a short cut and not oblige our great-grandchildren to come
here and ask for a Federal Amendment.

Although the women received courteous treatment and a respectful
hearing from both committees no report was made by either, and the
only advantage gained was that as usual thousands of franked copies of
the hearings were sent to the national suffrage headquarters to be
distributed throughout the States.

* * * * *

For some time arrangements had been under way to celebrate the
birthday of Miss Anthony in the city where this had been so often done
and which she loved above all others. By carefully conserving her
strength she was able to attend the evening ceremonies in the Church
of Our Father (Universalist) where many suffrage conventions had been
held and where six years before, at the age of 80, she had resigned
the presidency and laid down the gavel for the last time. Letters of
congratulation were read from President Roosevelt, Vice-President
Fairbanks, members of Congress and other prominent men; from Mrs.
Russell Sage, Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker, Mrs. Caroline E. Merrick
and other eminent women, and from organizations in this and other
countries. Well known men and women brought their greetings in person.
To quote again from her Biography:

"On account of her extreme weakness it was not expected that Miss
Anthony would speak but at the close of the evening she seemed to feel
that she must say one last word, and rising, with a tender, spiritual
expression on her dear face, she stood beside Miss Shaw and explained
in a few touching words how the great work of the National
Association had been placed in her charge; turning to the other
national officers on the stage she reached out her hand to them and
expressed her appreciation of their loyal support, and then, realizing
that her strength was almost gone, she said: 'There have been others
also just as true and devoted to the cause--I wish I could name every
one--but with such women consecrating their lives'--here she paused
for an instant and seemed to be gazing into the future, then dropping
her arms to her side she finished her sentence--'failure is
impossible!' These were the last words Miss Anthony ever spoke in
public and from that moment they became the watchword of those who
accepted as their trust the work she laid down." One month later to
the day she was laid to rest with her loved ones.

FOOTNOTES:

[44] Part of