BLACKWELL FAMILY. Antoinette B. Blackwell BiographicalAunt Nettie's brother had gone thro the Oberlin theol school & her father had been converted under Prof Finney in Rochester, so they all venerated him. All thought she couldn't do it. Class of boys w whom she studied at Henrietta N Y went to Oberlin — her father thot she better come home — was at [Oberlin] home for 2 yrs, taught a little, helped her mother "& studied & studied & studied, when I got any chance." Then her father saw she was bent on it & let her go. Wanted to enter in Jr yr of Ladies Lit 2 Course, & knew she cd graducate w seniors (i.e. w Mamma's class. She was in classical course, but there were so few professors they had almost everything together. - Prof Thome had freed his slaves, went to Law Seminary to [theo] study theology & left when strike came & they all left in a body. cdn't discuss slavery — most of them went to Oberlin "so he was sensitive to that appeal for justice" when Aunt N wrote a composition arguing3 that it was wrong to make the young women stay & listen to the debates & not take part. He appointed her & LS — it got out & they had a good audience. He criticised 'em pretty sharply after, to discourage them, '.' faculty had already told him it was public speaking & must be stopped. Were not discouraged — 4 were only glad we had had 1 chance. It was in senior yr. Rumor got abroad that she was going to study theology, & she was summoned before Mrs Pres Finney & several members of Ladies' Board to be pleaded with. Mrs Finney talked at least5 ½ hour. Final arg't "You certainly never will have the courage to put yr opinion against all these wise, good men!" Her husband had done just that in differing fr orthodoxy — She sd "Pres Finney has done just that. What he has done why can't I do?" We parted friends, but in grief on her side & determination on mine. 6 In vacation father & brother discouraged her pitied her - sd mother wd help her. She went to principal, Miss Adams, who had always been friendly to her, & had given her teaching ([she] Aunt N taught composition class) She sd she wd give Aunt N teaching enough to pay ½ her expenses. Was 2 or 3 mos vacation & Aunt N was studying Hebrew. Miss Adams was taken ill in a long typhoid fever, early in the vacation. The7 Ladies' Board called a meeting, discussed Aunt N's position & decided that no graduate shd teach in prep dep't or lower classes of college — that it was their duty to help the undergraduates — seniors & jrs. "Those were my days of crying. I have never cried so much before or since," she sd laughing. "It was a terrible blow. 8 The assistant principal felt the injustice of it. She consulted among others Prof. (afterwards Pres.) Fairchild. I had had drawing classes in the institution & a prospective one outside in the open. She got up a class for me in perspective drawing. It included (among others) Prof. Fairchild & several theolog students; & so9 in a very much easier way I pd my whole way through. (Before, in senior year, we had to have essays, & it was a good way for anything we wanted to bring forward, & I wrote 2 exegeses of passages of St Paul "I suffer not a woman to teach" (& "ask their husbands at home?) That came to Pres Mahan's ears. He was the most liberal of the faculty & sent for the essay. He 10 was editor of Oberlin Quarterly Review & a no was soon due. He published it while she was still an undergraduate; 1st thing she ever had published. Prof Fairchild was the working editor — arranged the matter. He had occasion to see her in regard to some small items. When he knew that article was to be published, he wrote on the orthodox11 side of woman question for same issue — not an answer — a very lovely & beautiful statement. When he came to the boarding house to see me we cdn't help laughing in e o's [each other's] faces. He had been my brother's classmate, his sister was mine, we were well acquainted, he was as considerate & kind as kind cd be, but determined in his own 12 view. Later when I joined Units they wonderd if I had done anything to make me leave orthodoxy, & they asked me for a recommendation for the orthodox, & [Pres] I asked Pres Fairchild, & he gave me a beautiful one. The Oberlin men were the most kindly & generous in criticising & helping on people13 who trod on their tenderest feelings, like LS and me never hurt our feelings -Oberlin women much less so - [but] Prof Morgan of Old Test. Bible literature and theol spent whole class session discussing my paper & trying to show me I wasn't altogether [write] right. Made a good deal of stir. Prof. Finney sd afterwards, that he believed there were some women ordained to preach & he thought I might be one 14 Each theologue was called to give his religious experience - called to order of names- she was near the first. Prof. Finney didn't realize she was entered as a regular student. A good many of the young women & others liked to hear young men's experiences and attitudes. Prof Finney asked "who comes next" "Miss Brown" or Ant-- Brown "Oh, the women! we don't ask them !! She was hurt but when explained15 he said of course she must give her experience- & ever after he was very kind & gave her benefit of doubt that she might be called to preach. In lit exercises students appointed parts each had by turns essay - part in discussion -sermon or oration. Essay was rec'd all right. When it was her turn to take part the young men put her name on list. Prof Morgan was kindest of the profs but most bigoted on woman question - an Irish man Face flushed & voice trembled as he read the list. Dismissed 16 class & told young man who had drawn up list to stay after. Mrs. Holmes was studying theology too but never took part in any speaking. We walked along slowly, thinking maybe the students wd overtake us & they did. Prof Morgan "why did you make that app't when you know I didn't believe in it?" "Why our constitution requires it" " I'll see about that. You can go".2 weeks passed, and rumor said there was faculty meeting after faculty meeting. I went to class not knowing what to expect but the dear old prof said before we began class " [?] I believe you are wrong. I should stop you in this if I could. But I have no authority to do it. I shall give you the very best instruction I can while you are my pupil" and he did for three years. That was in 1848 at the 50th 18 anniversary, when LS, and BB and I all went on together, Prof. Morgan was very old, very feeble nearly blind with long white hair - only old prof left and they wanted him to give benediction 2 young men almost carried him up into gallery and with clear voice began it. He had sent me word if I would come to him at close of service he would say a few words to me. He spoke to me kindly Prof Morgan was 19 held my hand, laid his hand on my head, and his last words were "Dear child, God bless you!" His daughter was prof at Wellesley; & she & Ant & Momma all made addresses at Oberlin & Mamma made hers on the principal day w the dignitaries. Back to 1848 some of the students were local preachers before entering 20 Oberlin, & they asked for a student's license to preach, & so did she. They gave license to all the others & told her she might act on her own responsibility. so she began occasionally preaching & lecturing. Her first sermon was in school house in Henrietta O. One of her classmates, a young man, went w her and lead the singing When Mrs. Lettice (Smith) Holmes's name & mine appeared in the catalogue21 they were not but w the other students but as "resident graduate pursuing the theological course", w a break between & a star & when the catalogue came out after they got through their names wholly omitted. Just about 40 yrs after they were put in as full fledged theological graduates. Oberlin Alumni fsAssn in Boston, & Aunt N went in LS & we made 22 & I sd "perfect to wake up some morning & find my name put in the catalogue" — Prof Fair Child was there & grinned as they all laughed — & a few years later it happened. When course ended, they did not recognize me as graduating but many in town felt a gret deal of sympathy, including one of the founders Father Keep. Some23 of her classmates who had always stood by her went to father Keep & proposed that she be ordained, w a young man in class who was going as foreign missionary, & they hunted up enough other ministers who sd they wd but she thot it wd be ungrateful to take their church for it, when they had ignored her & she entirely disapproved. 24 Gave her honorary AM, unsolicited, (& offered AB wh she declined) & [offer] offered her DD at semi centennial but wanted her to go & receive it - 4 or 5 yrs ago. Prof Finney's wives were both sweet women but narrow & broad. After25 Aunt N had graduated & was lecturing & preaching, they visited Brooklyn & she went over to see them; & they talked, & on parting Prof Finney took her hand & sd " Now Antoinette be very careful & don't go too fast &c Mrs Finney stood silent till he had finished, & then sd "Ant, always follow yr own 26 Convictions!" Prof Finney used to write their names on slips & stir them all up & draw one & call on him to state his views - best exercise she ever had. And one student sd "Prof Finney I think Heman & Ant get drawn oftener the rest of us!" After that were not drawn so often. Heman was shy fellow w good mind, who needed to be drawn outALICE STONE BLACKWELL - MOMOIRS (Antoinette Brown Blackwell interview) Father's father Joseph Brown became paralytic, fought at Lexington and all through Revolution (Thompson, Conn.) farmers - My father wanted to study for ministry tho not converted - when his father was paralyzed he stayed. Born in Henrietta, N.Y. in double log cabin, May 20, 1825. Grew up on farm - went to school May 1st and was 3 years old on May 20. Began to teach May 1 and was 16 on May 20. Swinging to and from on batten door roaring "Jehovah, Jove or Lord" (Universal Hymn which she had just learned and thought sonorous) and children rushed in and cried "O Net Brown, you're swearing!" Was then about 5 1/2. Moved into stone house at age of 6. At 6 came home from school swinging sunbonnet and found in her yard mother and aunt and three old ladies and one, active, put her hand on head and said "Little girl how old are you?" Six "". "I am 106". Long-lived family and healthy place. Went to country school every season and one season when her brother (she had 3 brothers and 6 sisters; she was the 7th child) (and her father was 7th child) was at home and 5 little girls, decided would be easier not for all to tramp through deep snows and had home school, elder ones teaching younger; she taught French one of the pleasantest winters (was about 17). She had been teaching elsewhere. Brother Samuel George who was genius and inventor died early; he and she alone at home one summer; were a great deal to each other. Her mother was Abby Morse (of inventor Morse's family). Brother Samuel died early. Most of brothers and sisters died early of lung trouble but those who survived lived long. To teach her first school man fetched her in queer long wagon too narrow to hold two kitchen chairs side by side and they sat one behind another. He lived in log cabin. She got $1. a week , then $1.50 and boarded round. Taught two summer schools of small children, very primitive. Child said, "Can't come to school tomorrow: we are going to build a house." A week later Aunt Nettie took dinner in it. While at Oberlin taught one long winter vacation in Rochester, Michigan (1846 and 1847) and was lady principle of a large school or private academy. The male principal believed in women's speaking and preaching and said "why don't you begin by talking to the girls?" So she began and gave them little talks. Every Saturday he was in the habit of inviting in the public (it was a large village) and giving them a lecture in a church; and he got her to give them - on a variety of subjects. They all knew she was to study theology. A free and easy Western community. She also gave her ideas of women. This principal, Peter Moyers, of Dutch descent, was a brilliant man - died two years later. His peculiarity in teaching was to walk into her room and say, "Miss Brown, I'd like you to take such and such a class of mine this morning." - might be psychology or physiology or Butler's analogy or algebra, and learned more than any other school. Went to Henrietta Academy, where boys were prepared for Dartmouth. She studied with them all but Greek. Father said he couldn't afford to send her to college. Studied a good deal at home. While still an Oberlin student came home and was lady principal of Henrietta Academy one long vacation. These were the four schools she taught - all co-ed, and all those she went to, all co-ed. Her girl pupils much Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 2. