er. Everything spoken or written by Jew or Greek, Gentile or
Christian, or by any human being whomsoever, is not too sacred to
be criticised by any other human being.

She was far too magnanimous, however, and loved the cause too well to
relax her efforts for the welfare of the association. Before the year
closed she received from Mrs. Avery and Mrs. Upton most tender and
beautiful letters, acknowledging their mistake, expressing their sorrow
and begging to be reinstated in her confidence and affection.[117]

In order that Miss Anthony's position maybe clearly understood and that
she may not appear biased and one-sided, and in order also to consider
this question all at one time, her point of view will be a little
further illustrated. In an interview in the Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle she is thus reported:

"Did you have anything to do with the new Bible, Miss Anthony?" was
asked.

"No, I did not contribute to it, though I knew of its preparation.
My own relations to or ideas of the Bible always have been
peculiar, owing to my Quaker training. The Friends consider the
book as historical, made up of traditions, but not as a plenary
inspiration. Of course people say these women are impious and
presumptuous for daring to interpret the Scriptures as they
understand them, but I think women have just as good a right to
interpret and twist the Bible to their own advantage as men always
have twisted and turned it to theirs.... It was written by men, and
therefore its reference to women reflects the light in which they
were regarded in those days. In the same way the history of our
Revolutionary War was written, in which very little is said of the
noble deeds of women, though we know how they stood by and helped
the great work; and it is the same with history all through."

Although she stood so firm for individual rights she nevertheless
regretted that Mrs. Stanton should give the few remaining years of her
precious life to this commentary, and frequently wrote in the following
strain, when importuned to assist in it:

I can not help but feel that in this you are talking down to the
most ignorant masses, whereas your rule always has been to speak to
the highest, knowing there would be a few who would comprehend, and
would in turn give of their best to those on the next lower round
of the ladder. The cult