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‘‘Say； Miss Shaw；'' he yelled； ‘‘don't you want
these children put out？''
It was our chance to remove the sad impression
of yesterday； and I grasped it。
‘‘No； indeed；'' I yelled back。 ‘‘Nothing inspires
me like the voice of a child！''
A handsome round of applause from mothers and
fathers greeted this noble declaration； after which
the blessed babies and I resumed our joint vocal
efforts。 When the speech was finished and we were
alone together； Miss Anthony put her arm around
my shoulder and drew me to her side。
‘‘Well； Anna；'' she said； gratefully； ‘‘you've cer…
tainly evened us up on motherhood this time。''
That South Dakota campaign was one of the
most difficult we ever made。 It extended over nine
months； and it is impossible to describe the poverty
which prevailed throughout the whole rural com…
munity of the State。 There had been three con…
secutive years of drought。 The sand was like pow…
der； so deep that the wheels of the wagons in which
we rode ‘‘across country'' sank half…way to the
hubs； and in the midst of this dry powder lay with…
ered tangles that had once been grass。 Every one
had the forsaken； desperate look worn by the pioneer
who has reached the limit of his endurance； and the
great stretches of prairie roads showed innumerable
canvas…covered wagons； drawn by starved horses；
and followed by starved cows； on their way ‘‘Back
East。'' Our talks with the despairing drivers of
these wagons are among my most tragic memories。
They had lost everything except what they had with
them； and they were going East to leave ‘‘the wom…
an'' with her father and try to find work。 Usually；
with a look of disgust at his wife； the man would
say： ‘‘I wanted to leave two years ago； but the
woman kept saying； ‘Hold on a little longer。' ''
Both Miss Anthony and I gloried in the spirit of
these pioneer women； and lost no opportunity to
tell them so； for we realized what our nation owes
to the patience and courage of such as they were。
We often asked them what was the hardest thing to
bear in their pioneer life； and we usually received
the same reply：
‘‘To sit in our little adobe or sod houses at night
and listen to the wolves howl over the graves of our
babies。 For the howl of the wolf is like the cry of
a child from the grave。''
Many days； and in all kinds of weather； we rode
forty and fifty miles in uncovered wagons。 Many
nights we shared a one…room cabin with all the mem…
bers of the family。 But the greatest hardship we
suffered was the lack of water。 There was very
little good water in the state； and the purest water
was so brackish that we could hardly drink it。 The
more we drank the thirstier we became； and when
the water was made into tea it tasted worse than
when it was clear。 A bath was the rarest of luxuries。
The only available fuel was buffalo manure； of which
the odor permeated all our food。 But despite these
handicaps we were happy in our work； for we had
some great meetings and many wonderful experiences。
When we reached the Black Hills we had more of
this genuine campaigning。 We traveled over the
mountains in wagons； behind teams of horses； visit…
ing the mining…camps； and often the gullies were so
deep that when our horses got into them it was al…
most impossible to get them out。 I recall with
special clearness one ride from Hill City to Custer
City。 It was only a matter of thirty miles； but it was
thoroughly exhausting； and after our meeting that
same night we had to drive forty miles farther over
the mountains to get the early morning train from
Buffalo Gap。 The trail from Custer City to Buffalo
Gap was the one the animals had originally made in
their journeys over the pass； and the drive in that
wild region； throughout a cold； piercing October
night； was an unforgetable experience。 Our host at
Custer City lent Miss Anthony his big buffalo over…
coat； and his wife lent hers to me。 They also heated
blocks of wood for our feet； and with these pro…
tections we started。 A full moon hung in the sky。
The trees were covered with hoar…frost； and the cold；
still air seemed to sparkle in the brilliant light。
Again Miss Anthony talked to me throughout the
nightof the work； always of the work； and of what
it would mean to the women who followed us； and
again she fired my soul with the flame that burned
so steadily in her own。
It was daylight when we reached the little sta…
tion at Buffalo Gap where we were to take the
train。 This was not due； however； for half an hour；
and even then it did not come。 The station was
only large enough to hold the stove； the ticket…office；
and the inevitable cuspidor。 There was barely
room in which to walk between these and the wall。
Miss Anthony sat down on the floor。 I had a few
raisins in my bag； and we divided them for breakfast。
An hour passed； and another； and still the train did
not come。 Miss Anthony； her back braced against
the wall； buried her face in her hands and dropped
into a peaceful abyss of slumber； while I walked
restlessly up and down the platform。 The train
arrived four hours late； and when eventually we had
reached our destination we learned that the min…
isters of the town had persuaded the women to give
up the suffrage meeting scheduled for that night； as
it was Sunday。
This disappointment； following our all…day and
all…night drive to keep our appointment； aroused
Miss Anthony's fighting spirit。 She sent me out to
rent the theater for the evening； and to have some
hand…bills printed and distributed； announcing that
we would speak。 At three o'clock she made the
concession to her seventy years of lying down for
an hour's rest。 I was young and vigorous； so I
trotted around town to get somebody to preside；
somebody to introduce us； somebody to take up
the collection； and somebody who would provide
musicin short； to make all our preparations for
the night meeting。
When evening came the crowd which had assem…
bled was so great that men and women sat in the
windows and on the stage； and stood in the flies。
Night attractions were rare in that Dakota town；
and here was something new。 Nobody went to
church； so the churches were forced to close。 We
had a glorious meeting。 Both Miss Anthony and I
were in excellent fighting trim； and Miss Anthony
remarked that the only thing lacking to make me
do my best was a sick headache。 The collection we
took up paid all our expenses； the church singers
sang for us； the great audience was interested； and
the whole occasion was an inspiring success。
The meeting ended about half after ten o'clock；
and I remember taking Miss Anthony to our hotel
and escorting her to her room。 I also remember
that she followed me to the door and made some
laughing remark as I left for my own room； but I
recall nothing more until the next morning when
she stood besid