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. duller when boys not present. When several sisters died her father let her go to Oberlin. She entered 3rd year, so she had only two years there. (Had studied lots of philosophy etc. at home). Graduated in 1847, then stayed and studied Hebrew through long vacation. Father objected to her trying to be a minister. He thought it too hard, brother ditto. Father wouldn't help. She had no funds; that was hard strain of her life. Had been teaching drawing in Oberlin and made half her current expenses. Lady principal Miss Adams said she would give her 1/2 teaching; and her mother would give her clothes. Rochester (Mich.) Academy wanted her back, and Miss Adams had typhoid and while she was ill the Ladies' Board, who felt with her father that she must be stopped from the theology, voted that no graduate should be employed to teach in girls' department of Oberlin. Was in woeful distress; never cried so much before or since. "I did it all up them". Miss Atkins was vice principal; acting principal; friend of Papa's and Uncle Sam's; thought it was wicked for them to behave so and got up a private class in perspective drawing. Among her pupils were theological students, Miss Holly and Professor (afterwards President) Fairchild, and made all her expenses - twice as much as she would have made in college - and got through sans debt. When she first went there was given a poor little room looking out on woodpile. Used to draw a good deal. Drew woodpile and surroundings and labelled it "View from My window". Was going to send it home. Miss Adams came in, saw it before she could hide it, moved her to front room and employed her to teach drawing. When she started in to study (before Ladies' Board had acted) the theologues were expected to give their experiences and the women were accustomed to attend. President Finney, who didn't know she was teaching said, "Whose turn is next?" One student spoke up and said, "Antoinette's". "Oh, we don't ask them". She went out with tears in her eyes. Students explained to Finney and next time he called her up. He was friendly as possible. Taught the theology proper. He told them to read all the theologies they could and form their own opinions. Prized originality. Drew names from hat; the one drawn explained his author's views and his own and was questioned by the Professor and students. Was only woman who took this exercise, through Lettice Holmes too was studying theology. She wouldn't speak. Several of them had an idea that her name and that of one other student (a shy man) were drawn too often; and finally Lettice Holmes's husband, ( a graduate) said "Professor Finney, Heman and Antoinette get drawn a great deal oftener than the rest." No more so. Had theology rhetorical exercises; the three years' classes all had them together and Professor Morgan acted as chairman. The young men had made the constitution. Each in turn had to have essay discussion or oration. First she was put on for essay and no objection. Next time the young men who made the program put her on for discussion, and when Prof. Morgan read it out, he turned suddenly and asked committee to stay after class. "We all knew what it meant, so Lettice and I walked through long yard of Tappan Hall and young men came pell mell after. and said he asked them what they meant by it when they knew he disapproved, and they said the constitution required it; and he said, "Well, you can go. I'll see about it." Faculty meeting after faculty meeting was held and we all had ourAlice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 3. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. eyes out. Some of the professors went to the young men and asked them to change the constitution but they wouldn't; and the charter? They said "no distinction should ever be made of sex or color" and they didn't do anything. I came into class not knowing if I should have discussion or not - three classes and people from outside. Professor said "Now I don't believe in a woman having a discussion in a place so public as this, or in preaching, and I'd stopp you Antoinette, if I could, but since I can't I'll do my best to teach you, and he did it for three years. Spoke as kindly as any man could who believed it was wicked. Before this, when Lucy Stone and Antoinette were in senior class they wanted to take part in discussion. Girls had only essays - young men orations and discussion. So Antoinette wrote essay that the young women had to spend much time listening and got only one-third benefit. Prof. Thome was liberal (his wife was not) and saw the point and appointed Lucy Stone and Antoinette to take part in a discussion. Large class and people cam in to hear. "We did best we could. Professor criticized us unmercifully". That ended it. The other professors took it up and said must not be. Prof. Thome told us he was sorry. and said he would organize and teach a class of girls alone. But we could only get a few girls and it didn't do much. Was near commencement. Prof. Finney, as soon as he knew I wanted to study said, "I believe some women are called to preach" - I think he was a little impressed by my experience and reasons for wanting to preach. My brother wrote for Oberlin quarterly and I told a girl laughing, that President Mahan heard of it and quoted it with approval in a sermon, sans name. I wrote an exegeses of "I suffer not a woman to teach etc." and it was read as a school composition. It mad some impression. It took the ground he was only speaking for time, etc. Pres. Mahan heard of it, sent for it, liked it and put it in the Oberlin quarterly. No girl got in before or after, she thinks, regular contributors to religious quarterly. That was in her senior year at college. When she went into theological school Prof. Morgan spent an hour of regular lecture discussing this exergeses and trying to show it to faculty and young men that he didn't succeed. About one-half young men in class stood by/ and helped her get chances to preach and lecture. (Antonette) First sermon (at 18, about 1847) in Henrietta where she went first to teach Sunday School, First woman's rights speech proper, in Henrietta N.Y. probably same year, while at home on long vacation. First public lecture in Rochester, Michigan. it was ten years before any other woman known to the public became a preacher; some woman of Disciples came about five years after Antoinette. "When our time came to ask for licenses to preach, early in the theology course, there was another faculty consultation, - those who thought it contrary to Scripture, opposed. Finally came to the decision that they had nothing to do with it, that Lettice Holmes and I were not regular theology students and we must do as we pleased; put us in the Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 4. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. catalogue as "resident graduates pursing theolog course", with*, and neither licensed nor forbade. After just 40 years they put us in as regular graduates. Lucy Stone and Antoinette were together in Boston once, and first Oberlin reunion was held, and we were invited to be there and speak. I think it was the first. Pres. Fairchild and a large gathering were there. I told some of these things and said, "I suppose I shall wake up some morning and find our names regularly entered in the catalogue". He laughted and nodded, and it was so. At the Semi-Centennial of Oberlin Lucy Stone, Henry B Blackwell and Antoinette went. Lucy Stone was the main woman speaker. President Morgan's daughter spoke etc. Theolog. Union Society of Ministers, Graduates of Oberlin, who "re-uned" now and then had not admitted women but discussed a whole day and voted to do it (at time of Semi-Centennial) and Antoinette next day in her speech thanked them. Pres. Morgan was then nearly blind and very feeble and walked supported by two young men. Antoinette wanted to speak to him as he had always been very kind and fatherly to her and to Lucy Stone, and all the rest, but very strict on that point. After benediction at close of week he laid his hand on her head and said, "Antoinette, my dear child, God Bless you", and shook her hand. She never saw him again. (She was just under 21 when she went to Oberlin.) The first Mrs. Finney was on the board that tried to shut me out and when that didn't succeed she sent for me and tried to show me the dangers of a young girl doing so, and I defended myself and listened as meekly as I could, and she said, "You'll never feel yourself qualified to oppose the opinions of those wise men who give that interpretation to St. Paul." Then I had an excellent opportunity. I said, "That is exactly what your husband has been doing. If a man does it why shouldn't a woman?" Conversation closed there. That Mrs. Finney died and he remarried a very different person. After I had graduated they were living in Brooklyn and I went to see them and we went walking. Prof. Finney said, "Antoinette, here is a pitfall and there is a pitfall" - warning me as well as he could. And Mrs. Finney stopped and said, "Antoinette, follow your own convictions" and he smiled and nodded When my class graduated, one Mr. James Teft was going as a missionary to South Africa. He was a strong woman's rights man, did more than any of the others to help me get lectures; was present at my first sermon and led the singing. Teft was to be ordained and thought he could perhaps help me to be ordained, not for any one church, but at large. He spoke to Father Keep, old minister, one of the founders of Oberlin, liked by everybody. Father Keep consented to help ordain me and Teft went around to try to get others and did get enough ministers. But the question of a place arose. Had to be in a private halls or in big church (in 1850) but authorities were opposed, and owned all the halls. She didn't want to ask for a church or to be ordained at large, so declined. Teft died in Africa not long after. A very good man; a fine fellow. She was ordained 3 years later.Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 5. