se one:
Take her for all in all, we ne'er
Shall see the match of Susan.
*/]

CHAPTER XXI.

END OF REVOLUTION--STATUS OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

1870.

Immediately after the Suffrage Anniversary in May, 1870, Miss Anthony
and Mrs. Stanton decided to call a mass meeting of women to discuss the
questions involved in the McFarland-Richardson trial, which had set the
country ablaze with excitement. The case in brief was that McFarland
was a drunken, improvident husband, and his wife, Abby Sage, was
compelled to be the breadwinner for the family, first as an actress and
later as a public reader. She was a woman of education, refinement and
marked ability, and enjoyed an intimate friendship with some of the
best families of New York. Boarding in the same house with her was
Albert D. Richardson, a prominent newspaper man, a stockholder in the
Tribune and a special favorite of Mr. Greeley. He befriended Mrs.
McFarland, protected her against the brutality of her husband and
learned to love her. It was understood among their mutual friends that
when she was legally free they would be married. She secured her
divorce; and a few days later McFarland walked into the Tribune office,
shot and fatally wounded Richardson. Some hours before he died, Mrs.
McFarland was married to him, Revs. Henry Ward Beecher and O.B.
Frothingham officiating, in the presence of Mr. Greeley and several
other distinguished persons. McFarland was tried, acquitted on the
ground of insanity, given the custody of their little son and allowed
to go free.

Press and pulpit were rent with discussions and, although the general
verdict was that if McFarland were insane he should be placed under
restraint and not permitted to retain the child, Mrs. Richardson was
persecuted in the most cruel and unmerciful manner. The women of New
York especially felt indignant at the result of the trial. Miss Anthony
offered to take the responsibility of a public demonstration, with Mrs.
Stanton to make the address. She sent out 3,000 handsome invitations to
the leading women of the city. Before the meeting a number of
cautionary letters were received, of which this from Miss Catharine
Beecher will serve as a sample:

I am anxious for your own sake and for the sake of "our good
cause," that you should manage wisely your very difficult task.
There is a widespread combination undermining the family state, and
we need to protect all the customs as well a