JOHN NEAL.

The weather was unfavorable; nevertheless, the small room,
holding from sixty to seventy-five, to which the well-disposed
were invited for consultation and organization, was crowded so
that near the close not a seat could be had; and crowded, too,
with educated and intelligent women, and brave, thoughtful men,
so far as one might judge by appearances, and about in equal
proportions. Among the latter were Mr. Talbot, United States
district-attorney, a good lawyer and a self-convinced fellow
laborer, so far as suffrage is concerned; but rather unwilling to
go further at present, lest if a woman should be sent to the
legislature (against her will, of course!) she might neglect her
family, or be obliged to take her husband with her, to keep her
out of mischief; just as if Portland, with 35,000 inhabitants and
four representatives, would not be likely to find _two_ unmarried
women or widows, or married women not disqualified by matrimonial
incumbrances or liabilities, to represent the sex; or lest, if
she should get into the post-office, being by nature so curious
and inquisitive, she might be found peeping--as if the chief
distinction between superior and inferior minds was not this very
disposition to inquire and investigate; as if, indeed, that which
distinguishes the barbarous from the civilized, were not this
very inquisitiveness and curiosity; the savage being satisfied
with himself and averse to inquiry; the civilized ever on the
alert, in proportion to his intelligence, and, like the
Athenians, always on the look-out for some "new thing."

And then, too, we had Judge Goddard, of the Superior Court, one
of our boldest and clearest thinkers, who could not be persuaded
to take a part in the discussion, though declaring himself
entirely opposed to the movement. And yet, he is the very man
who, at a Republican convention several years ago, offered a
resolution in favor of impartial suffrage, only to find himself
in a minority of two; but persevered nevertheless, year after
year, until the very same resolution, word for word, was
unanimously adopted by another Republican convention! Of course,
Judge Goddard will not be likely to shrink from giving his
reasons hereafter, if the movement should propagate itself, as