadnottakenmyclericalrobeswithme——Iamconstantlyforgettingthoseclericalrobes！——sothepastorofthechurchkindlyofferedmehisrobes。
Nowthepastorwassixfeettallandbroadinpro—
portion，andI，asIhavealreadyconfessed，amveryshort。Hisrobestransformedmeintosuchanabsurdcaricatureofapreacherthatitwasquiteimpossibleformetowearthem。What，then，werewetodo？
Lackingclericalrobes，thepolicewouldnotallowmetouttersixwords。ItwasfinallydecidedthattheclergymanshouldmeettheletterofthelawbyenteringthepulpitinhisrobesandstandingbymysidewhileIdeliveredmysermon。Thelawsoberlyacceptedthissolutionoftheproblem，andweofferedthecongregationtheextraordinarytableauofapulpitcombiningalargeandimpressivepastorstandingsilentlybesideasmallandinwardlycon—
vulsedwomanwhohadallshecoulddotodeliverhersermonwiththesolemnitytheoccasionre—
quired。
AtthissameconferenceImadeoneofthefewfriendshipsIenjoywithamemberofaEuropeanroyalfamily，forImetthePrincessBlankofItaly，whooverwhelmedmewithattentionduringmyvisit，andfromwhomIstillreceivecharmingletters。SheinvitedmetovisitherinhercastleinItaly，andtoaccompanyhertohermother’scastleinAustria，andshefinallyinsistedonknowingexactlywhyI
persistentlyrefusedbothinvitations。
``Because，mydearPrincess，’’Iexplained，``Iamaworking—woman。’’
``NobodyneedKNOWthat，’’murmuredthePrincess，calmly。
``Onthecontrary，’’Iassuredher，``itisthefirstthingIshouldexplain。’’
``Butwhy？’’thePrincesswantedtoknow。
Istudiedherinsilenceforamoment。Shewasanewandinterestingtypetome，andIwasgladtoexchangeviewpointswithher。
``Youareproudofyourfamily，areyounot？’’I
asked。``Youareproudofyourgreatline？’’
ThePrincessdrewherselfup。``Assuredly，’’shesaid。
``Verywell，’’Icontinued。``Iamproud，too。
WhatIhavedoneIhavedoneunaided，and，tobefrankwithyou，Iratherapproveofit。Myworkismypatentofnobility，andIamnotwillingtoassociatewiththosefromwhomitwouldhavetobeconcealedorwiththosewhowouldlookdownuponit。’’
ThePrincesssighed。Iwasanewtypetoher，too，asnewasshewastome；butIhadthead—
vantageofher，forIcouldunderstandherpointofview，whereassheapparentlycouldnotfollowmine。
Shewasverygracioustome，however，showingmekindnessandfriendshipinadozenways，givingmeanimmenseamountofhertimeandtakingrathermoreofmytimethanIcouldspare，butneverfor—
gettingforamomentthatherbloodwasamongtheoldestinEurope，andthatallhertraditionswereinkeepingwithitshonorableage。
AftertheBerlinmeetingMissAnthonyandI
wereinvitedtospendaweek—endatthehomeofMrs。JacobBright，that``AuntSusan’’mightre—
newheracquaintancewithAnnieBesant。Thisvisitisamongmymostvividmemories。Originally``AuntSusan’’hadgreatlyadmiredMrs。Besant，andhadopenlylamentedthelatter’sconcentrationontheosophicalinterests——when，asMissAnthonyputit，``therearesomanyliveproblemshereinthisworld。’’Nowshecouldnotconcealherdisapprovalofthe``other—worldliness’’ofMrs。Besant，Mrs。
Bright，andherdaughter。Someremarkableand，tome，mostamusingdiscussionstookplaceamongthethree；butoften，duringMrs。Besant’smostsus—
tainedoratoricalflights，MissAnthony’sinterestwouldwander，andshewoulddroparemarkthatshowedshehadnotheardaword。ShehadagreatadmirationforMrs。Besant’sintellect；butshedis—
approvedofherflowingandpicturesquewhiterobes，ofherbarefeet，ofherincessantcigarette—smoking；
aboveall，ofherviews。Atlast，oneday。{sic}theclimaxofthediscussionscame。