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. There was an old Mrs. Barnesliving in Troy, N.Y. who spent some winters in Oberlin and was fond of attending theology classes with her knitting, and she and Antoinette became very friendly, though she was afraid of her becoming hurt. "If they would only let me take my knitting to church I could keep awake!" she said. When graduation approached she said, "If you'll come to New York and work with the women who are working for social purity (the society still exists and were publishing a paper which still exists) and do missionary work," she would pledge me a very comfortable salary and I should board with the widow of an Oberlin graduate minister, and Mrs. Barnes would lend me $100 to fit me out. So I went home and prepared, got clothes, etc. Then Gerrit Smith got up a meeting in Oswego, N.Y. I was a Gerrit Smith abolitionist like my father, and I attended the meeting and expected to get a chance to speak. I went alone - but Gerrit Smith hadn't got to the point of wanting a woman to speak and nobody asked me, but I had a nice time and made a lot of nice acquaintances. Delegates returning, reached Rochester about 11 P.M. and Clark, an anti-slavery singer, invited her home. (There were several Oberlin ministers who knew her brother.) He put her in with some of the children; and from that time on she knew all that set. Gerrit Smith soon changed and was very nice to Lucy Stone and Antionette. She went to New York, arrived Saturday night. Sunday morning, Mrs. Phebe Palmer, Methodist preacher not ordained, came for me in carriage and took me to meetings where I spoke with her and they were all very friendly and kind. I felt as if I were very nearly initiated into my work. Then in a few days came the first National Woman;s Rights Convention at Worcester, Mass. Lucretia Mott invited me to the platform and I got to making speeches. Aunt Ellen and Marian were there and Lucy Stone. When I got back the newspapers had had much to say about the Convention. I felt that all the ladies had their elbows out a little bit. Result was that I never went speaking with any of them any more but went off lecturing on my own account. As with all the rest, I got lectures where I could - mostly in New England, - New England was more ready for such things but I went all around. When Garrison and others found how I had been pushed out, they made opportunities for me. I spoke a good deal among Quakers in Pennsylvania, a good deal in Massachusetts and New York; went to Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland (Thomas Garrett made chances for me all around.) Near Brooklyn, Conn. (where Charles and George Burleigh got me chances) where Samuel May used to preach and Prudence Crandall lived n the next town - a liberal place; where Celia Burleigh preached later and where her monument is. Antoinette spoke about a dozen miles from Brooklyn and some of the leading ministers of Unitarian churches came over to hear her. She was strong on Bible argument for women and had it complete. He liked it (Sam.May) and invited her to Brooklyn to preach three times on Sunday. George Channing was a brother of the great Channing, and uncle of Wiliiam Henry Channing who was almost her best friend (W.H.C.), and had asked to devote the three meetings, - morning, afternoon and evening, to exigesis of Bible. She said, "If you are sure, I will, but perhaps people will be better pleased if I preach once." He said he was sure, and came for me in team and I took no notes, having it all in my head. He took me to nerarby house where George Channing was, Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 6. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. and G.C. asked what she was going to speak on and she told him, and he said, "In evening but not in afternoon." I said I hadn't brought a scrap (of notes) and he got mad and said, "I thought you had been educated to preach like a young man", and she answered "I could if I had expected it." "It won't do", he said, "you must preach through the day, can lecture in the evening." I got stirred up too and said, "Well, I'll preach - from such a text - but I don't know where it is." I ran upstairs to think and he tried to look it up and couldn't find it; said he would find it at church; when I went over he hadn't found it; was a fussy man; said: "We must go in, we must go in." I gave out the hymns while he was looking up the text and he whispered, "I've found it!" I was enough excited to give one of my best sermons. Got up something for the afternoon, and exegisis in the evening. Not long after was asked there again to finish giving my exegis in evening and to spend Sunday. He preached from apochrypha. Some 30 years after, after Celia Burleigh had been their minister and had died, and Aunt Nettie was thinking of reentering ministry (Uncle Sam was very poor then and out of business) they invited her back there twice, preaching several Sundays each time, and they talked of giving her a permanent call, but she told them she couldn't. A good many people there remembered her. "Sometimes I'd go into a church and they'd say, 'You may preach but mustn't stand in the pulpit.'" "In all denominations there were people trying to open the doors to women and there were plenty of chances to preach, especially sans pay. Sometimes after a sermon a woman would stand up in back of church and quote St. Paul and give her reasons why I shouldn't do it - preach against women's preaching. Lyceums opened lecture platforms a little later and I did a good deal of lecturing, and sometimes got handsome pay. At Syracuse Convention - 3rd National Convention - Susan B. Anthony appeared. She was engaged in temperance work. As we were both near Rochester and we got acquainted, she proposed that she and Mrs. Bloomer (who were both wearing bloomers) and I should go together and lecture, and we did, though I was not employed by the Society (about 1852) as they were. By this time the public was pretty well stirred up about bloomers and women's speaking. We were asked t speak in some of the largest halls in New York, by "Sarsaparilla Townsend" a great temperance man. We were his guests at his handsome house. Hall was packed to over- flowing at a pretty good price. Mr. Townsend said, "I've got up this meeting and you women are to have the benefit" and gave us each $100, and that paid off my debt to Mrs. Barnes. Susan said I cried for joy. (Never cried for anything public!) From that time on I began to lay up. Had no trouble to be heard. From then we went through all the large cities of New York and the watering places, talking temperance. The papers made a good deal of fun of the bloomers, and I, not wearing them, got a good many compliments, almost invariably. Susan always presided and engineered the meetings. Then I began speaking on woman's rights, and Susan and I went together for that, not for a society, but holding meetings here and there and everywhere. Among others I spoke at Andover, Mass. where my brother was preaching. I was pretty well received, and he took courage to ask me to preach in his pulpit. It was good of him, since Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page {6} 7. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. he didn't believe in it. Never was cordially converted. Meantime somebody (Greeley and Dana!) in New York wanted me to come and give a sermon in Metropolitan Hall and I preached on the meanness of sin. Greeley said he went to all the parts of the hall and hear me perfectly. It was well received and published later. That and other things so impressed them that they offered me $1000 and board to settle in N.Y. City and would get me a hall. They tried to make me accept it but I had sense enough to know I was too young and couldn't sustain it. The Wells family were always interested. Greeley and Channing were my best men friends and constant supporters. Garrison and May were also helpful; Tribune, phenological people and a few others with a rich man behind them Instead Antoinette accepted an offer to go to South Butler for $300 per year and pay her own board. Was only about 25. Thought after a year in So. Butler she might try N.Y. It was near Gerrit Smith and Sam May and Channing - Peterboro, Syracuse and Rochester- and her own home, 7 miles from Rochester. "I went there in fall and preached for some time before regularly settled, and then for some time while they were trying to find someone to ordain me. Wasn't as easy - reaction setting it - people just beginning to stop laughing and get mad. Sam Maya and Channing said they would not come near it so as not to bring taint of unorthodoxy. Gerrit Smith was liberal orthodox like me. I had been there about six months. Was ordained in June I think. Dr. Harriot K. Hunt came on from Boston to attend, 1853. Went off nicely, Gerrit Smith have the charge to the pastor, Rev. Mr. Fox to the people and Rev. Father Lee, Protestant minister of Syracuse, preached the sermon. Orthodox papers came done tremendously. New York Independent said any church that would ordain a woman or any woman that would be ordained, was an infidel. That was Dr. Cheever. I sent a reply and Independent wouldn't publish it but said I disclaimed being infidel. That same year World's Temperance Convention in largest hall in New York, was called. Susan was still working in temperance and she had had some trouble in a meeting and there was a good deal of discussion as to whether it would be a whole world's convention, and those in this country who were responsible for it said it would be. Good many English people over here. At the same time, in another large hall, a woman's rights convention was held. Lucy Stone and all the Boston people were there. Several days' meetings. My church appointed me and my principal deacon delegates to World's Temperance Convention and we came on together. Mr. William Henry Channing, thinking something might occur, had his church in Rochester appoint me too, so I came on fully armed with credentials. I went directly to woman's rights convention and Mr. Phillips came up and said 'I hear you are appointed a delegate to the World's Temperance Convention, and you'd better go over there promptly. I'll go with you and we'll get some lady'. So he got Caroline M. Severance. We three went there just as they gathered and talked over our plan on the way. The other two were not delegates. We would offer my credentials first. 'If accepted you simply rise ad than them and we'll go away'. I presented my credentials to the credentials committee who said they were satisfactory. We waited till all was organized and when I rose to offer my thanks, which would not have taken three minutes - the row began. They began making protests and calling out points of order and discussing. Two-thirds present were ministers or ministers' wives, and intense church people, and my name had pretty well gone abroad. I stood still and tried when I could to get in a word to [Next page] Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 8. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. explain what I meant, in vain. It came noon and they adjourned. By that time news had gone all over the countryside and people packed in to hear the row. It lasted all day. Passed a resolution that no one should be heard who was not invited to the platform. Neal Dow was presiding; was anti-slavery; believed in freedom. Somebody - I think Phillips - went to him and talked with him and found he was favorable. Fermenting went on through the city and Greeley people organized another Temp. meeting and appointed their delegates. Meanwhile Channing had arrived and he was a delegate. Phillips was disgusted: he couldn't speak, not being a delegate, and wouldn't go back. But Garrison and Powell went and consulted with Neal Dow, who said 'If she will sit right in from of platform and rise as soon as the meeting is called to order, I'll recognize her and call her to the platform'. So Rev. Channing and I sat together right in front and when time came I was promptly recognized and he called me and Channing gave me his arm and someone else came tearing up and offered to take me. There was a great furor, and I stood on the platform for three hour except when someone brought me a chair, and I did not have a chance to open my mouth. So much stamping and pounding with canes that air was full of dust, and the sun came in and struck me and Powell says "she actually stood in a halo." Regular hubbub, people could say anything. People would come up and beg me to come down. One man came up and said with such a sweet voice, 'Do you think Jesus would have done this if he had been on earth?' I said, 'I think he would. He came not to send peace but a word'. "Of course the contention was for freedom speech for a delegate. At the close of the morning they passed some sort of resolution, put Neal Dow out of the chair, and made such rulings that neither I nor my supporters could get into meeting. We did not go back. "Greeley summed it up in his paper: 'first day gagged woman; second day voted she should stay gagged;' This scared them strongly, "Had a row at our meeting. A mob that made such a hurly burly no one could be heard. I tried to tell a story. "Did he die?" asked a queer little voice from the gallery. Only time I was ever in a woman's rights convention that was broken up. Some of orthodox ministers hated me intensely ad when I joined the Unitarians a dozen years later at Providence, R.I. some of the Unitarian ministers were very nice to me and I preached several times. But when they found I was that person they gave me the cold shoulder too. (Was in Providence lecturing for the Club.) About that time I married a half-Quaker Hickite girl in Rochester - first time for a woman to perform a marriage ceremony. Susan and Mrs. Channing were there. That was pretty widely heralded - was thought rather sacreligious. Could get any price for lectures after that. They sent me from Pittsburg and paid $100 a piece for two lectures. Stopped at Oberlin. Dr. Fairchild's brother, (since then president of a Berea College, was then a minister in Michigan, and when I went up there to teach I had met him on the train (and in Oberlin he had watched me and Lucy Stone at commencement) -and James Munroe, very eloquent, and a great friend of Lucy Stone, made an address; and this Dr. Fairchild was interested to see two girls so enthusiastic and spoke to us.Alice Stone Blackwell Memoirs - page 9. