After Miss Anthony returned home, outraged nature asserted itself and at every moment the pain in her back was excruciating.  She went to a doctor for the first time in her life and was given a fly-blister and some drugs to put in whiskey.  The last two she threw away but applied the blister, which only increased her misery.  She suffered terribly all summer but was busy every moment writing a new speech and sending out scores of letters for a second woman’s rights convention which had been called to meet at Saratoga in August.  Most of the replies were favorable.  T.W.  Higginson wrote:  “With great pleasure will I come to Saratoga Springs on August 15 and 16.  It is a capital idea to have a convention there, coax in some curious fashionables and perhaps make those who come to scoff, remain to pray.”  Lucretia Mott sent a letter full of good cheer.  From Mrs. Stanton, overwhelmed with the cares of many little children, came this pathetic message:  “I can not go.  I have so many drawbacks to all my efforts for women that every step is one of warfare, but there is a good time coming and I am strong and happy in hope.  I long to see you, dear Susan, and hear of your wanderings.”

Paulina Wright Davis said, in discussing the convention; “I get almost discouraged with women.  They will work for men, but a woman must ride in triumph over everything before they will give her a word of aid or cheer; they are ready enough to take advantage of every step gained, but not ready to help further steps.  When will they be truer and nobler?  Not in our day, but we must work on for future generations.”  Lucy Stone, enjoying her honeymoon at the Blackwell home near Cincinnati, wrote in a playful mood:  “When, after reading your letter, I asked my husband if I might go to Saratoga, only think of it!  He did not give me permission, but told me to ask Lucy Stone.  I can’t get him to govern me at all....  The Washington Union, noticing our marriage, said:  ’We understand that Mr. Blackwell, who last fall assaulted a southern lady and stole her slave, has lately married Miss Lucy Stone.  Justice, though sometimes tardy, never fails to overtake her victim.’  They evidently think him well punished.  With the old love and good will I am now and ever,

LUCY STONE (only).”

[Illustration:  H Anthony

  AT THE AGE OF 95, IN HIS OWN ROOM AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD.]

On the way to Saratoga Miss Anthony stopped at Utica for the State Teachers’ Convention and was appointed to read a paper at the next annual meeting on “Educating the Sexes Together.”  This action showed considerable advance in sentiment during the two years since this same body at Rochester debated for half an hour whether a woman should be allowed to speak to a motion.  She called the Woman’s Rights Convention to order in Saratoga, August 15, 1855, and Martha C. Wright was made president.  The brilliant array of speakers addressed cultured audiences gathered from all parts of the country at this fashionable resort.  The newspapers were very complimentary; the Whig, however, declared, “The business of the convention was to advocate woman’s right to do wrong.”  It was here that Mary L. Booth, afterwards for many years editor of Harper’s Bazar, made her first public appearance, acting as secretary.