``Annie，’’demanded``AuntSusan，’’``whydon’tyoumakethatauraofyoursdoitsgallivantinginthisworld，lookinguptheneedsoftheoppressed，andinvestigatingthecausesofpresentwrongs？
Thenyoucouldrevealtousworkersjustwhatweshoulddotoputthingsright，andwecouldbeaboutit。’’
Mrs。Besantsighedandsaidthatlifewasshortandaeonswerelong，andthatwhileeveryonewouldbeperfectedsometime，itwasuselesstodealwithindividualshere。
``But，Annie！’’exclaimedMissAnthony，patheti—
cally。``WeAREhere！Ourbusinessishere！It’sourdutytodowhatwecanhere。’’
Mrs。Besantseemednottohearher。Shewasinatrance，gazingintotheaeons。
``I’dratherhaveoneyearofyourability，backedupwithcommonsense，fortheworkofmakingthisworldbetter，’’criedtheexasperated``AuntSusan，’’
``thanamillionaeonsinthehereafter！’’
Mrs。Besantsighedagain。Itwasplainthatshecouldnotbringherselfbackfromtheotherworld，soMissAnthony，perforce，accompaniedhertoit。
``Whenyourauragoesvisitingintheotherworld，’’sheasked，curiously，``doesitevermeetyouroldfriendCharlesBradlaugh？’’
``Ohyes，’’declaredMrs。Besant。``Frequently。’’
``Wasn’theverymuchsurprised，’’demandedMissAnthony，withgrowinginterest，``todiscoverthathewasnotdead？’’
Mrs。BesantdidnotseemtoknowwhatemotionMr。Bradlaughhadexperiencedwhenthatrevela—
tioncame。
``Well，’’mused``AuntSusan，’’``Ishouldthinkhewouldhavebeensurprised。Hewassocertainhewasgoingtobedeadthatitmusthavebeenastoundingtodiscoverhewasn’t。Whatwashedoingintheotherworld？’’
Mrs。Besantheavedadeepersigh。``IamverymuchdiscouragedoverMr。Bradlaugh，’’shead—
mitted，wanly。``Heishoveringtoonearthisworld。Hecannotseemtogetawayfromhismun—
daneinterests。Heisasmuchconcernedwithpar—
liamentaryaffairsnowaswhenhewasonthisplane。’’
``Humph！’’saidMissAnthony；``that’sthemostsensiblethingI’veheardyetabouttheotherworld。
Itencouragesme。I’vealwaysfeltsurethatifI
enteredtheotherlifebeforewomenwereenfran—
chisednothinginthegloriesofheavenwouldin—
terestmesomuchastheworkforwomen’sfreedomonearth。Now，’’sheended，``IshallbelikeMr。
Bradlaugh。Ishallhoverroundandcontinuemyworkhere。’’
WhenMrs。BesanthadlefttheroomMrs。Brightfeltthatitwasherdutytoadmonish``AuntSusan’’
tobemorecarefulinwhatshesaid。
``Youaremakingtoolightofhercreed，’’sheex—
postulated。``YoudonotrealizetheimportantpositionMrs。Besantholds。Why，inIndia，whenshewalksfromherhometoherschoolallthoseshemeetsprostratethemselves。Eventhelearnedmenprostratethemselvesandputtheirfacesonthegroundasshegoesby。’’
``AuntSusan’s’’voice，whenshereplied，tookonthetonesofonewhoissorelytried。``ButwhyinHeaven’snamedoesanysensibleEnglishwomanwantalotofheathentoprostratethemselvesasshegoesupthestreet？’’shedemanded，wearily。``It’sthemostfoolishthingIeverheard。’’
TheefforttowinMissAnthonyovertothetheo—
sophicaldoctrinewasabandoned。Thatnight，afterwehadgonetoourrooms，``AuntSusan’’summedupherconclusionsontheinterview：
``It’sagoodthingfortheworld，’’shedeclared，``thatsomeofusdon’tknowsomuch。Andit’sabetterthingforthisworldthatsomeofusthinkalittleearthlycommonsenseismorevaluablethantoomuchheavenlyknowledge。’’
X
THEPASSINGOF``AUNTSUSAN’’
OnoneoccasionMissAnthonyhadthedoubt—
fulpleasureofreadingherownobituarynotices，andherinterestinthemwascharacteristicallynaive。
