May Wright Sewall Papers

obligatory, and it would militate against the success of the Convention. I therefore decided to keep it to myself, and make it the work of the convention; should that prove a success.

The draft was in rough form; on yellow manilla paper. My husband was very ill; I was worked almost to death; and it was with great difficulty I got to the buisness meeting. I had consulted with no one; but I heard of nothing that looked towards any proper celbration of our 21st Anniversary; and this struck me like a flash. I said; "through this my "united woman-hood"; the effort to realise which has been the work of my life, will become a fact.

I had not time to take it to Ex. Corn. In fact I knew too well how it would be strangled there. I took it

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to the Club. It was received with en-thusiasm. Mrs. Thomas, then President, tried to throw cold water upon it, but failed. I was made Chairman of a Committee to carry out the whole thing. While speaking for it, I had laid my rough draft on the table. I was in an awful hurry to get home; and the paper having fallen to the floor, I left without it. For-got it. Lucy Thomas picked it up; she did not return it to me. I wrote to Mrs. Thomas asking when it would be convenient to her, for me to call a meeting. She wrote back that she had concluded that she had already called one. That it would be too much work for me alone; and she had divided it

it up into a number of Committees giving me the section of Corresponding when her meeting took place, the first thing they did (before I arrived) was to introduce my resolution on behalv of permanent organization through Mrs. Lucy Thomas, and make her chairman of section of Committee on Permanent Organization or "[Con?]-feration of Clubs." Lucy Thomas did not pretend that she was the author of it then; and she admitted to me that she found my first rough draft of entire outline at Convention, and permanent organization. I might have made a fearful time; but I said, "no, keep quiet, dont peril the success of the convention; they have got my idea, but they wont know

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what to do with it. And they did not. The constitution they submitted was no Constitution at all; but while I kept everything in the back-ground then an now, that might reflect upon any member of Sorosis; I will not put on record a permanent falsehood.

Another fact may show you what I have worked against. The October before the In. Congress met in Washington Susan B. Anthony sent an invitation to Sorosis; (with other organizations) I was in [Rhila?], and knew nothing of the it at the time. The importance of the movement was not understood by Mrs. Thomas; and it was killed in Ex. Com; the Club never heard of it. Three months afterwards I found I should have to go to Baltimore, and could go to Washington at the time of the Congress. I wrote a letter therefore to

Sorosis; explaining the dignity, many side rules, and importance of the Council; and said if a delegate had not already been appointed; I would like to be that delegate.

Mrs. Thomas then said that Sorosis had received an invitation, and that she wished to be a delegate herself; but that two could be appointed. Had my letter not been received Sorosis would never have heard of the Congress except through the paper. I am sorry to give you the trouble of reading, and indeed I am taking time I ought not; in writing this long letter. But you can rely on this as true history.

Sincerely yours J. C. Croly

whole situation. I hope Wolcott will be defeated in Colorado. He will know the women will have had a big part in it. The whole party may learn [?] a while, [?] they are so slow.

I hope for New Hampshire. If I were [?] financially I would [?] there from now until the vote is taken.

I am writing to the Baroness by the next steamer and will have my nephew ready

FEB 15 1890

SENATE CHAMBER WASHINGTON

Feb. 15, 1890.

My dear Madam,

I have had the pleasure to receive your very kind note, and the lateness of the invitation would not prevent me from entertaining it, were it otherwise in my power to do so. I regret, however, to say that a social engagement this evening will prevent my attending the banquet in honor of its distinguished guest, Miss Anthony.

With thanks for the

kind attention of your invitation, I am, My dear madam, Yours very truly,

[Wm?] Evarts

To May Wright Sewall Sec'y, etc.

ALLEN, JAMES LANE

Feb 18

My dear Mrs. Sewall,

I am sorry not to have had your letter sooner. The [Fortnightly?] Club had already received my letter, giving from March 10th to April 1st as a period from which to choose a date,

and they had met & chosen March 10th. And now I am afraid I might put them to some trouble to ask for another.

I say I am very sorry. Really, those three weeks represent my only interval of leisure for