shame was depicted on nearly every countenance, and
the cause of woman suffrage had advanced perceptibly in the minds
of the audience.

Another of the judges arose, and said, he had never thought much
on the subject. He had no doubt but Mrs. Brown was right, woman
were citizens and had the right to vote; but as the courts had
not instructed the election officers to take the votes of women,
and as the precinct was a small one, he was afraid their whole
vote would be thrown out if they received the women's ballots.
So, although he should like to see the women have their rights,
he should have to refuse Mrs. Brown's vote. Here an Irishman
called out, "It would be more sensible to let an intelligent
white woman vote than an ignorant nigger." Cries of "Good for
you, Pat! good for you, Pat!" indicated the impression that had
been made. My daughter now went up and offered her vote, which
was, of course, rejected.

My going to the polls was noised abroad, and set men as well as
women thinking. They examined the law for themselves, and found
that women had a right to vote, so that before the next election
many were prepared to act. In May, 1870, I published an appeal to
the women of the territory, quoting to them the law, and urging
them to avail themselves of its provisions by going to the polls
and voting. My sister, Charlotte Olney French, living in Grand
Mound precinct, some twenty-five miles from Olympia, began
talking the matter up; and, being a woman of energy and
influence, she soon had the whole neighborhood interested. With
the assistance of an old lady, Mrs. Peck, she planned a regular
campaign. By the programme the women were to get up a picnic
dinner at the school-house where the election was to be held, and
directly after, while the officers of election were in good humor
(wives will understand the philosophy of this), they were to
present their votes. My sister, being a good talker and well
informed on all the constitutional, judicial and social phases of
the question as well as a good judge of human nature, was able to
meet and parry every objection, and give information where
needed, so that by the time dinner was over, the judges, as well
as everybody else, were in the best of spirits. When the voting
was resumed, the women (m