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, cont. There was some delay on this train and seeing me he came to talk and said I couldn't get to Rochester, Michigan until Monday and I must go home with him for Sunday. In evening he got to discussing woman's rights because I was to study theology, and he said, "Well, whatever you say, the position of women never will be essentially changed." I went off to bed with that ringing in my ears and wept, and for the first time I wished I was not a woman. I slept on it and got over it by morning. He was influential. I stopped at Oberlin to lecture and he was in audience and I said, (this was five years later) "position has changed". This was a good chance. I stumbled running for cars and hurt myself and have never had the same voice since and stopped my speaking for years. Gave those two lectures at Pittsburg, both written. I could hardly understand what I was saying. Lectures were failures. They gave me $200 in gold and I have always felt I should pay it back to the city of Pittsburgh. Was always reading papers - Herbert Spencer, Darwin, etc. I was more or less influenced, perhaps, by people I was with. In four or five months after I was ordained bottom of my theology suddenly fell out. Went to Channing who did all he could to help and comfort me and said "Somebody must walk with bleeding feet over heated ploughshares." I had to preach things I did believe about reforms and practical duties - never a word I didn't believe. Then came a woman whose son was ill and she wanted me to frighten him about hell and I couldn't. But I did my best to talk to him (he got well). I felt it very much. Then child died suddenly of croup - hadn't a very good mother - I began to feel I must resign. My health failed under the strain and I resigned under that plea and went home and studied these questions. Before that Sam appeared. - - - - - - - - - - - Editor's note: These notes, written on old yellow paper, were sent to Edna Stantial in 1942 by Alice Stone Blackwell, who had been asked to furnish material on the life of Antoinette Brown Blackwell. Miss Blackwell had not dated her memoranda, but said "these are some notes taken at various times when Aunt Nettie was in a reminiscent mood. I have many sorts of her memoirs, but this seems the best I can find."Foe the Banner of the Times. FEMALE ORATORY. ______ In common with large numbers of our citizens and many from adjoining towns, we last week had the pleasure of listening to specimens of female oratory with which we were favored by Miss Antoinette L.Brown, who spoke two evenings on the subject of Woman's Rights--and Miss Lucy Stone one evening on Slavery, and the Fugitive Slave Law. The first evening of Miss Brown's lecture, the Seventh Day Baptist Church, which had been kindly granted for the occasion, was crowded almost to over-flowing, below, and on the second evening, although a pouring rain set in, about the hour appointed, an audience, scarcely, if any, less than the previous one, assembled at the same place to listen to a continuation of the subject from the gifted orator. To say that she is an eloquent speaker, would be but to reiterate the nearly unanimous judgement we have prononced on all sides : and we venture, that, notwith- standing the subject was one upon which nothing had been publicly said, and much conservatism existed in this community, there were scores of men and women who went there filled with prejudice, but who felt these prejudices go down, like frost-work before the clear, steady logic of her argument, while for an hour and a half at each address, she held the attention of her auditors in unbroken silence. They had before them, a living witness of woman's ability and of what women can do, only give her equal facilities with the other sex. Miss Brown's style is unsurpassed in its way.-- With very few gestures, and without manuscript or notes even, she stands, with faultless propriety, and in the undaunted dignity of womanhood, utters her thoughts with a rapidity, perspicuity and grace at once instructive and fascinating. Her periods are well rounded ; her sentences polished ; and the exceeding ease and beauty of her diction, as surely win the attention, as her facts and reasoning convince the judgement. Miss Brown is a model lecturer, and for one who had to break into new ground and contend against the narrow views which prevail on the subject, we dare say, no person has ever visited. De Ruyter in the capacity of a public speaker, who left such a favorable impression, both of her talents and her mission, as did Miss Brown. She was followed on Friday evening, by Miss Stone, at the Old Union Church which was as densely slowed as we remember to have seen it for many a year. It was a wild and dark night without; but it must have been a proud sight to her -- that sea of upturned faces within, which greeted her there, as she arose in the desk in full costume a la Turk, which sets off the females figure with such naturalness and grace,- The object to which all eyes were turned, she looked the impersonation of genius-- the ideal of intellectual majesty realized.--- And well did her words correspond with her singular yet picturesque appearance.--- The very first sentence which broke the stillness sent a thrill through the audience of mingled pleasure, awe, and subdued respect. Her oratory, like that of the ancient Tully, resembles a midnight conflagration. Its coruscations gleam out, disappear and brighten again with greater intensity, illuminating the surrounding darkness. It arouses, thrills, electrifies. Now you would melt with pity, and the next moment are bursting with indignation, as with dramatic effect, she portrays the workings of the slave-system and the Fugitive Slave Law applied! Her invective is keen, her sarcasm withering. --- We could compare her eloquence to nothing but the vivid flashes of lightening which play on the black skirts of a thunder-cloud, the precursor of the tempest and storm. Her utterance is more rapid ever, than that of Miss Brown : impetuses as the whirlwind and rising higher and higher until she has nearly lost the idea with which she started, she sometimes repeats in part, or rather laps the sentence as if to concentrate and intensify the point and it closes, coming like the red-winged bolt, that scaths where it falls. And then you can hear a pin drop, as the moderated tones of voice which succeed these cadences, low, mellow, but distance, deepen the effect all the more by the contrast. Her gestures are free and frequent, but surpassingly graceful; and not an unwomanly thing is observable, or to which the most refined taste could object, in her style. It would be very difficult to institute a comparison between these two young women with the view to say which of them excels. Nor do we wish to. Both are exceedingly talented and beautiful speakers in their way, but they belong to entirely different classes of mind, though of the same generic character ; a prominent trait of which is, indomitable courage and great moral intrepidity. They are graduates of the same school, Oberlin College, Ohio. American men instead of indulging in low, narrow, and illiberal prejudices against them or tier cause, will be proud that they, as well as a score or two of others like them, are American Women. X. Y. Z. De Ruyter, Oct. 11, 1852.THE ALICE STONE BLACKWELL FUND COMMITTEE 21 Ashmont Street, Melrose 76, Massachusetts Trustees Mrs. ADA COMSTOCK NOTESTEIN Mrs. MAUD WOOD PARK Mrs. EDNA LAMPREY STANTIAL Antoinette Brown Blackwell by ASB Antoinette Brown was born in a log cabin at Henrietta, New York, in 1825. At nine years old she joined the Congregational Church "on profession of faith", and immediately began to take part in the prayer meetings in a way that caused her neighbors to quote the text, "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings." Everyone thought she was cut out for a minister's wife or a missionary. She herself secretly wished to become a minister. After completing the Ladies' Literary Course at Oberlin, Ohio, she applied for admission to the Theological School. This caused consternation; but the founders of Oberlin had put into the charter that all its opportunities should be open to women. A prominent professor said to her, "I think you are all wrong, Antoinette. I would keep you out if I could; but since I cannot, I will do my very best to teach you." She and Lettice Smith, a young woman who did not wish to become a minister, but desired to study theology, took the course throughout. Their names were entered as "resident students taking the theological course", and as soon as they were graduated, their names were stricken out of the Year Book in which the names of all graduates were supposed to be preserved. Many years later, Oberlin became very proud of them, restored their names to the Year Book, and gave Antoinette a D.D. She began to preach in New York. Horace Greeley and Charles A. Dana of the New York Sun were so impressed that they offered, if she would stay and preach regularly in New York, to hire a hall for her and pay her a salary of $1000 a year. But she thought she was too inexperienced for a metropolitan pulpit and accepted instead a call to the struggling little Congregational -2- Church at South Butler, New York, at $300 a year. Here she was ordained. This caused a great outcry in the ecclesiastical world. It was declared that any woman who would seek ordination must be an infidel and any church that would ordain her must be an infidel church. But she continued to preach with acceptance. A period of religious doubt led her to resign, and for a time she did social work. Samuel C. Blackwell was courting her. After reading "Vanity Fair", she decided that if there was only one good man in the world she had better take him. when she had the chance. He was a man of the highest and sweetest character and the marriage proved very happy. She continued to preach as she found opportunity. Meanwhile she had become a Unitarian. She had six children, wrote nine books and lived to be ninety-six. When she died there were more than 3000 women ministers and preachers in the United States.BLACKWELL FAMILY Antoinette Brown Blackwell Biog.The Rev Antoinette Brown Blackswell, D. D. [aged 93] of Elizabeth N. J., one of the speakers at the Lucy Stone centenary picnic is remarkably vigorous for [a woman of 93] her advanced age of 93. She is also a woman of versatile gifts. [Some of these are] These are illustrated in the versus written by her niece, Miss Alice Stone Blackswell, when Oberlin College in 1908 gave Dr. Blackswell the honorary degree of D. D., 61 years after her graduation there: So Oberlin College sends out its decree [degree] and makes our Aunt Nettie an honored D. D.! The strangers who see it attached to her name Will think that it stands for a Dignified Dame. The women's Clubs take it a different way: (over)2 It means a Delightful Discourser, they say. Those who see her at work in her garden so green Say a Diligent Digger is what it must mean. A pretty new church in Elizabeth stands; It is neat & complete, 'tis admired on all hands, And the Board of Trustees say, with pride and delight, "D. D. means Dear Donor, who gave us the site." The laity say, "While a preacher of creeds, She is what is much better, a Doer of Deeds. "Let preaching & practice attack Satan's host, But practice will always accomplish the most." Yet Uncle Sam treats this dear lady of note 3 As Despised and Disfranchised unworthy to vote; And the ultra conservatives frown at her name: "For a woman to be a D. D. is a shame! "She must be a [creature] creature of unsexed ambitions, A Dreadful Destroyer of ancient traditions!" But her children and grandchildren all far & near, Say her big-sounding title means just "Darling Dear!"Vineyard Gazette, May 1907 Antoinette Brown Blackwell 82 years young. 