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quarter of an hour when they met a little later in
the privacy of their home。
Among other duties that fell to my lot at this
period were numerous suffrage debates with promi…
nent opponents of the Cause。 I have already re…
ferred to the debate in Kansas with Senator Ingalls。
Equaling this in importance was a bout with Dr。
Buckley； the distinguished Methodist debater； which
had been arranged for us at Chautauqua by Bishop
Vincent of the Methodist Church。 The bishop was
not a believer in suffrage； nor was he one of my
admirers。 I had once aroused his ire by replying
to a sermon he had delivered on ‘‘God's Women；''
and by proving； to my own satisfaction at least；
that the women he thought were God's women had
done very little； whereas the work of the world had
been done by those he believed were not ‘‘God's
Women。'' There was considerable interest； there…
fore； in the Buckley…Shaw debate he had arranged；
we all knew he expected Dr。 Buckley to wipe out
that old score； and I was determined to make it as
difficult as possible for the distinguished gentleman
to do so。 We held the debate on two succeeding
days； I speaking one afternoon and Dr。 Buckley
replying the following day。 On the evening before
I spoke； however； Dr。 Buckley made an indiscreet
remark； which； blown about Chautauqua on the
light breeze of gossip； was generally regarded as both
unchivalrous and unfair。
As the hall in which we were to speak was enor…
mous； he declared that one of two things would cer…
tainly happen。 Either I would scream in order to
be heard by my great audience； or I would be un…
able to make myself heard at all。 If I screamed it
would be a powerful argument against women as
public speakers； if I could not be heard； it would be
an even better argument。 In either case； he sum…
med up； I was doomed to failure。 Following out
this theory； he posted men in the extreme rear of
the great hall on the day of my lecture； to report to
him whether my words reached them； while he him…
self graciously occupied a front seat。 Bishop Vin…
cent's antagonistic feeling was so strong； however；
that though； as the presiding officer of the occasion；
he introduced me to the audience； he did not wait
to hear my speech； but immediately left the hall
and this little slight added to the public's interest
in the debate。 It was felt that the two gentlemen
were not quite ‘‘playing fair；'' and the champions
of the Cause were especially enthusiastic in their
efforts to make up for these failures in courtesy。
My friends turned out in force to hear the lecture；
and on the breast of every one of them flamed the
yellow bow that stood for suffrage； giving to the
vast hall something of the effect of a field of yellow
tulips in full bloom。
When Dr。 Buckley rose to reply the next day
these friends were again awaiting him with an equal…
ly jocund display of the suffrage color； and this did
not add to his serenity。 During his remarks he
made the serious mistake of losing his temper； and；
unfortunately for him； he directed his wrath toward
a very old man who had thoughtlessly applauded by
pounding on the floor with his cane when Dr。
Buckley quoted a point I had made。 The doctor
leaned forward and shook his fist at him。
‘‘Think she's right； do you？'' he asked。
‘‘Yes；'' admitted the venerable citizen； briskly；
though a little startled by the manner of the ques…
tion。
‘‘Old man；'' shouted Dr。 Buckley； ‘‘I'll make you
take that back if you've got a grain of sense in your
head！''
The insult cost him his audience。 When he
realized this he lost all his self…possession； and； as
the Buffalo Courier put it the next day； ‘‘went up
and down the platform raving like a Billingsgate
fishwife。'' He lost the debate； and the supply of
yellow ribbon left in the surrounding counties was
purchased that night to be used in the suffrage
celebration that followed。 My friends still refer to
the occasion as ‘‘the day we wiped up the earth
with Dr。 Buckley''； but I do not deserve the im…
plied tribute； for Dr。 Buckley would have lost his
case without a word from me。 What really gave
me some satisfaction； however； was the respective
degree of freshness with which he and I emerged
from our combat。 After my speech Miss Anthony
and I were given a reception； and stood for hours
shaking hands with hundreds of men and women。
