ical and legislative halls, until at
last the rusty bars are yielding and the persistent knocking
is beginning to tell upon iron nerves and all kinds of
masculine constitutions. Just now, in the centennial year,
another door has opened, preparing the way for the Pilgrims'
daughters to present their claim before the assembled nation
on the "Fourth of July, 1876."

A joint resolution of congress, signed by the president of
the United States, and made the subject of proclamation by
the governor of the State, reads as follows:

_Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America_, That it be, and is hereby,
recommended by the Senate and the House of Representatives
to the people of the several States, that they assemble in
the several counties and towns on the approaching centennial
anniversary of our national independence, and that they
cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of
said county or town from its foundation, and that a copy of
said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the
clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy be
filed in the office of the librarian of congress at the city
of Washington, to the intent that a complete record may thus
be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the
first centennial of their existence.

The governor of this State earnestly recommends that prompt
measures be taken in each county and town for the selection
of one or more persons who shall prepare complete, thorough
and accurate historical sketches of each county, city, town
or village, from the date of the settlement to the present
time.

In view of the fact that since our civil war thousands of
charitable, scientific, philanthropic, religious and
political associations have been organized among women, of
which but few accurate records are now accessible to the
general public, and in view of the fact that the Supreme
Court and many of our legislators construe "persons" to
indicate only men (except when persons are to be taxed,
fined or executed), we respectfully suggest that