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last sleep it was rarely beyond reach of her hand。
At her request； when she was buried we laid the
heather on her heartthe heart of a true and loyal
woman； who； though her children had not known
it； must have longed without ceasing throughout
her New World life for the Old World of her youth。
The Scandinavian speech was an even more vital
experience than the Chicago one； for in Stockholm
I delivered the first sermon ever preached by a
woman in the State Church of Sweden； and the
event was preceded by an amount of political and
journalistic opposition which gave it an international
importance。 I had also been invited by the Nor…
wegian women to preach in the State Church of
Norway； but there we experienced obstacles。 By
the laws of Norway women are permitted to hold
all public offices except those in the army； navy； and
churcha rather remarkable militant and spiritual
combination。 As a woman； therefore； I was denied
the use of the church by the Minister of Church
Affairs。
The decision created great excitement and much
delving into the law。 It then appeared that if the
use of a State Church is desired for a minister of a
foreign country the government can give such per…
mission。 It was thought that I might slip in through
this loophole； and application was made to the
government。 The reply came that permission could
be received only from the entire Cabinet； and while
the Cabinet gentlemen were feverishly discussing
the important issue； the Norwegian press became
active； pointing out that the Minister of Church
Affairs had arrogantly assumed the right of the
entire Cabinet in denying the application。 The
charge was taken up by the party opposed to the
government party in Parliament； and the Minister
of Church Affairs swiftly turned the whole matter
over to his conferees。
The Cabinet held a session； and by a vote of four
to three decided NOT to allow a woman to preach in
the State Church。 I am happy to add that of the
three who voted favorably on the question one was
the Premier of Norway。 Again the newspapers
grasped their opportunityespecially the organs of
the opposition party。 My rooms were filled with
reporters； while daily the excitement grew。 The
question was brought up in Parliament； and I was
invited to attend and hear the discussion there。
By this time every newspaper in Scandinavia was
for or against me； and the result of the whole matter
was that； though the State Church of Norway was
not opened to me； a most unusual interest had been
aroused in my sermon in the State Church of Sweden。
When I arrived there to keep my engagement； not
only was the wonderful structure packed to its walls；
but the waiting crowds in the street were so large
that the police had difficulty in opening a way for
our party。
I shall never forget my impression of the church
itself when I entered it。 It will always stand forth
in my memory as one of the most beautiful churches
I have ever visited。 On every side were monu…
ments of dead heroes and statesmen； and the high；
vaulted blue dome seemed like the open sky above
our heads。 Over us lay a light like a soft twilight；
and the great congregation filled not only all the
pews； but the aisles； the platform； and even the
steps of the pulpit。 The ushers were young women
from the University of Upsala； wearing white uni…
versity caps with black vizors； and sashes in the
university colors。 The anthem was composed es…
pecially for the occasion by the first woman cathe…
dral organist in Swedenthe organist of the cathe…
dral in Gothenburgand she had brought with her
thirty members of her choir； all of them remarkable
singers。
The whole occasion was indescribably impressive；
and I realized in every fiber the necessity of being
worthy of it。 Also； I experienced a sensation such
as I had never known before； and which I can only
describe as a seeming complete separation of my
physical self from my spiritual self。 It was as if my
body stood aside and watched my soul enter that
pulpit。 There was no uncertainty； no nervousness；
though usually I am very nervous when I begin to
speak； and when I had finished I knew that I had
done my best。
But all this is a long way from the early days I
was discussing； when I was making my first diffident
bows to lecture audiences and learning the lessons
of the pioneer in the lecture…field。 I was soon to
learn more； for in 1888 Miss Anthony persuaded me
to drop my temperance work and concentrate my
energies on the suffrage cause。 For a long time I
hesitated。 I was very happy in my connection
with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union；
and I knew that Miss Willard was depending on me
to continue it。 But Miss Anthony's arguments
were irrefutable； and she was herself； as always；
irresistible。
‘‘You can't win two causes at once；'' she reminded
me。 ‘‘You're merely scattering your energies。 Be…
gin at the beginning。 Win suffrage for women； and
the rest will follow。'' As an added argument； she
took me with her on her Kansas campaign； and after
that no further arguments were needed。 From then
until her death； eighteen years later； Miss Anthony
and I worked shoulder to shoulder。
The most interesting lecture episode of our first
Kansas campaign was my debate with Senator John
J。 Ingalls。 Before this； however； on our arrival
at Atchison； Mrs。 Ingalls gave a luncheon for Miss
Anthony； and Rachel Foster Avery and I were also
invited。 Miss Anthony sat at the right of Senator
Ingalls； and I at his left； while Mrs。 Ingalls； of course；
adorned the opposite end of her table。 Mrs。 Avery
and I had just been entertained for several days at
the home of a vegetarian friend who did not know
how to cook vegetables； and we were both half
starved。 When we were invited to the Ingalls home
we had uttered in unison a joyous cry； ‘‘Now we shall
have something to eat！'' At the luncheon； however；
Senator Ingalls kept Miss Anthony and me talking
steadily。 He was not in favor of suffrage for women；
but he wished to know all sorts of things about the
Cause； and we were anxious to have him know them。
The result was that I had time for only an occasional
mouthful； while down at the end of the table Mrs。
Avery ate and ate； pausing only to send me glances
of heartfelt sympathy。 Also； whenever she had an
especially toothsome morsel on the end of her fork
she wickedly succeeded in catching my eye and thus
adding the last sybaritic touch to her enjoyment。
Notwithstanding the wealth of knowledge we had
bestowed upon him； or perhaps because of it； the
following night Senator Ingalls made his famous
speech against suffrage； and it fell to my lot to
answer him。 In the course of his remarks he asked
this question： ‘‘Would you like to add three million
illiterate voters to the large body of illiterate voters
we have in America to…day？'' The audience ap…
plauded light…heartedly； but I was disturbed by the
sophistry of the question。 One of Senator Ingalls's
most discussed personal peculiarities was the parting
of his hair in the middle。 Cartoonists and news…
paper writers always made much of this； so when I
rose to reply I felt justified in mentioning it。
‘‘Senator Ingalls；'' I began； ‘‘parts his hair in the
middle； as we all know； but he makes up for it by
parting his figures on one side。 Last night he gave
you the short side of his figures。 At the present time
there are in the United States about eighteen million
women of voting age。 When the Senator asked
whether you wanted three million additional illiterate
women voters； he forgot to ask also if you didn't want
fifteen million additional intelligent women voters！
We will grant that it will take the votes of three
million intelligent women to wipe out the votes of
three million illiterate women。 But don't forget that
that would still leave us twelve million intelligent
votes to the good！''
The audience applauded as gaily as it had ap…
plauded Senator Ingalls when he spoke on the other
side； and I continued：
‘‘Now women have always been generous to men。
So of our twelve million intelligent voters we will
offer four million to offset the votes of the four
million illiterate men in this countryand then
we will still have eight million intelligent votes to
add to the other intelligent votes which are cast。''
The audience seemed to enjoy this。
‘‘The anti…suffragists are fairly safe；'' I ended；
‘‘as long as they remain on the plane of prophecy。
But as soon as they tackle mathematics they get
into trouble！''
Miss Anthony was much pleased by the wide
publicity given to this debate； but Senator Ingalls
failed to share her enthusiasm。
It was shortly after this encounter that I had
two traveling experiences which nearly cost me my
life。 One of them occurre