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our duty； however； and with deep sighs we rose and
departed for the second hall； where a glance at the
waiting throng did not add to our pleasure in the
prospect before us。
When I walked upon the stage I found myself
facing an actually hostile audience。 They had come
to look at and listen to the actresses who had been
promised them； and they thought they were being
deprived of that privilege by an interloper。 Never
before had I gazed out on a mass of such unresponsive
faces or looked into so many angry eyes。 They
were exchanging views on their wrongs； and the gen…
eral buzz of conversation continued when I appeared。
For some moments I stood looking at them； my
hands behind my back。 If I had tried to speak they
would undoubtedly have gone on talking； my si…
lence attracted their attention and they began to
wonder what I intended to do。 When they had
stopped whispering and moving about； I spoke
to them with the frankness of an overburdened
heart。
‘‘I think；'' I said； slowly and distinctly； ‘‘that you
are the most disagreeable audience I ever faced in
my life。''
They gasped and stared； almost open…mouthed in
their surprise。
‘‘Never；'' I went on； ‘‘have I seen a gathering of
people turn such ugly looks upon a speaker who has
sacrificed her own enjoyment to come and talk to
them。 Do you think I want to talk to you？'' I de…
manded； warming to my subject。 ‘‘I certainly do
not。 Neither does Miss Anthony want to talk to
you； and the lady who spoke to you a few moments
ago； and whom you treated so rudely； did not wish
to be here。 We would all much prefer to be in the
other hall； listening to the speakers from our com…
fortable seats on the stage。 To entertain you we
gave up our places and came here simply because
the committee begged us to do so。 I have only one
thing more to say。 If you care to listen to me
courteously I am willing to waste time on you； but
don't imagine that I will stand here and wait while
you criticize the management。''
By this time I felt as if I had a child across my
knee to whom I was administering maternal chastise…
ment； and the uneasiness of my audience underlined
the impression。 They listened rather sulkily at first；
then a few of the best…natured among them laughed；
and the laugh grew and developed into applause。
The experience had done them good； and they were
a chastened band when Clara Morris appeared； and
I gladly yielded the floor to her。
All the actresses who spoke that night delivered
admirable addresses； but no one equaled Madame
Modjeska； who delivered exquisitely a speech writ…
ten； not by herself； but by a friend and country…
woman； on the condition of Polish women under
the regime of Russia。 We were all charmed as we
listened； but none of us dreamed what that address
would mean to Modjeska。 It resulted in her banish…
ment from Poland； her native land； which she was
never again permitted to enter。 But though she
paid so heavy a price for the revelation； I do not
think she ever really regretted having given to
America the facts in that speech。
During this same period I embarked upon a high
adventure。 I had always longed for a home； and
my heart had always been loyal to Cape Cod。 Now
I decided to have a home at Wianno； across the Cape
from my old parish at East Dennis。 Deep…seated
as my home…making aspiration had been； it was
realized largely as the result of chance。 A special
hobby of mine has always been auction sales。 I
dearly love to drop into auction…rooms while sales
are in progress； and bid up to the danger…point；
taking care to stop just in time to let some one else
get the offered article。 But of course I sometimes
failed to stop at the psychological moment； and the
result was a sudden realization that； in the course
of the years； I had accumulated an extraordinary
number of articles for which I had no shelter and
no possible use。
The crown jewel of the collection was a bedroom
set I had picked up in Philadelphia。 Usually；
cautious friends accompanied me on my auction…
room expeditions and restrained my ardor； but this
time I got away alone and found myself bidding
at the sale of a solid bog…wood bedroom set which
had been exhibited as a show…piece at the World's
Fair； and was now； in the words of the auctioneer；
‘‘going for a song。'' I sang the song。 I offered
twenty dollars； thirty dollars； forty dollars； and
other excited voices drowned mine with higher bids。
It was very thrilling。 I offered fifty dollars； and
there was a horrible silence； broken at last by the
auctioneer's final； ‘‘Going； going； GONE！'' I was mis…
tress of the bog…wood bedroom seta set wholly
out of harmony with everything else I possessed；
and so huge and massive that two men were re…
quired to lift the head…board alone。 Like many of
the previous treasures I had acquired； this was a
white elephant； but； unlike some of them； it was
worth more than I had paid for it。 I was offered
sixty dollars for one piece alone； but I coldly refused
to sell it； though the tribute to my judgment warmed
my heart。 I had not the faintest idea what to do
with the set； however； and at last I confided my
dilemma to my friend； Mrs。 Ellen Dietrick； who
sagely advised me to build a house for it。 The idea
intrigued me。 The bog…wood furniture needed a
home； and so did I。
The result of our talk was that Mrs。 Dietrick
promised to select a lot for me at Wianno； where she
herself lived； and even promised to supervise the
building of my cottage； and to attend to all the other
details connected with it。 Thus put； the temptation
was irresistible。 Besides Mrs。 Dietrick； many other
delightful friends lived at Wiannothe Garrisons；
the Chases of Rhode Island； the Wymans； the Wel…
lingtonsa most charming community。 I gave Mrs。
Dietrick full authority to use her judgment in every
detail connected with the undertaking； and the
cottage was built。 Having put her hand to this
plow of friendship； Mrs。 Dietrick did the work with
characteristic thoroughness。 I did not even visit
Wianno to look at my land。 She selected it； bought
it； engaged a woman architectLois Howe of
Bostonand followed the latter's work from be…
ginning to end。 The only stipulation I made was
that the cottage must be far up on the beach； out of
sight of everybodyreally in the woods； and this
was easily met； for along that coast the trees came
almost to the water's edge。
The cottage was a great success； and for many
years I spent my vacations there； filling the place with
young people。 From the time of my sister Mary's
death I had had the general oversight of her two
daughters； Lola and Grace； as well as of Nicolas
and Eleanor； the two motherless daughters of my
brother John。 They were all with me every sum…
mer in the new home； together with Lucy Anthony；
her sister and brother； Mrs。 Rachel Foster Avery；
and other friends。 We had special fishing costumes
made； and wore them much of the time。 My nieces
wore knickerbockers； and I found vast content…
ment in short； heavy skirts over bloomers。 We
lived out of doors； boating； fishing； and clamming
all day long； and； as in my early pioneer days in
Michigan； my part of the work was in the open。 I
chopped all the wood； kept the fires going； and
looked after the grounds。
Rumors of our care…free and unconventional life
began to circulate； and presently our Eden was in…
vaded by the only serpent I have ever found in the
newspaper worlda girl reporter from Boston。 She
telegraphed that she was coming to see us； and
though； when she came； we had been warned of her
propensities and received her in conventional attire；
formally entertaining her with tea on the veranda；
she went away and gave free play to a hectic fancy。
She wrote a sensational full…page article for a Sun…
day newspaper； illustrated with pictures showing us
all in knickerbockers。 In this striking work of art
I carried a fish net and pole and wore a handkerchief
tied over my head。 The article； which was headed
THE ADAMLESS EDEN； was almost libelous； and I
admit that for a long time it dimmed our enjoy…
ment of our beloved retreat。 Then； gradually； my
old friends died； Mrs。 Dietrick among the first；
others moved away； and the character of the entire
region changed。 It became fashionable； privacy
was no longer to be found there； and we ceased to
visit it。 For five years I have not even seen the
cottage。
In 1908 I built the house I now occupy （in Moylan；
Pennsylvania）； which is the realization of a desire
I have always hadto build on a tract which had a
stream； a grove of trees； great boulders and rocks；
and a hill site for the house with a broad outlook；
and a railroad station conveniently near。 The
friend who finally found the place for me had begun
his quest with the pessi