1907 [Rev. Antoinette L. Brown Blackwell of Elizabeth, N.J., who is spending the summer at her cottage in Chilmark, attained her 82d birthday on May 20. The following birthday verses were sent her by her niece, Miss Alice Stone Blackwell of Boston :] The dame whose birth we celebrate Is 82 years young, And by some better bard than I Her praises should be sung. Of fairy godmothers a throng About her cradle stood; They gave her gifts enough for ten, And all the gifts were good. Beauty, and health and length of days, Were of the gifts they gave; And, best of all, a sunny soul, Serene and sweet and brave. They gave her intellect "to burn," And yet she doesn't burn it, But somehow keeps her head quite cool, Whate'er occurs to turn it. A saintly husband they bestowed, Five gifted daughters, too, And groups of lovely grand-children With eyes of black or blue. She journeyed to the Holy Land At 78 years old, And took no chick or child along, Her spirit was so bold. And from the Jordan's sacred stream, 'Neath Galilean skies, She brought some bottled water home, Her grandsons to baptize. She, first of women, was ordained, Some half a century back. The census shows three thousand now Who followed in her track. And when she preaches, people flock To hear her with good will, She practices her Christian creed, And that is better still. One thing she wants she lacks --- a vote; But, though the Fates refuse it To-day, she knows her grand-daughters Will have it and will use it. She's published books in prose and verse; Her literary labors Include a Vineyard novel, too, Entitled "Island Neighbors." I like her tales and poems best ; Her volumes scientific Are greatly too profound for me ; I find them quite terrific ! But better than her pen she loves Her pruning-knife and rake, And better than a sermon she A garden loves to make. And down in Chilmark by the sea On any summer morn Her sunbonnet we may perceive Among her beans and corn. And then to her piazza chair At close of day returning, She watches, over Quitsa pond, The sunset glories burning. The idol of the woman's clubs In York and Jersey too, She is applauded by kid gloves Of every shade and hue. But she's not half so happy there, Dressed up in silk and lace, As when she puts on leather gloves And seeks her garden-place. No better gift the fairies gave (Save love to man and God) Than her great love of gardening, Close to the wholesome sod. Aunt Nettie dear, for many a year May you still live and flourish,--- On Christian truth and "garden sauce" Your fair descendants nourish; In books, and flowers, and sunset skies Find satisfaction ample, And to your kindred and the world Afford a bright example ! IN MEMORY OF MRS. S. T. JONES Editors, Vineyard Gazette: Two poems written by the late Mrs. Samuel T. Jones of Chilmark were read at her funeral in Montclair, N. J. Petition Lord God, take care of those I love! Support them in their hour of trial. Send the courage of the springtime buds, Give them strength from the great storehouse! From the air with its thousand secrets Lend them the unseen hands to comfort. Give them trust and intuition From tiny things too small for seeing, From things too large for comprehending: Human eyes are so short sighted. Keep them with the happy hearted! With this life of mine I beg you Lord God, take care of those I love! The world is so full of bereavements that it seemed to me the foregoing lines should be passed on, to comfort other mourners. This second poem by Mrs. Jones was written on her mother's birthday. Some old residents of Chilmark will remember how devoted the Rev. Dr. Antoinette Brown Blackwell was to her garden. Twentieth of May On the day when you were born Flowers the flaming crimson thorne. Lillies-of-the-valley sweet--- Perfumed carpet at my feet. I kneel and cherished blossoms take Every year for your dear sake. I feel the sunshine warm and near, Your hand upon my shoulder here. Shining hair and eyes so true, Sometimes I catch a glimpse of you In a glass, a fleeting trace, Or in a daughter's friendly face. Somewhere your spirit, this I know, Is busy helping things to grow. And every twentieth of May To me is your dear memory day. Sweetest day of all the year, This twentieth of May is here! Alice Stone Blackwell Cambridge.SIGNAL HONOR PAID ELIZABETH WOMAN Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell Greeted by Friends on Anniversary. In a reception that gave pleasure to every person present the most distinguished woman in Elizabeth was honored last night by a large company of friends. The Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, D. D., having attained the ninetieth anniversary of her birth, the members of All Souls Unitarian Church had decided to signalize the day. The attractive little church was prettily decorated with flowers, and many greeted Dr. Blackwell. In the receiving line with Dr. Blackwell were Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Jones, her son-in-law and daughter ; Mrs. Alfred Brooks Robinson, of Montclair, another daughter; Mrs. Russell A. Shirrefs and the pastor of the church, the Rev. Harry N. Pheiffer, Ph. D. Dr. Blackwell was well, and very thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of meeting her friends. She expressed in her own charming manner her joy over the occasion and her thanks to those who had helped to make her birthday anniversary so happy. Mrs. Vernon Vivian sang solos, and a quartet selection was given by E. A. Thayer, J. P. Mallett, Miss Alice Abbott and Mrs. William M. Post. Refreshments were served. Busy Day for Mrs. Blackwell. Yesterday was a busy and crowded day for Dr. Blackwell, but also one which brought to her many evidences of the love and thoughtfulness of her friends. The morning mail brought cards and letters from many quarters, and during the day came congratulatory telegrams from Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National Woman Suffrage Association ; Mrs. Edward F. Feickert, president of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association ; Mrs. O. U. Gilson, president of the Wellesley Hall Woman's Club, and others. Flowers that in their abundance and variety suggested the wealth of services and the beauty of influence that have characterized Dr. Blackwell's long life found their way to the attractive home in Bayway, north. The Woman's Alliance tendered beautiful tea roses, the Elizabeth Equal Suffrage League sent ninety handsome yellow roses, and the suffrage yellow also appeared in the gift of the El Mora Literary Club, which sent yellow daisies. There was also a gift of flowers from the German Study Club in the church, and individual friends sent floral greetings. Founder of El Mora Club. The Woman's Alliance Branch at All Souls is named for Dr. Blackwell, who is pastor emeritus of the church. She is the founder and honorary president of the El Mora Literary Club. She is also the honorary president of the Elizabeth Equal Suffrage League and honorary vice-president of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association. In her work for religion and for suffrage, Mrs. Blackwell has been unremitting, not even the advancing years deterring her from doing valuable work [for?] both these [?]nes. To the books which she has written on sociological su[bjects?] she has just [photo] REV. ANTOINETTE B. BLACKWELL, Pioneer suffragist who yesterday observed her ninetieth anniversary of her birth. added one, which will bear the title, "The Social Side of Mind and Action." A family dinner party preceded the reception, and here the mother had around her those who are dearest to her. A poem written for the occasion, and called "Ninety Years Young," was Mrs. Alice Stone Blackwell's contribution to the many honors bestowed. Mrs. Blackwell is a niece of Dr. Blackwell, and, as is well known, is the editor of the Woman's Journal, the national suffrage organ. Dr. Blackwell expects to go shortly to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Robinson, in Montclair, and later she will leave for her summer home at Martha's Vineyard. The poem written by Mrs. Alice Stone Blackwell, of Boston, is as follows: NINETY YEARS YOUNG. Aunt Nettie, when your honored life Rounds out its 90th year, What tribute shall be brought to you By those who hold you dear! The garland we would weave for you To symbolize your life Must be made up of many flowers With myriad beauties rife. The lily white of purity. True love's red, glowing rose, "Pansies for thoughts," that every day Their deep, rich hearts unclose. Sweet buds for lovely grandchildren Whom you to earth have given ; No fairer flowers are found to-day Beneath the widespread heaven. The golden flowers of suffrage, too, Must with the garland mix, Since you made your first speech for that in 1846. Your State, which honors you to-day, That honor will denote, We hope, when next October comes By giving you a vote! Green [lanes] leaves of laurel and of bay Must deck the garland fair, And oak-leaves, for the civic crowns, Great citizens may wear. A sprig of pine, for courage high, Unchanged throughout the year; And aster stars, that gaze toward heaven, For piety sincere. And holly berries red and bright That glow 'mid frost and snow, For buoyant cheerfulness, that shines However winds may blow. A graver leaf, but fragrant still, Must interwoven be To stand for what she loves so well Profound philosophy. Forget-me-nots, [?] Who never can [forget her?] And who as each new birthday dawns Still love her more and better. And that strange blossom which men call Flower of the Holy Ghost, For God's grace always shone in her When foes reviled her most. Weave in an endless chain of flowers Of every shape and hue For all the good and gentle deeds That bloom her long life through! Our few surviving pioneers, How very dear we hold them! Still closer with the passing years We in our hearts enfold them. For her, the flowers of ten more springs Our fond hearts are forecasting; Into her wreath we fain would weave The bloom [to] of "life-everlasting." These golden ties we dearly prize, Late, late may they be sundered! Aunt Nettie, dear, pray set your mark To live to be a hundred! [*Boston Transcript*] DAY, JULY 12, 1916 THE LISTENER + + + Poet Lore, the Boston quarterly with sumptuous thick paper—a costly luxury in these days—and broad margins and handsome large type, is a paradise for translators from the contemporary dramatic and poetic geniuses of other lands. It gives up some twenty-four pages in its latest issue to a paper by Miss Alice Stone Blackwell on the Hungarian poet, Alexander Peton. with versified translations. Peton was born in 1823 and in 1849 it was all over with him, dead on the battlefield for his country, when he was but twenty-six; yet he had accomplished enough in those great years to have had Maurus Jokai, the great Hungarian novelist, build one of his stories about him; to win the admiration of Beranger and Heine, and to be universally sung in his native land,—loved as "the Burns of Hungary." The foremost war-song of Hungary. "Up, Magyar, Up," is his. Peton's poems have been translated into French, German, Italian, English Polish, Danish and Flemish One of his biographers says there are good translations in every language but English; and this, probably, was Miss Blackwell's reason for undertaking some. Peton speaks of freedom as the only thing worth fighting for, and calls men insane to have ever given their lives in battle for any other cause. In one of his martial poems comes the verse (Miss Blackwell's translation): And over my dead corpse let snorting steeds Gallop to victory, rushing like the wind, And, crushed beneath the trampling of their hoofs. Let me upon the plain be left behind. + + + This poem seems prophetic," says Miss Blackwell. "Peton's body was never found; it was believed to have been trampled beyond recognition by the charge that had swept over him when he had gone; he was buried with the unrecognized dead." But the poems have lived, they are familiar as they were in his lifetime in his own country, when it was said of young Peton that he woke up in the morning