The only other nomination given to the
women, however, was that of Director (or rather, Directress) of the
Poor, which was conferred on Mrs. Bassett, wife of a clergyman.
Mr. Strongitharm insisted that I should, in some wise, prepare
myself for my new duties, by reading various political works, and
I conscientiously tried to do so--but, dear me! it was much more of
a task than I supposed. We had all read the debate on our bill, of
course; but I always skipped the dry, stupid stuff about the
tariff, and finance, and stay laws and exemption laws, and railroad
company squabbles; and for the life of me I can't see, to this day,
what connection there is between these things and Women's Rights.
But, as I said, I did my best, with the help of Webster's
Dictionary; although the further I went the less I liked it.
As election-day drew nearer, our prospects looked brighter. The
Republican ticket, under the editorial head of the "Burroak
Banner," with my name and Mrs. Bassett's among the men's, was such
an evidence, that many women, notably opposed to the cause, said:
"We didn't want the right, but since we have it, we shall make use
of it.
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