ShehadmadeaspeechatLakeside，Ohio，duringwhich，forthefirsttimeinherlongexperience，shefaintedontheplatform。Iwasnotwithheratthetime，andintheexcitementfollowinghercollapseitwasrumoredthatshehaddied。ImmediatelythenewswastelegraphedtotheAssociatedPressofNewYork，andfromthereflashedoverthecountry。AtMissAnthony’shomeinRochesterareporterrangthebellandabruptlyinformedhersister，MissMaryAnthony，whocametothedoor，that``AuntSusan’’wasdead。FortunatelyMissMaryhadacoolhead。
``Ithink，’’shesaid，``thatifmysisterhaddiedIwouldhaveheardaboutit。PleasehaveyoureditorstelegraphtoLakeside。’’
Thereporterdeparted，butcamebackanhourlatertosaythathisnewspaperhadsentthetele—
gramandthereplywasthatSusanB。Anthonywasdead。
``Ihavejustreceivedabettertelegramthanthat，’’
remarkedMaryAnthony。``Mineisfrommysister；shetellsmethatshefaintedto—night，butsoonrecoveredandwillbehometo—morrow。’’
Nevertheless，thenextmorningtheAmericannewspapersgavemuchspacetoMissAnthony’sobituarynotices，and``AuntSusan’’spentsomein—
terestinghoursreadingthem。OnethatpleasedhervastlywasprintedintheWichitaEagle，whoseeditor，Mr。Murdock，hadbeenalmostherbitterestop—
ponent。Hehadoftenexhaustedhisbrilliantvo—
cabularyineditorialdenunciationsofsuffrageandsuffragists，andMissAnthonyhadbeenthespecialtargetofhisscorn。Butthenewsofherdeathseemedtobeabitterblowtohim；andofallthetributestheAmericanpressgavetoSusanB。Anthonydead，fewequaledinbeautyandappreciationtheonepennedbyMr。MurdockandpublishedintheEagle。
Hemusthavebeenamusedwhen，afewdayslater，hereceivedaletterfrom``AuntSusan’’herself，thankinghimwarmlyforhischangedopinionofherandhopingthatitmeanttheconversionofhissoultoourCause。Itdidnot，andMr。Murdock，thoughneveragainquiteasbitterashehadbeen，soonresumedthefreeeditorialexpressionofhisanti—
suffragesentiments。Timeshavechanged，however，andto—dayhisson，nowamemberofCongress，isoneofourstrongestsupportersinthatbody。
In1905itbecameplainthatMissAnthony’shealthwasfailing。HervisitstoGermanyandEnglandthepreviousyear，triumphantthoughtheyhadbeen，hadalsoprovedadrainonhervitality；
andsoonafterherreturntoAmericasheentereduponataskwhichhelpedtoexhaustherremainingstrength。Shehadbeendeeplyinterestedinse—
curingafundof$50，000toenablewomentoenterRochesterUniversity，and，onemorning，justafterwehadheldasessionofourexecutivecommitteeinherRochesterhome，shereadanewspaperan—
nouncementtotheeffectthatatfouro’clockthatafternoontheopportunitytoadmitwomentotheuniversitywouldexpire，asthefullfiftythousanddollarshadnotbeenraised。Thesumofeightthousanddollarswasstilllacking。
Withcharacteristicenergy，MissAnthonyunder—
tooktosavethesituationbyraisingthisamountwithinthetimelimit。Rushingtothetelephone，shecalledacabandpreparedtogoforthonherdifficultquest；butfirst，whileshewasputtingonherhatandcoat，sheinsistedthathersister，MaryAnthony，shouldstartthefundbycontributingonethousanddollarsfromhermeagersavings，andthisMissMarydid。``AuntSusan’’madeeverysecondcountthatday，andbyhalfafterthreeo’clockshehadsecuredthenecessarypledges。Severalofthetrusteesoftheuniversity，however，hadnotseemedespeciallyanxioustohavethefundraised，andatthelastmomenttheyobjectedtoonepledgeforathousanddollars，onthegroundthatthemanwhohadgivenitwasveryoldandmightdiebeforethetimesettopayit；thenhisfamily，theyfeared，mightrepudiatetheobligation。WithoutawordMissAnthonyseizedthepledgeandwrotehernameacrossitasanindorsement。``Iamgoodforit，’’
