al, and followed by a reception to the members of
the convention. Mrs. McLean was assisted in receiving by Miss Anthony
and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant. Seventy-eight wax tapers burned upon the
birthday cake, which was three feet in diameter and decorated with
flowers. It was presented to Miss Anthony, who carried it in triumph
to the convention in Columbia Theatre, where it was cut into slices
that were sold as souvenirs and realized about $120, which she donated
to the cause.

Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, at the age of eighty-two, sent two papers
for this fiftieth anniversary, one for the congressional hearing, on
The Significance of the Ballot; the other, Our Defeats and our
Triumphs, was read to the convention by Mrs. Colby. Both displayed
all the old-time vigor of thought and beauty of expression. The
latter, filled with interesting reminiscence, closed with these words:

Another generation has now enlisted for a long or short campaign.
What, say they, shall we do to hasten the work? I answer, the
pioneers have brought you through the wilderness in sight of the
promised land; now, with active, aggressive warfare, take
possession. Instead of rehearsing the old arguments which have
done duty fifty years, make a brave attack on every obstacle
which stands in your way.... Lord Brougham said: "The laws for
women [in England and America] are a disgrace to the civilization
of the nineteenth century." The women in every State should watch
their law-makers, and any bill invidious to their interests
should be promptly denounced, and with such vehemence and
indignation as to agitate the whole community....

There is no merit in simply occupying the ground which others
have conquered. There are new fields for conquest and more
enemies to meet. Whatever affects woman's freedom, growth and
development affords legitimate subject for discussion here....
Some of our opponents think woman would be a dangerous element in
politics and destroy the secular nature of our Government. I
would have a resolution on that point discussed freely, and show
liberal thinkers that we have a large number in our association
as desirous to preserve the secular nature of our Government as
they themselves can possibly be.... When educated women, teachers
in all our schools, professors in our colleges, are governed by
rulers, foreign and n