no higher rank than what is called a
"walking lady," I am sure of the same pay as a man who occupies
the position of a "walking gentleman." In that sphere of life, be
it remembered, I was reared from childhood; to that place I was
so accustomed that I had no idea it was a privilege denied my sex
to enter into almost every other field of endeavor.

In literature also I found myself on an equality with man. If I
wrote a good article, I got as good pay; and heaven knows the pay
to man or woman was small enough. (Applause). In that field, for
a long time, I did not feel an interest in the subject of women's
rights, and stood afar off, looking at the work of those
revolutionary creatures, Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony. The idea
of identifying myself with them was as far removed from my
thoughts as becoming a female gymnast and whirling upon a
trapeze. But once I wrote a lecture, and one night I delivered
it. Adhering to my practice of speaking about that which was most
familiar, my lecture was about the stage. I lectured, simply
because I thought the pay would be better in that department; the
idea that I was running counter to anybody's prejudice, never
entered my head. And I was so far removed that I never read a
page of _The Revolution_ in my life, and, what is more, I did not
want to; and when Miss Anthony passed down Broadway and saw the
bills announcing my lecture she knew nothing about me, and what
is more, she did not want to. (Laughter). She made a confession
to me afterwards. She said to herself, "Here is a lady going to
lecture about the stage," looking through her blessed
spectacles, as I can see her (laughter)--and I can hear her
muttering "a woman's rights woman." (Laughter). That is not so
very long ago, a little over a year. Since this great question of
woman's rights was thrust upon me, I am asked to define my
position; wherever I have traveled in the fifteen months I have
had to do so. A lady of society asked me, "Are you in favor of
woman's rights?" I had either to answer yes or no, and "Yes," I
said. (Applause)....

I met, in my travels, in a New England town, an educated woman,
who found herself obliged to earn her livelihood, after living a
life of luxury and ease. Her husband, who had provided her with
every material c