shethensaid，quietly，``ifthegentlemanwhosigneditisnot。’’
Thatafternoonshereturnedhomegreatlyfa—
tigued。Afewhourslaterthegirlstudentswhohadbeenwaitingadmissiontotheuniversitycametoserenadeherinrecognitionofhersuccessfulworkforthem，butshewastooilltoseethem。Shewaspassingthroughthefirststageofwhatprovedtobeherfinalbreakdown。
In1906，whenthedateoftheannualconventionoftheNationalAmericanWomanSuffrageAssociationinBaltimorewasdrawingnear，shebecameconvincedthatitwouldbeherlastconvention。Shewasright。
Sheshowedapassionateeagernesstomakeitoneofthegreatestconventionseverheldinthehistoryofthemovement；andwe，wholovedherandsawthattheflameofherlifewasburninglow，alsobentallourenergiestothetaskofrealizingherhopes。
InNovemberprecedingtheconventionshevisitedmeandherniece，MissLucyAnthony，inourhomeinMountAiry，Philadelphia，anditwasclearthatheranxietyovertheconventionwasweighingheavilyuponher。Shevisiblyloststrengthfromdaytoday。Onemorningshesaidabruptly，``Anna，let’sgoandcallonPresidentM。CareyThomas，ofBrynMawr。’’
IwroteanotetoMissThomas，tellingherofMissAnthony’sdesiretoseeher，andreceivedanim—
mediatereplyinvitingustoluncheonthefollowingday。WefoundMissThomasdeepintheworkconnectedwithhernewcollegebuildings，overwhichsheshoweduswithmuchpride。MissAnthony，ofcourse，gloriedinthesplendidresultsMissThomashadachieved，butshewas，forher，strangelysilentandpreoccupied。Atluncheonshesaid：
``MissThomas，yourbuildingsarebeautiful；
yournewlibraryisamarvel；buttheyarenotthecauseofourpresencehere。’’
``No，’’MissThomassaid；``Iknowyouhavesomethingonyourmind。Iamwaitingforyoutotellmewhatitis。’’
``Wewantyourco—operation，andthatofMissGarrett，’’beganMissAnthony，promptly，``tomakeourBaltimoreConventionasuccess。WewantyoutopersuadetheArundelClubofBaltimore，themostfashionableclubinthecity，togivearecep—
tiontothedelegates；andwewantyoutoarrangeacollegenightontheprogramme——agreatcollegenight，withthebestcollegespeakerseverbroughttogether。’’
Thesewerelargecommissionsfortwoextremelybusywomen，butbothMissThomasandMissGarrett——realizingMissAnthony’sintenseearnest—
ness——promisedtothinkoverthesuggestionsandseewhattheycoulddo。Thenextmorningwere—
ceivedatelegramfromthemstatingthatMissThomaswouldarrangethecollegeevening，andthatMissGarrettwouldreopenherBaltimorehome，whichshehadclosed，duringtheconvention。ShealsoinvitedMissAnthonyandmetobehergueststhere，andaddedthatshewouldtrytoarrangethereceptionbytheArundelClub。
``AuntSusan’’wasoverjoyed。Ihaveneverseenherhappierthanshewasoverthereceiptofthattelegram。SheknewthatwhateverMissThomasandMissGarrettundertookwouldbeaccomplished，andsherightlyregardedthesuccessoftheconven—
tionasalreadyassured。Herexpectationsweremorethanrealized。Thecollegeeveningwasun—
doubtedlythemostbrilliantoccasionofitskindeverarrangedforaconvention。PresidentIraRemsenofJohnsHopkinsUniversitypresided，andaddressesweremadebyPresidentMaryE。WoolleyofMountHolyoke，ProfessorLucySalmonofVassar，ProfessorMaryJordanofSmith，PresidentThomasherself，andmanyothers。
Frombeginningtoendtheconventionwasprob—
ablythemostnotableyetheldinourhistory。
JuliaWardHoweandherdaughter，FlorenceHoweHall，werealsoguestsofMissGarrett，who，more—
