ttle agitation of the question. The wife
of a drunkard was completely at his mercy. He had the entire custody of
the children, full control of anything she might earn, and the law did
not recognize drunkenness as a cause for divorce. Although woman was
the greatest sufferer, she had not yet learned that she had even the
poor right of protest. Oppressed by the weight of the injustice and
tyranny of ages, she knew nothing except to suffer in silence; and so
degraded was she by generations of slavish submission, that she
possessed not even the moral courage to stand by those of her own sex
who dared rebel and demand a new dispensation.

The old Washingtonian Society of the first half of the nineteenth
century, composed entirely of men, because reformed drunkards only
could belong to it, was succeeded by the Sons of Temperance, and these
had permitted the organization of subordinate lodges called Daughters
of Temperance, which, as subsequent events will show, were entitled to
no official recognition. It was in one of these, the only organized
bodies of women known at this time,[12] that Miss Anthony first
displayed that executive ability which was destined to make her famous.
During 1851 she was very active in temperance work and organized a
number of societies in surrounding towns. She instituted in Rochester a
series of suppers and festivals to raise the funds which she at once
saw were necessary before any efficient work could be done. An old
invitation to one of these, dated February 21, 1851, and signed by
Susan B. Anthony, chairman, reads: "The entertainment is intended to be
of such a character as will meet the approbation of the wise and good;
Supper, Songs, Toasts, Sentiments and short speeches will be the order
of-the evening; $1 will admit a gentleman and a lady" A newpaper
account says:

The five long tables were loaded with a rich variety of provisions,
tastefully decorated and arranged. Mayor Samuel Richardson presided
at the supper table. After the repast was over, Miss Susan B.
Anthony, Directress of the Festival and President of the
Association, introduced these highly creditable sentiments, which
were greatly applauded by the assemblage:

"The Women of Rochester--Powerful to fashion the customs of
society, may they not fail to exercise that power for the speedy
and total banishment of all that intoxicates from our domestic and
social circles, and thus speed on the