as called to a
scarcely known Anti-Woman Suffrage Society, formed in 1871, of
which Mrs. General Sherman, Mrs. Admiral Dahlgren and Mrs. Almira
Lincoln Phelps were officers, by the publication of an undelivered
letter from Mrs. Phelps to Mrs. Hooker:

_To the Editor of the Post:_

The following was written nearly seven years since, but was never
sent to Mrs. Hooker. The letter chanced to appear among old
papers, and as there is a meeting of women suffragists, with Mrs.
Hooker present, and, moreover, as they have mentioned the names
of Mrs. Dahlgren and Mrs. General Sherman, opposers, I am willing
to bear my share of the opposition, as I acted as corresponding
secretary to the Anti-Suffrage Society, which was formed under
the auspices of these ladies.

Mrs. DAHLGREN.

EUTAW PLACE, BALTIMORE, January, 30, 1871.

_To Mrs. Beecher Hooker:_

DEAR MADAM--Hoping you will receive kindly what I am about to
write, I will proceed without apologies. I have confidence in
your nobleness of soul, and that you know enough of me to believe
in my devotion to the best interests of woman. I can scarcely
realize that you are giving your name and influence to a cause,
which, with some good but, as I think, misguided women, numbers
among its advocates others with loose morals. * * * We are, my
dear madam, as I suppose, related through our common ancester
Thomas Hooker. * * * Your husband, I believe, stands in the same
relation to that good and noble man. Perhaps he may think with
you on this woman suffrage question, but it does seem to me that
a wife honoring her husband would not wish to join in such a
crusade as is now going on to put woman on an equality with the
rabble at the "hustings." If we could with propriety petition the
Almighty to change the condition of the sexes and let men take a
turn in bearing children and in suffering the physical ailments
peculiar to women, which render them unfit for certain positions
and business, why, in this case, if we really wish to be men, and
thought God would change the established order, we might make our
petition; but why ask congress to make us men? Circumstances drew
me from the quiet of domestic life while I was yet young; but
success in labors which involved