and laid down at night hearing the people singing his songs in the streets. But our special wonder is, where Miss Blackwell, filling all the pages of the Woman's Journal as she does, every issue not only with trenchant editorials,—a full half dozen of them on the editorial page in the latest number and each one of them a live wire,—but also arraying statistics and marshaling arguments as nobody else quite succeeds in doing in news articles besides gathered up from all the far-flung fronts of the campaign she is leading on to victory,—where she ever finds time and strength left for the poetical feats,—for she has been translating into verse from the Armenian, the Mexican, and other Latin-American poets, as well as from the Hungarian, all the time, and always with facility and felicity and the finest taste. + + +[June 17, 1915] [* realist Lon *] Balada de las Manos Por JESUS E. VALENZUELA (México) Manos -- capullos en flor -- De niños buscando el seno En el piélago sereno De una mirada de amor. En inefable fulgor Manecitas de Jesús Bañadas en leche y luz... Manos -- capullos en flor. -- Manos ágiles de hada Que pasan por el piano Como un ensueño lejano De la vida o de la nada; Manos, expresión halada De un suspiro o de algún grito Que flotaba en lo infinito... Manos ágiles de hada. Manos de ebúrnea blancura Que en la sombra del mantón Iluminan la oración Con luz sideral y pura, Manos entre cuya albura La camándula desgrana Toda la desdicha humana... Manos de ebúrnea blancura. Manos de la Caridad Que a la noche del hambriento Lievan consuelo y sustento, Pan de esperanza y verdad, Manos de eterna bondad, Nobles y místicas manos, Ah! Todos somos hermanos... Manos de la Caridad. Manos pálidas, difuntas En el amor o el martirio, Pétalos del mismo lirio, Manos abiertas o juntas; Manos Ilenas de preguntas, De aspiraciones y anhelo, Manos tendidas al cielo, Manos pálidas, difuntas. Manos que empuñan espada Y un cetro han hecho en la guerra, Y que Ilenaron la tierra Con la sangre derramada; Manos de la plebe armada En la riña o el combate, Rojas manos de magnate, Manos que empuñan espada. Manos duras y sangrientas Que abren el sureo en el suelo Arido y triste; que el vuele No sienten de horas cruentas; Las que mueven las imprentas, Las que el taller estremecen, Las que en las minas perecen, Manos duras y sangrientas. Manos hechas al trabajo, Fuertes manos de hombre libre, Cuando en el espacio vibre, Le mismo arriba que abajo, Moviendo al mundo de cuajo, De la justicia la ira... Vosotras tendréis la lira, Manos hechas al trabajo! --- A Song of Hands By JESUS E. VALENZUELA (Mexico) Hands -- like soft blossoming buds -- Of children that search for the breast, In the calm sea of love's gaze Cradled and sweetly caressed! Small hands of Jesus the Christ, In glory ineffable[*y*] bright; Hands like soft blossoming buds, Hands bathed in milk and in light. Fairy hands, nimble and fair, O'er the piano that stray Like a vague dream of life, or the void -- A dream from some realm far away! The winged expression are ye Of a sigh, or some cry on the air, Floating in infinite space, Fairy hands, nimble and fair. Hands of an ivory white, In the shade of the mantle obscure, Brightening prayer with their gleams Gentle and starlike and pure! Through their whiteness have passed all the woes That ever humanity knew, With the rosary's beads, one by one -- O hands of the ivory's hue! Hands full of charity's grace, Which to the hungry by night Carry forth comfort and food, Bread of hope's joy, of truth's light! Noble, mysterious hands, Of kindness unending, sincere! Brothers are we, one and all, Hands full of charity dear! O pale, perished hands of the dead For love or as martyrs who died! Leaves of one lily are ye, Hands that were clasped or spread wide; Hands full of questions, desires, Aspirations and yearning[*s*] unsaid -- Hands to the heavens outstretched, O pale, perished hands of the dead! Hands with the sword in their grasp, That by warfare a sceptre have won, And fill the whole world with the flood Of rivers of blood that o'errun! Hands of the common folk, armed When quarrels or battles have birth -- Hands with the sword in their grasp, Red hands of the great one[*s*] of earth!.. Hands that are bleeding and hard, That plough up the stern, arid soil, And scarce feel the flight of the hours, So heavy and cruel the toil; Hands in the workshops that sweat, That set up the type in all lands, Hands that meet death in the mines -- Hard, rough and blood-spotted hands! Hands that are wonted to toil, Strong hands of the brave and the free! When on the heights, in the depths, Vibrates o'er land and o'er sea, Stirring the world from its roots, The anger of justice on fire -- Hands that are wonted to toil, You shall that day hold the lyre! Version by ALICE STONE BLACKWELL. --- [* June 17, 1915 *] MONOSTROFE Por FELIPE PEREZ En un pliegue de un valle, entrelazadas, Al sol que aparecia, Vi una vez unas flores delicadas Que el céfiro bullía. Eran pocas y bellas. En sus hojas, Azules y odorantes, Titilaban mil perlas, mil diamantes. Pensé al instante en tí y ví en tu pecho Un ramillete de esas flores hecho. Mas, cuando fuí a cogerlas, Sólo hallé las espinas erizadas De tu desdén... sus perlas No eran las blancas perlas de la aurora, Sino mis propias lágrimas, señora! --- DEWY BLOSSOMS By FELIPE PEREZ (Columbia). In a valley's fold at sunrise Once I saw some flowerets fair, Blossoms delicate and lovely, Waving in the gentle air. They were few and they were beauteous; On their fragrant petals blue Myriad pearls and diamonds twinkled. Straightway then I thought of you. On your breast I saw a nosegay Of those dewy blossoms fair. Ah me! When I went to pluck them Sharp thorns only met me there -- Thorns of your disdain! O lady, Those clear pearls upon them shed Were not morning's drops of brightness, They were my own tears instead! Version by ALICE STONE BLACKWELL. --- It seems that Miss Alice Stone Blackwell has found time -- all the while that she has been inspiring the suffrage cause, furnishing the brains of its argument, the high soul of its spirit, and "all the facts and the truth about them," in the Woman's Journal, founded by Lucy Stone Blackwell -- to translate a volume of the poets of Mexico. It is a characteristic contribution from the woman's point of view to the study of the Mexican situation and problems, and suggests how much is being lost all the time through non-participation of the sex in statesmanship. Here is a case of taking into consideration certain elements and influences of great significance in estimating the psychology of a nation such as men would not think of. All that the most enlightened of male minds are apt to see in the existence of poets and poetry in Mexico is that they represent that fifteen per cent of the people which has enjoyed for generations the luxuries and culture of civilization at the cost of keeping for centuries in practical slavery and barbarism the remaining eighty-five per cent of their fellow countrymen. +++ As she says, we are accustomed to think of Mexico mainly as a land of bloody revolutions; and it is something of a refreshing change to have glimpses of other interests than those of bandit politicians and their desperado henchmen. It is Manuel Gutierrez Najera (born in 1859, died in 1895) who is esteemed the highest of Mexican poets. Miss Blackwell translates his "Dead Waves," likening the imprisoned currents of a subterranean river to the soul striving to express itself. The first verse and the last run: In the deep darkness underneath the ground That never has been reached by mortal sight, There silent currents of black water glide In an unending course amid the night. Some of them, by the shining steel surprised That pierces through the rocks to their dark home. Limpid and boiling to the light gush forth In a vast plume of white and silvery foam. +++ Should you be given an outlet to the day, You would gush upward from your sunless home Like living water in a boiling jet That rises in a column white with foam. But no -- you ne'er will feel the gaze of light; Still through the night your rayless waves must roll. Go on, forever, gliding in the dark, O deep and silent currents of my soul! +++ Others of the poems show the vivid colors of the sub-tropical land of these poets, intensity of passion, and delicate fancy, restrained by artistic taste. Many of these poets of established reputation are still in the prime of manhood, born in the latter half of the last century, such as Jesus E. Valenzuela. His "Song of Hands" is one of the pieces that show some political consciousness and social purpose. And describing "hands, like soft blossoming buds, of children that search for the breast," thus touching in baby hands, with light and graceful strokes in his picture, he comes to the Fairy hands, nimble and fair. O'er the piano that stray. Like a vague dream of life, or the void. A dream from some realm far away! The winged expression are ye Of a sigh, or some cry on the air, Floating in infinite space, Fairy hands, nimble and fair. But the climax of the song is in the Hands that are bleeding and hard. That plough up the stern, arid soil. And scarce feel the flight of the hours, So heavy and cruel the toil; Those in the workshop that sweat. That set up the type in all lands, Those that meet death in the mines -- Hard, rough and blood-spotted hands! Hands that are wonted to toil, Strong hands of the brave and the free! When on the heights, in the depths, Vibrates o'er land and o'er sea. Stirring the world from the roots, The anger of justice on fire -- Hands that are wonted to toil, You shall that day hold the lyre! [* Boston Transcript, Sept. 4, 1915. *]Gazette, Thursday, May 27, 19[?] Our Lady of the Trees Rev. Antoinette L. Brown Blackwell, who is spending the summer in her cottage at Chilmark, and lately set out several hundred young trees there, attained her 84th birthday a few days ago. These lines were sent her by her niece, Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, of Dorchester, Mass., who also has a cottage at Chilmark; The lady who, this happy day, Is "84 years young," In a log cabin saw the light, The forest trees among. Like a fair sapling year by year The little maid upgrew. Trees follow Nature's gracious laws, And Antoinette did, too. 'Twas not by Mrs. Grundy's rule Her youthful life was swayed; She grew as free as any tree Within the forest glade. Four years and eighty she has seen The leaves their buds unfold, Grow green and long in summer's prime, And glow with autumn's gold. Now she is like a noble tree That spreads broad boughs in air, And lesser lives their shelter find Beneath her branches fair. So well she loves the forest kings That rustle in the breeze, I often call her in my heart Our lady of the trees. She is as gracious as the elm, As valiant as the oak, As constant as the Norway fir, By weight of snows unbroke. As spicy as the cedar tree, As cheerful as the larch, That shows in spring its tender green Against the sky's blue arch. And little lights and glints of mirth Pass o'er her face serene Like the white birch with gleaming stem And leaves of twinkling green. As pleasant as the sassafras By joyous children found, -- So precious the aroma sweet Her spirit breathes around. Far-sighted as the topmost pine That crowns the mountain height, And beauteous as laburnum trees, Those "dropping wells of light." As bounteous as the chestnut tree That drops sweet nuts for all; As glorious as the hickory, All golden in the fall. And wholesome is her neighborhood; Medicinal is she As eucalyptus groves that bid The Roman fever flee. Blest as the Balm of Gilead trees That near her cottage stand, And sweetness shed on every wind That blows from sea or land. As the horse-chestnut, Juno-like, A fair and stately dame -- And sometimes like the burning bush, Full of a sacred flame. As bees to the catalpa flock When it is all in bloom, So friends around her throng in crowds, Drawn by her soul's perfume. They coax her into lecture-halls, Club meetings, churches, teas -- But she is happiest out of doors, Our lady of the trees! If blessings wait the righteous man (As we were told of yore) Who makes two blades of grass to grow Where one blade grew before, What blessings choice and multiplied Must on the woman fall Who plants three hundred baby trees Where no trees grew at all! May each young tree, Aunt Nettie dear, Grow sturdy in its place, And flourish in the sweet sea air, And wax, a babe of grace! She tends them and she nurses them, And, if she has her way, On Chilmark's fair but treeless hills A rustling wood will sway. And all the leaves will sing her praise, Soft whispering in the breeze, The patron saint of ARBOR DAY, Our lady of the trees! May she be like the redwoods grand In California's clime, That live and grow for centuries, And take no heed of time! Antoinette B Blackwell The Vineyard Gazette, Thursday, May 30, 1907. 