is not surprising then that an educated, self-reliant, public-spirited
woman who had just reached thirty should chafe against the narrow
limits of a school-room and rebel at giving her time and strength to
the teaching of children, when all her mind and heart were drawn toward
the great issues then filling the press and the platform and even
finding their way into the pulpit. Miss Anthony's whole soul soon
became absorbed in the thought, "What service can I render humanity;
what can I do to help right the wrongs of society?" At this time the
one and only field of public work into which women had dared venture,
except in a few isolated cases, was that of temperance. Miss Anthony
had brought her credentials from the Daughters' Union at Canajoharie
and presented them at once to the society in Rochester; they were
gladly accepted and she soon became a leader. In these days John B.
Gough was delivering his magnificent lectures throughout the country,
and Philip S. White, of South Carolina, was winning fame as a
temperance orator.
The year 1850 was for her one of transition. A new world opened out
before her. The Anthony homestead was a favorite meeting place for
liberal-spirited men and women. On Sunday especially, when the father
could be at home, the house was filled and fifteen or twenty people
used to gather around the hospitable board. Susan always superintended
these Sunday dinners, and was divided between her anxiety to sustain
her reputation as a superior cook and her desire not to lose a word of
the conversation in the parlor. Garrison, Pillsbury, Phillips, Channing
and other great reformers visited at this home, and many a Sunday the
big wagon would be sent to the city for Frederick Douglass and his
family to come out and spend the day. Here were gathered many times the
Posts, Hallowells, DeGarmos, Willises, Burtises, Kedzies, Fishes,
Curtises, Stebbins, Asa Anthonys, all Quakers who had left the society
on account of their anti-slavery principles and were leaders in the
abolition and woman's rights movements. Every one of these Sunday
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