f ladies, and
close about her a group of her companions, who would have been
remarkable anywhere for the intellectual refinement and elevated
expression of their earnest faces. Opposite, at the other end of
the table, sat Charles Sumner, looking fatigued and worn, but
listening with alert attention. So these two veterans in the
cause of freedom were fitly and suggestively brought face to
face.

The scene was impressive. It was simple, grand, historic. Women
have often appeared in history--noble, brilliant, heroic women;
but _woman_ collectively, impersonally, never until now. To-day,
for the first time, she asks recognition in the commonwealth--not
in virtue of hereditary noblesse--not for any excellence or
achievement of individuals, but on the simple ground of her
presence in the race, with the same rights, interests,
responsibilities as man. There was nothing in this gathering at
the Capitol to touch the imagination with illusion, no ball-room
splendor of light and fragrance and jewels, none of those
graceful enchantments by which women have been content to reign
through brief dynasties of beauty over briefer fealties of
homage. The cool light of a winter morning, the bare walls of a
committee room, the plain costumes of every day use, held the
mind strictly to the simple facts which gave that group of
representative men and women its moral significance, its severe
but picturesque unity. Some future artist, looking back for a
memorable illustration of this period, will put this new
"Declaration of Independence" upon canvas, and will ransack the
land for portraits of those ladies who first spoke for their
countrywomen at the Capitol, and of those Senators and
Representatives who first gave them audience.

Mrs. Stanton's speech was brief and able, eloquent from the
simplicity and earnestness of her heart, logical from the well
disciplined vigor of her mind. She was followed by Miss Anthony,
morally as inevitable and impersonal as a Greek chorus, but
physically and intellectually individual, intense, original, full
of humor and good nature--anything but the roaring lioness of
newspaper reports some years ago. Mrs. Davis, of Rhode Island,
spoke briefly in support of the demand for franchise. Mrs. I. B.
Hooker presented the Scriptur