ever so _genteelly_ dressed or of ever so _noble_, origin, who
pollutes his lips with the touch of the drunkard's cup, shall
presume to seek the favor of any of our precious daughters.
"Our Cause--May each succeeding day add to its glory and every hour
give fresh impetus to its progress...."
Many other toasts were proposed which space forbids quoting, but the
following by one of the gentlemen deserves a place:
The Daughters--Our characters they elevate,
Our manners they refine;
Without them we'd degenerate
To the level of the swine.
It is curious how willing men have been, through all the centuries, to
admit that only the influence of women saves them from being brutes and
how anxious to confine that influence to the narrowest possible limits.
[Autograph:
Very truly and affectionately
Abby K. Foster]
In the winter of 1851 Miss Anthony attended an anti-slavery meeting in
Rochester, conducted by Stephen and Abby Kelly Foster. This was her
first acquaintance with Mrs. Foster, who had been the most persecuted
of all the women taking part in the anti-slavery struggle. She had been
ridiculed, denounced and mobbed for years; and, for listening to her on
Sunday, men and women had been expelled from church. Her strong and
heroic spirit struck an answering spark in Miss Anthony's breast. She
accompanied the Fosters for a week on their tour of meetings in
adjoining counties, and was urged by them to go actively into this
reform.
The following May she went to the Anti-Slavery Anniversary in Syracuse.
This convention had been driven out of New York by Rynders' mob in 1850
and did not dare go back. On the way home she stopped at Seneca Falls,
the guest of Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, to hear again Wm. Lloyd Garrison and
George Thompson, the distinguished Abolitionist from England, who had
stirred her nature to its depths. Here was fulfilled her long-cherished
desire of seeing Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Their meeting is best
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