alf-suppressed laughter of their own sex and the remarks of men
and boys. The Bloomers figured extensively in the anti-slavery
amalgamation convention, and were rather looked up to, but their
intemperate ideas would not be tolerated in the temperance meeting
at the Brick Chapel....

A scene of the utmost confusion prevailed and there was a perfect
warfare of tongues; but, singular to _say_, the women were
compelled to hold their tongues and depart, followed by a number of
male Betties and subdued husbands, wearing the apparel of manhood,
but in reality emasculated by strong-minded women....

So the Bloomers put their credentials in their breeches pockets and
assembled at Dr. Trail's Cold Water Institute, where the men and
Bloomers all took a bath and a drink together.

These sentiments were echoed by the newspapers, great and small, of the
entire country. Not a word in regard to "women's rights" had been
uttered at the Brick Church meeting except the right to have their
credentials from regularly-organized temperance societies accepted, and
the same privileges as other delegates granted. The continual reference
to the "warfare of tongues" is rather amusing in face of the fact that
no woman was allowed to speak and the talking was entirely monopolized
by men. Is it a matter of surprise that only a very limited number of
women had the courage to ally themselves with a movement which called
down upon them and their families such an avalanche of ridicule and
condemnation?

Miss Anthony, on reaching home, immediately began active preparations
for the first annual meeting of the Woman's State Temperance Society,
which was to be held in Rochester. As usual she wrote hundreds of
letters, raised the money, printed and circulated the call, looked
after the advertising, engaged the speakers and took the whole
responsibility. The convention assembled in Corinthian Hall, June 1,
1853, with a large attendance. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the president,
after stating that the society had over 2,000 members, and was in a
most flourishing condition, said:

It has been objected that we do not confine ourselves to the
subject of temperance, but talk too much about woman's rights,
divorce and the church.... We have been obliged to preach woman's
rights because many, instead of listening to what we had to say on
temperance, have questioned the right of woman to speak on an