celebration was well told by Miss Louisa M. Alcott in a newspaper article written at the time, and was much commented on by the press. To people who only knew the town by its great reputation as a literary centre, or as the place from which the first and longest shot was fired for freedom, (immortalized in Mr. Emerson's verse), such a transaction seemed hardly credible. It might be supposed that a spot upon which the battle for freedom and independence was first begun, would always be the vantage ground of questions relating to personal liberty. But such is not the fact. For instance, Concord was never an anti-slavery town, though some of its best citizens took active part in all the abolition movements. When the time came that

women were allowed to vote for school committees, the same intolerant spirit which ignored and shut them out of the Centennial celebration was again manifested toward them, -not only by the leading magnates but also by the petty officials of the town. Some of these have from the first shown a great deal of ingenuity in inventing ways to intimidate and mislead the women voters. The men voters are not to blame for this state of things in their town, except that they do not take interest enough in the matter to insist that the women voters shall be fairly and respectfully treated. The town of Concord has been crowned with many welldeserved honors.

"Tis true,

And pity 'tis, 'tis true,"

that to these honors must be added this unenviable distinction,— that it was in the beginning, has been and still (in 1883) is the banner town for snubbing women voters!

AT its annual meeting in May 1880, the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association voted to hold a Woman Suffrage Jubilee Convention, and chose the following named persons as a committee of arrangements; Lucy Stone, Abby Kelley Foster, Thomas J. Lothrop, Timothy K. Earle, Sarah E. Wall, Harriet H. Robinson and E. H. Church.

Members of this committee made the necessary arrangements, and at the appointed time the friends gathered at Worcester. There were present not only old workers, but also young and ardent suffragists, who had come to see those whose silver hairs told of long and faithful service. Athol, Boston, Haverhill, Leicester, Leominster, Lowell, Malden, Melrose, Milford, North Brookfield, Taunton, and many other Massachusetts towns were well represented. Suffragists from other states were also there, and letters were read from far away old friends, and those near, who were unable to be present. The oldest ladies there were Mrs. Lydia Brown of Lynn, Mrs. Wilbour of Worcester, and Julia E. Smith Parker of Glastonbury, Connecticut. On the afternoon of the first day there was an informal gathering of friends in the ante-room of Horticultural Hall in Worcester, and the congratulations and glad recognition of old acquaintances were very pleasant to behold. Old time memories were recalled by those who had not seen each other for many years, and the common salutation was: "How gray you've grown!" Many of them had indeed grown gray in the service, and their faces were changed, but made beautiful by a life devoted to a noble purpose.

There were many present who had attended the convention of thirty years ago. Abby Kelley Foster, Lucy Stone, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Paulina Gerry (whose careful

preservation of Woman's Rights documents has made the writing of this history possible), Dr. Martha H. Mowry, Rev. Samuel May, Rev. W. H. Channing, Joseph A. Howland, Adeline H. Howland and many, many others. It was very pleasant indeed to hear these veterans, whose clear voices have spoken out so long and so bravely for the cause, William H. Channing, who, fresh from England, brought the good word concerning the movement in the mother country; Lucy Stone, whose "silvery voice" rose just as it did thirty years ago, and whose heart, as of old, was young and "warm with enthusiasm" for woman's rights; Antoinette Brown Blackwell, still "beautiful" and "orthodox;" and Samuel May, always effective in speech, and on the right side in all reforms.

Abby Kelley Foster too was there, feeble with declining years, but ever the "gentle hero," with the old fire of antislavery times still burning within her. In one part of her speech she had accused the men of being to blame for the political disfranchisement of women; and, turning suddenly to Mr. T. W. Higginson, (who sat near her on the platform) she shook her finger at him and said: "You are my enslaver!" Mr. Higginson took the accusation cheerfully, and the audience were delighted at the little scene. It reminded some of the more belligerent among them of the early times in the history of the cause, when the "fight" in Massachusetts was more aggressive than it has since become. The speaking at all the sessions was excellent, and the spirit of the Convention was very reverent and hopeful.

"Hen

The tone of the press concerning woman's rights meetings had changed greatly since thirty years ago. conventions" had gone by, and a woman's meeting was now called by its proper name. Representatives of leading newspapers from all parts of the State were present, and the reports were written in a most just and friendly spirit. The Worcester press was particularly hospitable, and advertised the meetings gratuitously. The Spy said: "The convention is one of the best the women have ever held in Worcester."

I.

SUMMARY OF VOTING LAWS RELATING TO WOMEN, FROM 1691 TO 1822.

PROVINCE Charter, A. D. 1691, 3d year of William and Mary." The great and general Court shall consist of the Governor and Council (or assistants for the time being) and of such freeholders as shall be, from time to time, elected or deputed by the major part of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the respective towns or places, who shall be present at such elections."

Constitution, 1820, Part II, Chap. 1, Sect. 11, Art. II, gives the right of voting for Senators and Councillors to every male inhabitant 21 years of age, having a freehold estate in the Commonwealth of the annual income of £3, or any estate of the value of £60.* (Motion in Constitutional Convention to strike out the word male).

Constitution, Part II, Chap. 1, Sect. III. Art. IV.—Qualification for a voter for Representatives, varies from the above by requiring that the voter shall own a freehold estate within the town where he resides. (Motion in Constitutional Convention to strike out the word male).

Constitution, Part II, Chap. 2, Sect. I, Art. III, also Sect. II. Art. I.-The persons who can vote for Senators or Representatives, can vote for Governor and Lieut. Governor. (Motion in Constitutional Convention to strike out the word male).

Constitution, Part II, Chap. 1, Sect. I, Art. IV.-The Legislature has power to name and settle annually, or provide by fixed laws for the naming and settling, all civil officers within said Commonwealth, the election and constitution of whom are not hereafter in this form of government otherwise provided.

By Statute, 1785, Chap. 75, Sect. II, passed March 23,

• Property representation for Senators was abolished in 1840.

1786.-Town officers are to be chosen by the freeholders and other inhabitants of each town who shall pay to one single tax, besides the poll-tax, a sum equal to two-thirds of a single poll-tax. The selectmen are only required to be inhabitants of the town-not required to be voters.

Statute, 1809, Chap. 25, Sects. II. and III., allows any persons who are inhabitants of the towns, and citizens of the United States, who have paid taxes within a town for two years, to vote for town officers.

Statute, 1809, Chap. 39, repeals the foregoing.

Statute, 1811, Chap. 9, Sect. I., allows every male citizen of the Commonwealth, z1 years of age, liable to be taxed, who has resided one year in any town, to vote in the election of all town officers.

Constitutional Amendment, 1820.-Regulates the right of voting for Governor, Representatives, etc.

Statute, 1822, Chap. 104, Sect. I.-The same regulation was adopted in regard to voting at town meetings, as in regard to all other State officers.

SUMMARY.

1. Women were not excluded from voting from 1691 to 1780.

2. Women were excluded from voting only for certain offices from 1780 to 1785.

3. Three distinct sets of qualifications for voting till 1820. 4. Two distinct sets of qualifications for voting till 1822. 5. Qualifications for voting for town officers more liberal than for Governor and Legislature.

6. Qualifications for voting for all State, county and town officers, were first made uniform by Statute in 1822, and may be again enlarged by Statute, except where specified in the Constitution.

[Under the Province Charter, 1695-96, all self-supporting single women were obliged to pay a poll tax of two shillings each, except such as through age or extreme poverty were unable to do so.]