over，entertainedallthespeakersof``CollegeNight。’’
MissAnthony，noweighty—six，arrivedinBaltimorequiteill，andMrs。Howe，whowasninety，wastakenillsoonaftershereachedthere。Thetwogreatwomenmadeadramaticexchangeontheprogramme，foronthefirstnight，whenMissAnthonywasun—
abletospeak，Mrs。Howetookherplace，andonthesecondnight，whenMrs。Howehadsuccumbed，MissAnthonyhadrecoveredsufficientlytoappearforher。ClaraBartonwasalsoanhonoredfigureattheconvention，andMissAnthony’sjoyinthepresenceofalltheseoldanddearfriendswasover—
flowing。Withthem，too，weretheyoungerwomen，readytotakeupandcarryontheworktheoldleaderswerelayingdown；and``AuntSusan，’’asshesurveyedthemall，feltlikeageneralwhosesuperbarmyispassinginreviewbeforehim。
Atthecloseofthecollegeprogramme，whenthefinaladdresshadbeenmadebyMissThomas，MissAnthonyroseandinafewwordsexpressedherfeelingthatherlife—workwasdone，andhercon—
sciousnessofthenearapproachoftheend。Afterthatnightshewasunabletoappear，andwasindeedsoillthatshewasconfinedtoherbedinMissGar—
rett’smosthospitablehome。NothingcouldhavebeenmorethoughtfulormorebeautifulthanthecareMissGarrettandMissThomasbestowedonher。
TheyengagedforheroneofthebestphysiciansinBaltimore，who，inturn，consultedwiththeleadingspecialistsofJohnsHopkins，andtheyalsosecuredatrainednurse。Thisfinalattentionrequiredspecialtact，forMissAnthony’sfearof``givingtrouble’’wassogreatthatshewasnotwillingtohaveanurse。Thenurse，therefore，woreahouse—
maid’suniform，and``AuntSusan’’remainedwhollyunconsciousthatshewasbeingcaredforbyoneofthebestnursesinthefamoushospital。
BetweensessionsoftheconventionIusedtositby``AuntSusan’s’’bedandtellherwhatwasgoingon。Shewastriumphantovertheimmensesuccessoftheconvention，butitwasclearthatshewasstillworryingoverthedetailsoffuturework。OnedayatluncheonMissThomasaskedme，casually：
``Bytheway，howdoyouraisethemoneytocarryonyourwork？’’
WhenItoldhertheworkwaswhollydependentonvoluntarycontributionsandontheservicesofthosewhowerewillingtogivethemselvesgratui—
touslytoit，MissThomaswasgreatlysurprised。
SheandMissGarrettaskedanumberofpracticalquestions，andattheendofourtalktheylookedateachother。
``Idon’tthink，’’saidMissThomas，``thatwehavequitedoneourdutyinthismatter。’’
Thenextdaytheyinvitedanumberofustodinner，toagaindiscussthesituation；andtheyadmittedthattheyhadsatupthroughoutthepreviousnight，talkingthematteroverandtryingtofindsomewaytohelpus。Theyhadalsodis—
cussedthesituationwithMissAnthony，tohervastcontent，andhadfinallydecidedthattheywouldtrytoraiseafundof$60，000，tobepaidinyearlyinstalmentsof$12，000forfiveyears——partoftheseannualinstalmentstobeusedassalariesfortheactiveofficers。
Themerementionofsolargeafundstartledusall。Wefearedthatitcouldnotpossiblyberaised。
ButMissAnthonyplainlybelievedthatnowthelastgreatwishofherlifehadbeengranted。ShewasconvincedthatMissThomasandMissGar—
rettcouldaccomplishanything——eventhemiracleofraising$60，000forthesuffragecause——andtheydid，though``AuntSusan’’wasnotheretogloryovertheresultwhentheyhadachievedit。
Onthe15thofFebruaryweleftBaltimoreforWashington，whereMissAnthonywastocele—
bratehereighty—sixthbirthday。FormanyyearstheNationalAmericanWomanSuffrageAssocia—