82 YEARS YOUNG. [Rev. Antoinette L. Brown Blackwell of Elizabeth, N. J., who is spending the summer at her cottage in Chilmark, attained her 82nd birthday on May 20. The following birthday verses were sent her by her niece, Miss Alice Stone Blackwell of Boston:] The dame whose birth we celebrate Is 82 years young, And by some better bard than I Her praises should be sung. Of fairy godmothers a throng About her cradle stood; They gave her gifts enough for ten, And all the gifts were good. Beauty, and health and length of days, Were of the gifts they gave; And, best of all, a sunny soul, Serene and sweet and brave. They gave her intellect "to burn," And yet she doesn't burn it, But somhow keeps her head quite cool, Whate'er occurs to turn it. A saintly husband they bestowed, Five gifted daughters, too, And groups of lovely grand-children With eyes of black or blue. She journeyed to the Holy Land At 78 years old, And took no chick or child along, Her spirit was so bold. And from the Jordan's sacred stream, 'Neath Galilean skies, She brought some bottled water home, Her grandsons to baptize. She, first of women, was ordained, Some half a century back. The census shows three thousand now Who followed in her track. And when she preaches, people flock To hear her with good will, She practices her Christian creed, And that is better still. One thing she wants she lacks -- a vote; But, though the Fates refuse it To-day, she knows her grand-daughters Will have it and will use it. She's published books in prose and verse; Her literary labors Include a Vineyard novel, too, Entitled "Island Neighbors." I like her tales and poems best; Her volumes scientific Are greatly too profound for me; I find them quite terrific! But better than her pen she loves Her pruning-knife and rake, And better than a sermon she A garden loves to make. And down in Chilmark by the sea On any summer morn Her sunbonnet we may perceive Among her beans and corn. And then to her piazza chair At close of day returning, She watches, over Quitsa pond, The sunset glories burning. The idol of the woman's clubs In York and Jersey too, She is applauded by kid gloves Of every shade and hue. But she's not half so happy there, Dressed up in silk and lace, As when she puts on leather gloves And seeks her garden-place. No better gift the fairies gave (Save love to man and God) Than her great love of gardening, Close to the wholesome sod. Aunt Nettie dear, for many a year May you still live and flourish, -- On Christian truth and "garden sauce" Your fair descendants nourish; In books, and flowers, and sunset skies Find satisfaction ample, And to your kindred and the world Afford a bright example!1 Aunt Nettie, when your honored life Rounds out its ninetieth year What tribute shall be brought to you By those who hold you dear? 2 The garland we would weave for you To symbolize your life Must be made up of many flowers With myriad beauties rife. 3 The lily white of purity True love's red, glowing rose Pansies for thoughts, 2 that every day Their deep rich hearts unclose 5 The golden flowers of suffrage too Must in the garland mix [Since] you made a public your [first] earliest speech for [it] that in 1846. (over) 4 Sweet birds for lovely grandchildren You to the world have given; No fairer flowers are found to day Beneath the wide spread heaven6 Your State, which honors you today, that honor will denote, We hope, when next October comes, By giving you a vote! 7 Bright leaves of laurel & of bay Must deck the garland fair And oak leaves for the civic crown Great citizens may wear 8 A sprig of pine, for courage high We changed [through frost & sugar through] out the year And astor flowers that gaze toward heaven For piety sincere 9 And that strange blossom that men call Flower of the Holy Ghost For God's grace always shone in her When foes reviled her most 10 And holly berries red & bright that [shine]glow mid frost & snow For bouyant cheerfulness that shines However winds may blow 12 Weave in an endless chain of flowers Of every shape and hue For all the good & gentle deeds [?] [Still budding fresh] That shine bloom her long life through 11 A graver leaf, but fragrant still, Must inter woven be To stand for what she loves so well - Profound philosophy. 13 Forgetmenots - for all the [all hosts] [of] friends Who never can forget her, And who, as each new with every passing birthday year down[?] Still love her more & better Our few surviving pioneers How very dear we hold them! Still closer with the passing years We in our hearts unfold them For her, the flowers often more springs Our fond hearts are forecasting Into her wreath we fain would weave The white "life everlasting." These golden ties we dearly prize Late, late may they be sundered! Aunt Nettie, dear, [?] set your mark [*To live to be a hundred!*]2 copies Ninety Two To the Rev. Antoinette [B B] Brown Blackwell, D.D., on her 92nd birthday, May 20, 1917. [By A] By Alice Stone Blackwell. Once she was a baby new; Now her years are ninety- two! On that morning far away When the child in cradle lay, What a precious germ was there, Full of promise grand and fair, As the strength to [reach] reach the skies In the little acorn lies! Nobody could [them] then foresee What a wonder she would be - Shelter for the birds of air, Foliage rich and fruitage [fair fair] rare. (space)Dear Mr. Child: In the editorial "The Thin Veneer," I speak of "monagamic marriage without its proprietary feature," and a printer's error has changed proprietary to propriety. Please be sure to correct this. A. S. B.2 Since she grew a goodly tree, Oft an eager company Underneath her boughs would meet, There to hear the [message] music sweet That the Spirit's wind awoke In the branches of the oak. There the Spirit's breathing still Speaks its message of good will- Mystic words, and soft, and clear, Dear to every listening ear. Growing lofty, broad and free, Queen of all the wood is she ☉ While the lesser plants below Only of the valley know, She can see the mountains high Lift their heads against the sky ☉ 3 In the dimness of the night, When they doubt of morning's light, She can see the coming day Gild the summits far [away,] away ☉ When the world is winter-bound, Her deep roots below the ground Where no [touch] touch of frost can find them, Of the coming spring remind them. For well-nigh a century now She has put forth bough on bough- Towered above the lesser trees, Spread God's message on the breeze, Scattered seeds of vital truth In the hearts of age and youth; [Even when the skies were dreary] And when skies were dark and dreary [Thrilled with buoyant sap and cheery.] Still her sap was sweet and cheery ☉ (space) 4 Though her body's strength is waning, Still her is heart is uncomplaining, And her soul grows ever stronger As the years stretch long and longer. All around her now upgrowing Spring fair saplings of her sowing; Her descendants, large and lesser, All rise up to day to bless her. And among her friends and neighbors {Sweetly} Richly fruitful are her labors. As her garden blooms serenely, As her shrubs grow thick and greenly, Love and wisdom from her bosom Ever bourgeon fourth and blossom. Where the breeze her boughs is rocking, Weary hearts like birds come flocking, Strength and courage there to gather In their days of {gloomy} stormy weather. [Next page] 5 (This small bird that sings this song Oft has come to be made strong). Long may she remain to cheer us, Bringing heaven's brightness near us! And when heaven at last shall claim her, And as dead the world shall name her, Still her soul will hover o'er us On the road that lies before us, Teaching us the art of living, Faith + hope + courage giving, Cheer and wisdom, love and laughter, Till we meet again hereafter.1 Once she was a baby new Now her years are 92 On that morning far away When the child in cradle lay What a precious gem was there Full of promise grand & fair As the strength to reach the skies in the little acorn lies Shelter [Refuge] for the birds of air Foliage rich and fruitage fair Nobody could then foresee What a wonder she would be (shall) 2 Since she grew a goodly tree Oft an eager company Underneath her [its][ her] boughs would meet There to list /hear the music sweet By /That the Spirit's word breathing made / awoke In the branches of the oak /overhead There the Spirit's breathing still Makes its message of good will Mystic words & soft & clear Dear to every listening ear (over) While the lesser plants below Only of the valley knowQueen of all the wood is she [**tr**] Spreading lofty broad & free, 3 She can see the mountains high Lift their peaks against the sky In the dimness of the night When they doubt of morning's light She can see the coming day Gild the summits far away. When the world is water bound Her deep roots below the ground Where no touch of frost can find them Of the coming Spring remind them.6 For well nigh a century now She has put forth bough on bough Towered above the lesser trees Spread God's message on the breeze, Scattered seeds of vital truth In the hearts of age & youth: Even when the skies were dreary, Thrilled with buoyant sap and cheery. Though her body's strength 5 is waning Still her heart is uncomplaining And her soul grows ever stronger As the [her] years stretch long & longer. All around her now up growing Spring fair saplings of her sowing, [Where] Her descendants large & lesser, [Who] All rise up today to bless her. And [Still] among her friends & neighbors6 (over) Sweetly [Very] [Ever] [Very] fruitful are her labors [As the sun beholds] Where the breeze her boughs is rocking Weary hearts like birds come flocking [When] Strength and courage there to gather In their [the stress of earth's dark**] days of darksome [gloomy] weather. (over) Long may she remain to cheer us Bringing heaven's brightness near us! And when heavn at last shall Claim herAs her garden blooms serenely As her shrubs grow thick & greenly Love and wisdom from from her bosom Ever[more] burgeon [spring bud] forth & blossom. (This small bird that sings this song Oft has come to be made strong). 7 And as dead the world shall name her, Still her soul will hover o'er us On the road that lies before us, Teaching us the art of living, Faith & hope & courage giving, Cheer & wisdom, love & laughter, Till we meet again hereafter.Nov 17th 1904 354 Bay Way, Elizabeth NY Dear Elizabeth and Kitty: Our wanderer is safe home again as she herself is now writing you. She is looking fairly well and seems in good spirits. We are all very glad to have the dear girl back again. All here are well except Grace and she is slowly gaining. I am hoping to build a small house in the grounds here; but prices are now so high I quite gave up the plan. Now we are again negotiating. The builders may abate a little of their prices; and I must lessen the size of the house. The outcome remains doubtful. I build if at all, partly for myself and in part for the unmarried daughters. Edith may find a suitable position or may not; and Grace needs a home. This house is large; but there are not many bedrooms and as in any case we should be near Tom and Agnes and more quiet for me in our own quarters, it is wise perhaps even to stretch a point in[*Antoinette Blackwell*] money matters if needful in order to have matters really settled. We - I at least - shall expect to spend 4 months or more at the dear old Vineyard. We still have some dozen lots here in El Mora for sale, making it worth while to be on hand for purchasers. 