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ponents have not fought us fairly。 Once； in an
Ohio town； a group of politicians； hearing that I was
to lecture on temperance in the court…house on a
certain night； took possession of the building early
in the evening； on the pretense of holding a meeting；
and held it against us。 When； escorted by a com…
mittee of leading women； I reached the building and
tried to enter； we found that the men had locked
us out。 Our audience was gathering and filling the
street； and we finally sent a courteous message to the
men； assuming that they had forgotten us and re…
minding them of our position。 The messenger re…
ported that the men would leave ‘‘about eight；''
but that the room was ‘‘black with smoke and filthy
with tobacco…juice。 ‘‘We waited patiently until eight
o'clock； holding little outside meetings in groups；
as our audience waited with us。 At eight we again
sent our messenger into the hall； and he brought
back word that the men were ‘‘not through； didn't
know when they would be through； and had told
the women not to wait。''
Naturally； the waiting townswomen were deeply
chagrined by this。 So were many men in the out…
side crowd。 We asked if there was no other en…
trance to the hall except through the locked front
doors； and were told that the judge's private room
opened into it； and that one of our committee had
the key； as she had planned to use this room as a
dressing and retiring room for the speakers。 After
some discussion we decided to storm the hall
and take possession。 Within five minutes all the
women had formed in line and were crowding up
the back stairs and into the judge's room。 There
we unlocked the door； again formed in line； and
marched into the hall； singing ‘‘Onward； Christian
Soldiers！''
There were hundreds of us； and we marched di…
rectly to the platform； where the astonished men
got up to stare at us。 More and more women
entered； coming up the back stairs from the street
and filling the hall； and when the men realized
what it all meant； and recognized their wives； sis…
ters； and women friends in the throng； they sheep…
ishly unlocked the front doors and left us in posses…
sion； though we politely urged them to remain。 We
had a great meeting that night！
Another reminiscence may not be out of place。
We were working for a prohibition amendment in
the state of Pennsylvania； and the night before
election I reached Coatesville。 I had just com…
pleted six weeks of strenuous campaigning； and that
day I had already conducted and spoken at two big
outdoor meetings。 When I entered the town hall
of Coatesville I found it filled with women。 Only
a few men were there； the rest were celebrating
and campaigning in the streets。 So I arose and
said：
‘‘I would like to ask how many men there are in
the audience who intend to vote for the amendment
to…morrow？''
Every man in the hall stood up。
‘‘I thought so；'' I said。 ‘‘Now I intend to ask
your indulgence。 As you are all in favor of the
amendment； there is no use in my setting its claims
before you； and； as I am utterly exhausted； I
suggest that we sing the Doxology and go home！''
The audience saw the common sense of my
position； so the people laughed and sang the Doxol…
ogy and departed。 As we were leaving the hall
one of Coatesville's prominent citizens stopped me。
‘‘I wish you were a man；'' he said。 ‘‘The town
was to have a big outdoor meeting to…night； and
the orator has failed us。 There are thousands of
men in the streets waiting for the speech； and the
saloons are sending them free drinks to get them
drunk and carry the town to…morrow。''
‘‘Why；'' I said； ‘‘I'll talk to them if you wish。''
‘‘Great Scott！'' he gasped。 ‘‘I'd be afraid to let
you。 Something might happen！''
‘‘If anything happens； it will be in a good cause；''
I reminded him。 ‘‘Let us go。''
Down…town we found the streets so packed with
men that the cars could not get through； and with
the greatest difficulty we reached the stand which
had been erected for the speaker。 It was a gorgeous
affair。 There were flaring torches all around it； and
a ‘‘bull's…eye；'' taken from the head of a locomotive；
made an especially brilliant patch of light。 The
stand had been erected at a point where the city's
four principal streets meet； and as far as I could
see there were solid masses of citizens extending
into these streets。 A glee…club was doing its best
to help things along； and the music of an organette；
an instrument much used at the time in campaign
rallies； swelled the joyful tumult。 As I mounted
the platform the crowd was singing ‘‘Vote for Betty
and the Baby；'' and I took that song for my text；
speaking of the helplessness of women and children
in the face of intemperance； and telling the crowd
the only hope of the Coatesville women lay in the
vote cast by their men the next day。
Directly in front of me stood a huge and ex…
traordinarily repellent…looking negro。 A glance at
him almost made one shudder； but before I had
finished my first sentence he raised his right arm
straight above him and shouted； in a deep and
wonderfully rich bass voice； ‘‘Hallelujah to the
Lamb！'' From that point on he punctuated my
speech every few moments with good； old…fashioned
exclamations of salvation which helped to inspire
the crowd。 I spoke for almost an hour。 Three
times in my life； and only three times； I have made
speeches that have satisfied me to the degree； that
is； of making me feel that at least I was giving the
best that was in me。 The speech at Coatesville was
one of those three。 At the end of it the good…natured
crowd cheered for ten minutes。 The next day
Coatesville voted for prohibition； and； rightly or
wrongly； I have always believed that I helped to win
that victory。
Here； by the way； I may add that of the two other
speeches which satisfied me one was made in Chicago；
during the World's Fair； in 1893； and the other in
Stockholm； Sweden； in 1912。 The International
Council of Women； it will be remembered； met in
Chicago during the Fair； and I was invited to preach
the sermon at the Sunday…morning session。 The
occasion was a very important one； bringing to…
gether at least five thousand persons； including
representative women from almost every country
in Europe； and a large number of women ministers。
These made an impressive group； as they all wore
their ministerial robes； and for the first time I
preached in a ministerial robe； ordered especially
for that day。 It was made of black crepe de Chine；
with great double flowing sleeves； white silk under…
sleeves； and a wide white silk underfold down the
front； and I may mention casually that it looked
very much better than I felt； for I was very nervous。
My father had come on to Chicago especially to
hear my sermon； and had been invited to sit on the
platform。 Even yet he was