tionhadcelebratedourbirthdaystogether，asherscameonthe15thofthemonthandmineonthe14th。Therehadbeenanespeciallyfestivebanquetwhenshewasseventy—fourandIwasforty—seven，andourfriendshaddecoratedthetablewithfloral``4’s’’and``7’s’’——thecenterpiecerepresenting``74’’
duringthefirsthalfofthebanquet，and``47’’thelatterhalf。Thistime``AuntSusan’’shouldnothaveattemptedtheWashingtoncelebration，forshewasstillillandexhaustedbythestrainofthecon—
vention。Butnotwithstandinghersufferingsandthewarningsofherphysicians，sheinsistedonbeingpresent；soMissGarrettsentthetrainednursetoWashingtonwithher，andwealltriedtomakethejour—
neytheleastpossiblestrainonthepatient’svitality。
OnourarrivalinWashingtonwewenttotheShoreham，where，asalways，theproprietortookpainstogiveMissAnthonyaroomwithaviewoftheWashingtonmonument，whichshegreatlyadmired。
WhenIenteredherroomalittlelaterIfoundherstandingatawindow，holdingherselfupwithhandsbracedagainstthecasementoneitherside，andsoabsorbedintheviewthatshedidnothearmyap—
proach。WhenIspoketohersheansweredwith—
outturningherhead。
``That，’’shesaid，softly，``isthemostbeautifulmonumentintheworld。’’
Istoodbyherside，andtogetherwelookedatitinsilenceIrealizingwithasickheartthat``AuntSusan’’knewshewasseeingitforthelasttime。
Thebirthdaycelebrationthatfollowedourexec—
utivemeetingwasanimpressiveone。ItwasheldintheChurchofOurFather，whosepastor，theRev。
JohnVanSchaick，hadalwaysbeenexceedinglykindtoMissAnthony。Manyprominentmenspoke。
PresidentRooseveltandotherstatesmensentmostfriendlyletters，andWilliamH。Tafthadpromisedtobepresent。Hedidnotcome，nordidhe，thenorlater，sendanyexcusefornotcoming——anomissionthatgreatlydisappointedMissAnthony，whohadalwaysadmiredhim。Ipresidedatthemeeting，andthoughwealldidourbesttomakeitgay，astrangehushhungovertheassemblageasolemnstillness，suchasonefeelsinthepresenceofdeath。
WebecamemoreandmoreconsciousthatMissAnthonywassuffering，andwehastenedtheexer—
cisesallwecould。WhenIreadPresidentRoose—
velt’slongtributetoher，MissAnthonyrosetocommentonit。
``OnewordfromPresidentRooseveltinhismes—
sagetoCongress，’’shesaid，alittlewearily，``wouldbeworthathousandeulogiesofSusanB。Anthony。
Whenwillmenlearnthatwhatweaskisnotpraise，butjustice？’’
Atthecloseofthemeeting，realizinghowweakshewas，Ibeggedhertoletmespeakforher。Butsheagainrose，restedherhandonmyshoulder，and，standingbymyside，utteredthelastwordssheeverspokeinpublic，pleadingwithwomentoconsecratethemselvestotheCause，assuringthemthatnopowercouldpreventitsultimatesuccess，butremindingthemalsothatthetimeofitscomingwoulddependwhollyontheirworkandtheirloyalty。
Sheendedwiththreewords——veryfittingwordsfromherlips，expressingastheydidthespiritofherlife—work——``FAILUREISIMPOSSIBLE。’’
ThenextmorningshewastakentoherhomeinRochester，andonemonthfromthatdaywecon—
ductedherfuneralservices。ThenursewhohadaccompaniedherfromBaltimoreremainedwithheruntiltwoothershadbeensecuredtotakeherplace，andeverycarethatloveormedicalsciencecouldsuggestwaslavishedonthepatient。Butfromthefirstitwasplainthat，assheherselfhadforetold，``AuntSusan’s’’soulwasmerelywaitingforthehourofitspassing。
Oneofhercharacteristictraitswasadisliketobeingseen，evenbythosenearesttoher，whenshewasnotwell。Duringthefirstthreeweeksofherlastillness，therefore，Ididwhatshewishedmetodo——Icontinuedourwork，tryingtodohersaswellasmyown。Butallthetimemyheartwasinhersick—room，andatlastthedaycamewhenIcouldnolongerremainawayfromher。Ihadawakenedinthemorningwithastrongconvictionthatsheneededme，andatthebreakfast—tableIannouncedtoherniece，MissLucyAnthony，thefriendwhoforyearshassharedmyhome，thatIwasgoingatonceto``AuntSusan。’’
