e
liberal element refused to abandon the old organization, although
many joined in the W. C. T. U. work and attended both clubs.

However, in a small community, where the consciences of many good
women are not free, we have met with serious drawbacks. We have
had to submit to a sort of boycotting process, for some time, the
orthodox, goody-goody people evidently trying to freeze us out;
although I must claim that nearly every member of the Woman's
Union is strongly interested in the temperance cause, and as the
different departments in the W. C. T. U. fail to cover the ground
we occupy, quite a respectable number seem determined to hold on
in their own way, trying little by little to better the condition
of all, and particularly to increase and strengthen the feeble
germ of independent thought in women, so often smothered and
destroyed by too much theology. What we need for women is not
more spirituality but more hard common-sense, applied to reform
as well as religion. One thing connected with our organization is
a matter of pride to all women, namely, that no pecuniary
obligation has ever been repudiated by the Woman's Union. Besides
paying our debts we have given hundreds of dollars to works of
charity and education, and keep a standing fund of $100, to be
used in case of emergency, when, as often happens, we fail to
make expenses on lectures, entertainments, etc. It would not be
claiming too much if the Woman's Union of Oregon was to go upon
the historic page as the only free, independent woman's club ever
successfully carried on for any length of time, in the great
State of Missouri.[393]

Missouri has always felt a becoming pride in the gifted daughter,
Miss Phoebe Couzins, who was the first woman to enter the law
school, go through the entire course, and graduate with honor to
herself and her native State. Hence, a reception to her, to mark
such an event, was preeminently fitting. This compliment was paid
to her by Dr. and Mrs. G. A. Walker, and a large gathering of the
elite of St. Louis honored her with their presence.[394] The
drawing-rooms were festooned with garlands of evergreens and
brilliant forest leaves and hanging-baskets of roses; the bountiful
tables were elaborately decorated with fruits and flowers and
statuettes, while pictures of distinguished women looked down from