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not expected to whistle now。 Instead； it appeared；
I was to lecture on ‘‘The Missing Link。''
As usual； I had arrived in town only an hour or
two before the time fixed for my lecture； there was
the briefest interval in which to clear up these pain…
ful misunderstandings。 I repeatedly tried to reach
the chairman who was to preside at the entertain…
ment； but failed。 At last I went to the hall at the
hour appointed； and found the local committee
there； graciously waiting to receive me。 Without
wasting precious minutes in preliminaries； I asked
why they had advertised me as the woman who had
‘‘whistled before Queen Victoria。''
‘‘Why； didn't you whistle before her？'' they ex…
claimed in grieved surprise。
‘‘I certainly did not；'' I explained。 ‘‘Moreover； I
was never called ‘The American Nightingale；' and
I have never lectured on ‘The Missing Link。'
Where DID you get that subject？ It was not on the
list I sent you。''
The members of the committee seemed dazed。
They withdrew to a corner and consulted in whis…
pers。 Then； with clearing brow； the spokesman re…
turned。
‘‘Why；'' he said； cheerfully； ‘‘it's simple enough！
We mixed you up with a Shaw lady that whistles；
and we've been discussing the missing link in our
debating society； so our citizens want to hear your
views。''
‘‘But I don't know anything about the missing
link；'' I protested； ‘‘and I can't speak on it。''
‘‘Now； come；'' they begged。 ‘‘Why； you'll have
to！ We've sold all our tickets for that lecture。
The whole town has turned out to hear it。''
Then； as I maintained a depressed silence； one
of them had a bright idea。
‘‘I'll tell you how to fix it！'' he cried。 ‘‘Speak on
any subject you please； but bring in something about
the missing link every few minutes。 That will satis…
fy 'em。''
‘‘Very well；'' I agreed； reluctantly。 ‘‘Open the
meeting with a song。 Get the audience to sing
‘America' or ‘The Star…spangled Banner。' That
will give me a few minutes to think； and I will see
what can be done。''
Led by a very nervous chairman； the big audience
began to sing； and under the inspiration of the music
the solution of our problem flashed into my mind。
‘‘It is easy；'' I told myself。 ‘‘Woman is the miss…
ing link in our government。 I'll give them a suf…
frage speech along that line。''
When the song ended I began my part of the en…
tertainment with a portion of my lecture on ‘‘The
Fate of Republics；'' tracing their growth and decay；
and pointing out that what our republic needed to
give it a stable government was the missing link
of woman suffrage。 I got along admirably； for every
five minutes I mentioned ‘‘the missing link；'' and
the audience sat content and apparently interested；
while the members of the committee burst into
bloom on the platform。
VIII
DRAMA IN THE LECTURE…FIELD
My most dramatic experience occurred in a
city in Michigan； where I was making a
temperance campaign。 It was an important lum…
ber and shipping center； and it harbored much
intemperance。 The editor of the leading news…
paper was with the temperance…workers in our
fight there； and he had warned me that the liquor
people threatened to ‘‘burn the building over my
head'' if I attempted to lecture。 We were used to
similar threats； so I proceeded with my preparations
and held the meeting in the town skating…rink
a huge； bare； wooden structure。
Lectures were rare in that city； and rumors of
some special excitement on this occasion had been
circulated； every seat in the rink was filled； and
several hundred persons stood in the aisles and at
the back of the building。 Just opposite the speak…
er's platform was a small gallery； and above that； in
the ceiling； was a trap…door。 Before I had been
speaking ten minutes I saw a man drop through this
trap…door to the balcony and climb from there to
the main floor。 As he reached the floor he shouted
‘‘Fire！'' and rushed out into the street。 The next
instant every person in the rink was up and a panic
had started。 I was very sure there was no fire；
but I knew that many might be killed in the
rush which was beginning。 So I sprang on a chair
and shouted to the people with the full strength of
my lungs：
‘‘There is no fire！ It's only a trick！ Sit down！
Sit down！''
The cooler persons in the crowd at once began to
help in this calming process。
‘‘Sit down！'' they repeated。 ‘‘It's all right！
There's no fire！ Sit down！''
It looked as if we had the situation in hand； for
the people hesitated； and most of them grew quiet；
but just then a few words were hissed up to me that
made my heart stop beating。 A member of our local
committee was standing beside my chair； speaking
in a terrified whisper：
‘‘There IS a fire； Miss Shaw；'' he said。 ‘‘For God's
sake get the people outQUICKLY！''
The shock was so unexpected that my knees al…
most gave way。 The people were still standing；
wavering； looking uncertainly toward us。 I raised
my voice again； and if it sounded unnatural my
hearers probably thought it was because I was speak…
ing so loudly。
‘‘As we are already standing；'' I cried； ‘‘and are
all nervous； a little exercise will do us good。 So
march out； singing。 Keep time to the music！
Later you can come back and take your seats！''
The man who had whispered the warning jumped
into the aisle and struck up ‘‘Jesus； Lover of My
Soul。'' Then he led the march down to the door；
while the big audience swung into line and followed
him； joining in the song。 I remained on the chair；
beating time and talking to the people as they went；
but when the last of them had left the building I
almost collapsed； for the flames had begun to eat
through the wooden walls and the clang of the fire…
engines was heard outside。
As soon as I was sure every one was safe； however；
I experienced the most intense anger I had yet known。
My indignation against the men who had risked
hundreds of lives by setting fire to a crowded building
made me ‘‘see red''； it was clear that they must be
taught a lesson then and there。 As soon as I was
outside the rink I called a meeting； and the Congre…
gational minister； who was in the crowd； lent us his
church and led the way to it。 Most of the audience
followed us； and we had a wonderful meeting； dur…
ing which we were able at last to make clear to
the people of that town the character of the liquor
interests we were fighting。 That episode did the
temperance cause more good than a hundred ordinary
meetings。 Men who had been indifferent before
became our friends and supporters； and at the fol…
lowing election we carried the town for prohibition
by a big majority。
There have been other occasions when our op…
ponents have not fought us fairly。 Once； in an
Ohio town； a group of politicians； hearing that I was
to le