7 houses went up near us while I was at M.V. this summer. So there is hope for us but no real hurry to sell. Prices should go higher. Now let me thank both of you for your real kindness to my Edith. She had grown tired of perpetual sightseeing so it was a real relief to be in your pleasant home, to make the acquaintance anew of her aunt and Kitty. She thoroughly appreciates that and her entire outing will always be a very pleasant memory. Mrs. Nan Huntington is now settled in her own house - rented I suppose - in Montclair, quite near to Emily. Tomorrow Agnes and Ethel R. and their small boys will take dinner with Nan and her boy. Ethel and I spent 2 hours with Emily one day when the boy - her "grandson" were together. It seemed charming to see Emily playing grandmamma while the mother was in N York. We are to have Thanksgiving at Georges and Xmas here. How much we wish both of you could be with us. Our children are really very fine. Kitty would fall in love with them. Affectionately A. B. B. [*A L B Blackwell*] 354 Bay Way, Elizabeth N. Jersey 'Dec. 16 1903 Dear Elizabeth and Kitty: A good Xmas and a happy New Year! At last I am again settled in El Mora. The new addition to the house at the Vineyard kept me there till very late then just at the last when I sup- posed I was putting a few dead black berry sticks of the way, I came somewhere upon leafless poison ivy. Edith and I spent the night with Florence as it was much easier to start from there in the morning. I felt a queer irritation that evening, and before we reached home knew what it meant. Two days later was to have spoken at Trenton at the a State gathering; but by that time was so unpresentable and really ill I could not attend. Even now one wrist is in a very tender and troublesome state. That I did not write you after getting back to America was first; being one [*We planted more than 60 trees and shrubs at the Vineyard last summer and fall, Some small fruits.*]he jumped himself forward so energetically that he tumbled on his forehead with the chair on his back. They are all nice children, and I wish you would both come over and see them and us. Our houses are all large enough to be pleasant and at the Vineyard we have quite a colony of relatives. Why not come over next summer? We wish you could be here at the family gatherings and here for little cozy quiet gatherings in our very own homes. We have a little Unitarian church started here in Elizabeth, meet in a hall up two flights stairs dingy and narrow. If we could find a better place the attendance would increase; and as yet there is no settled minister. I speak for them next Sunday, but of course cannot undertake to do so very often. Other duties being too imperative; one cannot give up what has been once undertaken till obliged to do so. With much love, ABB[*Antoinette L B Blackwell*] 139 W. 64th St. N.Y. Dec 12 1897 Dear Anna, Elizabeth and Kitty, Alice will probably tell you about our pleasant family wedding and you may get several versions till they become wearisome. Every Blackwell on this side of the water was present, a larger family reunion than we have had before in years. Our fine girls have not been together in a long time as during the last several weeks Elliot is resting and sightseeing to be ready for his ordeal, if it must come off, and we have had a large busy household for the past several weeks The child is a nice boy Kitty. It was a very pretty wedding. The bride, standing under the lilies, was animated enough to look really beautiful, and Ethel, as bridesmaid, hardly less not least in the eyes of their mother and father undoubtedly, though he has not said so. The tender hearted fellow was in tears during the ceremony, at least part of the time. Everything went forward smoothly. A friend of Agnes' played the wedding march Howard and Clifford walked down the stars and into their places first, keeping step, then the Groom and his best man, then Ethel, then Sam and Agnes, then Sam came over to me and Dr Brown married them. When all was over the music sounded [bomicingly?] and I gave the first kiss to bride and groom as well as the previous benedictionWe have had only the briefest line from Agnes They are supposed to have gone first to Washington then on to old Fort Comfort to come home by boat but their movements are more or less conjectural They will be gone about a week and then spend several days together doing last finishings to their really nice and cheery flat where Grace and the new sister Frances Jones are now arranging wedding presents which I have just sent off to them -- including a very pretty set of pale green china given by the bank. The girls will wash these and other wares for kitchen, etc. Your generous gift, Elizabeth, came while we were at breakfast on the morning of the marriage Of course it will be duly acknowledged soon or late. It was a kind and timely gift for which we all thank you. 14th We have heard Again from Agnes now off on the honeymoon trip. They sent two or three days in Washington and have gone on farther, we suppose towards Old Point Comfort to return by boat about Friday next. She writes with evident enjoyment and content. They spent some hours in the new library and watched Mr. Spofford from a gallery, moving about she thought in the usual rather nervous way; but did not speak to him. Agnes writes "My husband send greetings to you all" and writes the name husband twice with evident amusement at the novelty of it all. All well here. Lovingly to you all. A B. B.Chilmark, June 12 1901 Dear Elizabeth and Kitty The old Vineyard seems very natural. Most of the family will be here next month or later, and Kitty who always like the dear Island would thoroughly enjoy it. But Scotland! I would gladly change places with her. Sam seems now to really think about leaving business and will perhaps do so during the present year, he has not quite decided or definitely fixed a time; but I have determined, so far as influence goes, that it shall not go into the next year, and for Grace's sake, we may even spend next winter in California She has always been most anxious to go there and the climate might suit her health But we do not talk much about that yet. Frances Titterton and her husband think of coming over here in the Autumn. We shall be glad to see more of them here I wonder if they may possibly remain in America. It might benefit Mrs. T's health; and I do not believe Frances would greatly object. - There is quite a community of relatives now in East Orange. Sam enjoyed the three or four days before Edith return to him and may still spend a week or two with Agnes sometime during the summer. She will probably come here with him for a month in July and August and very likely will prolong her stay. Thelittle one needs freshest of air and nothing exceeds that of the Vineyard. It is quite another place now that we have a foothold of our very own. Sam enjoyed it last year. We overflow with Elliots old home and have the chambers entirely to ourselves - that is, some of the party sleep over there and spend as much time there as they choose. The family who rent the house - a nephew of "Miss Jemima's" go off in the summer to Lobsterville, lock up the lower floor & give us possession of the upper, and of the front door. Alive seems to have renewed her love for the place. She has a fairly satisfactory family to keep house for her. Georges family, it is said, will probably spend August at the Desert Serpent. The anti-vice work goes in N. York so far even in summer. Both men and women are active but it is up hill work. Mrs Lovell is at work in two Societies. So are several others, as the various separate bodies affiliate in a general Committee. Mrs. Lovell had engineered a large number of small and large meetings chiefly talks to mothers, before I left. I attended two, one in a church, the other in a College Settlement. The W.C.T.Us are in real earnest to do something, if only what will do most good can be determined. But the opposition of course is very alert, fighting at every step what the men's Com. of 15 are trying to accomplish. With much love A B B354 Bay Way, Elizabeth, N.J. Dec 24 1902 Dear Elizabeth and Kitty, The pleasant card has just come from you. Such a greeting is always grateful, though this branch of the family are, I fear, all very remiss in such pleasant attentions. This is more from absorption in other matters, certainly, than from any want of most cordial friendliness. I hoped, till the last, to be able to send you a little volume of verse; but the printer delays and delays. It will be forwarded in due time all the same. There was blundering and a copy brought out in so poor a style that neither the publisher nor I were willing to have it offered to the public. So it had to be done over again, and possibly the workmen are not in haste to reproduce it. Also, George has just sent us Kittys letter to him in which she fears cholera, typhoid, etc. if I take the Eastern "Cruise." Be sure I shall use the utmost precaution as to these things. While ones home is in the ship, and strangers are kept off in all doubtful places, and the rout is varied if there is any special contagion on the proposed route, the danger cannot be veryimminent But if I should slip into the next life quite unexpectedly I would about as soon go down bodily to feed the fishes as be cremated. And affairs here are so far as business matters are concerned in a good condition to leave. The 64th st. house is sold-at a present fair value, though I am sure property is destined to be, in the near future, more valuable in that neighborhood. But even so that particular house might not sell. and we had a troublesome tenant with the risk of none. So I am relieved to have the house disposed of. I give each daughter about 1000 dollars, and that is a comfort to me, as it will be of present real service to them. And just sending it off as an xmas present to the absent ones. There was a large mortgage. Agnes and Ethel are both, I think, rather remarkably well for their condition. We all hope to meet at Georges on xmas and to see Emily, Nannie's family, and the Brown-Brunos all of whom are expected. Howard and Anna are already at home Our little Ethel is a bright pleasant and not very badly spoiled child for an only one. She is a great comfort to us all; but another little one will be an immense gain to her. I think I will keep this sheet and add another after the reunion at Georges. Affectionately A.B.B. Dec 26 Xmas was ushered in by a large snowstorm. The landscape was lovely and it ceased snowing hard in time for us - all but the Huntingtons - to meet at the Reunion. Little Gail has had a severe cold; so I suppose they feared to take him out in such weather. Emily took a carriage and drove from door to door, then the carriage came again and took her home. She went earlier than the others to be at a place of safety before dark Howard spread shawls on the damp steps, had us all seated while E's carriage waited and snapped two group photographs. I should think, if they are successful, he would send you one. To me the must be shadowed. It was a very satisfactory gathering. gathering. Every one seemed cheerful, friendly, and hopeful. Emily still coughs; but looks well. There were a few colds, none serious, and the family may be reported in a prosperous physical and mental condition. A part of us go to Ethels for the New Years,including Georges family and I suppose Emily. Ethel has a small house, is now about settled and as they have an efficient servant, they feel hospitably inclined. Anna Blackwell had devised several new dishes including nicely prepared boiled chestnuts; and ice-cream with a sauce of maple syrup and chopped nuts. It was really very good. I do not think Anna is greatly in love with college life, and am doubtful if she remains more than this year. Grace is still in Boston. They were to have a gathering on the day of days, a somewhat miscellaneous one, Alice reports. It is not yet decided whether Grace will come here about the time I sail - the 7th of Feb. I am writing with a new fountain pen - a gift from my son Tom. all of the Sons-in-law are good men, and the marriages are all more than usually satisfactory. If only both of you would take one of the largest ships - so as not to be sea sick - and come over here next summer! Always with love to both Antoinette B. Blackwell [**354 Bay Way**]