``Ishallnotevenwaittotelegraph，’’Ideclared。
``Iamsureshehassentforme；Ishalltakethefirsttrain。’’
Thejourneybroughtmeveryclosetodeath。AswewereapproachingWilkes—Barreourtrainranintoawagonloadedwithpowderanddynamite，whichhadbeenleftonthetrack。Thehorsesattachedtoithadbeenunhitchedbytheirdriver，whohadspenthistimeinthiseffort，whenhesawthetraincoming，insteadofinsignalingtotheengineer。Iwasonmywaytothedining—carwhenthecollisionoccurred。
and，witheveryoneelsewhohappenedtobestand—
ing，Iwashurledtothefloorbytheimpact；flashafterflashofblindinglightoutside，accompaniedbyaterrificroar，addedtothepanicofthepassengers。
Whenthetrainstoppedwelearnedhownarrowhadbeenourescapefromanespeciallyunpleasantformofdeath。Thedynamiteinthewagonwasfrozen，andthereforehadnotexploded；itwastheex—
plosionofthepowderthathadcausedtheflashesandthedin。Thedark—greencarswereburnedalmostwhite，andaswestoodstaringatthem，asilent，stunnedgroup，ourconductorsaid，quietly，``Youwillneverbeasneardeathagain，andescape，asyouhavebeento—day。’’
Theaccidentcausedalongdelay，anditwasteno’clockatnightwhenIreachedRochesterandMissAnthony’shome。AsIenteredthehouseMissMaryAnthonyroseinsurprisetogreetme。
``Howdidyougetheresosoon？’’shecried。
Andthen：``Wesentforyouthisafternoon。Susanhasbeenaskingforyouallday。’’
WhenIreachedmyfriend’sbedsideoneglanceatherfaceshowedmetheendwasnear；andfromthattimeuntilitcame，almostaweeklater，Ire—
mainedwithher；whileagain，asalways，shetalkedoftheCause，andofthelife—workshemustnowlaydown。Thefirstthingshespokeofwasherwill，whichshehadmadeseveralyearsbefore，andinwhichshehadleftthesmallpropertyshepossessedtohersisterMary，hernieceLucy，andmyself，withinstructionsastotheusewethreeweretomakeofit。Nowshetoldmeweweretopaynoattentiontotheseinstructions，buttogiveeverydollarofhermoneytothe$60，000fundMissThomasandMissGarrettweretryingtoraise。Shewasvitallyin—
terestedinthisfund，asitssuccessmeantthatforfiveyearstheactiveofficersoftheNationalAmeri—
canWomanSuffrageAssociation，includingmyselfaspresident，wouldforthefirsttimereceivesalariesforourwork。Whenshehadgivenherinstructionsonthispointshestillseemeddepressed。
``IwishIcouldliveon，’’shesaid，wistfully。
``ButIcannot。Myspiritiseagerandmyheartisasyoungasiteverwas，butmypooroldbodyiswornout。BeforeIgoIwantyoutogivemeapromise：Promisemethatyouwillkeepthepresi—
dencyoftheassociationaslongasyouarewellenoughtodothework。’’
``ButhowcanIpromisethat？’’Iasked。``Icankeepitonlyaslongasotherswishmetokeepit。’’
``Promisetomakethemwishyoutokeepit，’’
sheurged。``JustasIwishyoutokeepit。’’
Iwouldhavepromisedheranythingthen。So，thoughIknewthattoholdthepresidencywouldtiemetoapositionthatbroughtinnolivingincome，andthoughforseveralyearspastIhadalreadydrawnalarminglyuponmysmallfinancialreserve，IpromisedherthatIwouldholdtheofficeaslongasthemajorityofthewomenintheassociationwishedmetodoso。``But，’’Iadded，``ifthetimecomeswhenIbelievethatsomeoneelsecandobetterworkinthepresidencythanI，thenletmefeelatlibertytoresignit。’’
Thisdidnotsatisfyher。
