So she at once girded on her armor and began to prepare for the May anniversary and, being determined the National Woman’s Rights Convention should not be omitted this year, she conducted also an extensive correspondence in regard to that.  Referring to all this drudgery Lucy Stone urged:  “Don’t do it; quit common work such as a common worker could do; and don’t mourn over us and our babies.  We are growing workers.  I know you are tired with your four months’ work, but it is not half so hard as taking care of a child night and day.  I shall not assume any responsibility for another convention till I have had my ten daughters.”  But Miss Anthony knew that this “common work,” this hiring halls, raising money and advertising meetings was just what nobody else could or would do.  She understood also that while the other women were at home “growing workers,” somebody must be in the field looking after the harvest.

Abby Hutchinson, the only sister in the famous family of singers, wrote from their Jersey home, Dawnwood:  “I want so much to help you; I have longed to do some good with my voice but public life wears me out very fast.”  Nevertheless she came and sang for them.  Mrs. Stanton and Mrs. Brown Blackwell brought new babies into the world a few weeks before the convention, to Miss Anthony’s usual discomfiture.  She wrote to the latter:  “Mrs. Stanton sends her love to you and says if you are going to have a large family, go right on and finish up as she has done.  She has only devoted eighteen years out of the very heart of her existence to this great work.  But I say, stop now.”

The convention in Mozart Hall followed close upon the Anti-Slavery Anniversary, Miss Anthony presided and there were the usual distinguished speakers, Phillips, Pillsbury, Garrison, Douglass, Higginson, Lucretia Mott, Mrs. Gage, Mrs. Rose, and, for the first time, George William Curtis spoke on the woman’s rights platform.  Notwithstanding this array of talent, the convention through all its six sessions was threatened with a mob, encouraged by the Herald and other New York papers.  The disturbance at times was so great the speakers could not be heard, even Curtis was greeted with hisses and groans, but Miss Anthony stood at the helm unterrified through all and did not leave her post until the last feature of the program was completed and the convention adjourned.  She was growing accustomed to mobs.

In August, 1858, she attended the teachers’ convention at Lockport.  The sensational feature of this meeting was the reading by Professor Davies of the first cablegram from England, a message from the Queen to the President.  The press reports show that she took a prominent part in the proceedings and possibly merited the name which some one gave her of “the thorn in the side of the convention.”  These annual gatherings were very largely in the nature of mutual admiration societies among the men, who consumed much of the time in complimenting each other and the rest of it in long-winded orations.  During this one Miss Anthony arose and said that, as all members had the same right to speak, she would suggest that speeches should be limited so as to give each a chance.  She made some of the men furious by stating that they spoke so low they could not be heard.