Later in the evening we had a dinner and another
reception； which； lasting； as they did； until midnight；
kept us from our repose。 Dr。 Buckley； poor gentle…
man； had to be taken to his hotel immediately after
his speech； given a hot bath； rubbed down； and put
tenderly to bed； and not even the sympathetic
heart of Susan B。 Anthony yearned over him when
she heard of his exhaustion。
It was also at Chautauqua； by the way； though a
number of years earlier； that I had my much mis…
quoted encounter with the minister who deplored
the fashion I followed in those days of wearing my
hair short。 This young man； who was rather a
pompous person； saw fit to take me to task at a
table where a number of us were dining together。
‘‘Miss Shaw；'' he said； abruptly； ‘‘I have been
asked very often why you wear your hair short；
and I have not been able to explain。 Of course''
this kindly'' I know there is some good reason。 I
ventured to advance the theory that you have been
ill and that your hair has fallen out。 Is that it？''
‘‘No；'' I told him。 ‘‘There is a reason； as you
suggest。 But it is not that one。''
‘‘Then why'' he insisted。
‘‘I am rather sensitive about it；'' I explained。
‘‘I don't know that I care to discuss the subject。''
The young minister looked pained。 ‘‘But among
friends'' he protested。
‘‘True；'' I conceded。 ‘‘Well； then； among friends；
I will admit frankly that it is a birthmark。 I was
born with short hair。''
That was the last time my short hair was criticized
in my presence； but the young minister was right
in his disapproval and I was wrong； as I subsequently
realized。 A few years later I let my hair grow long；
for I had learned that no woman in public life can
afford to make herself conspicuous by any eccen…
tricity of dress or appearance。 If she does so she
suffers for it herself； which may not disturb her； and
to a greater or less degree she injures the cause she
represents； which should disturb her very much。
XII
BUILDING A HOME
It is not generally known that the meeting of
the International Council of Women held in
Chicago during the World's Fair was suggested by
Miss Anthony； as was also the appointment of the
Exposition's ‘‘Board of Lady Managers。'' ‘‘Aunt
Susan'' kept her name in the background； that she
might not array against these projects the opposi…
tion of those prejudiced against woman suffrage。
We both spoke at the meetings； however； as I have
already explained； and one of our most chastening
experiences occurred on ‘‘Actress Night。'' There
was a great demand for tickets for this occasion； as
every one seemed anxious to know what kind of
speeches our leading women of the stage would make；
and the programme offered such magic names as
Helena Modjeska； Julia Marlowe； Georgia Cayvan；
Clara Morris； and others of equal appeal。 The hall
was soon filled； and to keep out the increasing throng
the doors were locked and the waiting crowd was
directed to a second hall for an overflow meeting。
As it happened； Miss Anthony and I were among
the earliest arrivals at the main hall。 It was the
first evening we had been free to do exactly as we
pleased； and we were both in high spirits； looking
forward to the speeches； congratulating each other
on the good seats we had been given on the plat…
form； and rallying the speakers on their stage fright；
for； much to our amusement； we had found them all
in mortal terror of their audience。 Georgia Cayvan；
for example； was so nervous that she had to be
strengthened with hot milk before she could speak；
and Julia Marlowe admitted freely that her knees
were giving way beneath her。 They really had
something of an ordeal before them； for it was de…
cided that each actress must speak twice going
immediately from the hall to the overflow meeting
and repeating there the speech she had just made。
But in the mean time some one had to hold the im…
patient audience in the second hall； and as it was a
duty every one else promptly repudiated； a row of
suddenly imploring faces turned toward Miss An…
thony and me。 I admit that we responded to the
appeal with great reluctance。 We were SO com…
fortable where we wereand we were also deeply
interested in the first intimate glimpse we were
having of these stars in the dramatic sky。 We saw
our duty； however； and with deep sighs we rose and
departed for the second hall； where a glance at the
wai