Susan B. Anthony Papers, 1815-1961. Diaries. 1853-1856, with scattered later entries, most n.d. A-143, folder 8. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

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April 13

Fine weather, Sarah & I sallied forth to visit the monument that marks the spot where stood the Elm tree, known as the one under which William Penn formed the treaty with the Indians. We had a long walk, & when arrived there & the spot was pointed out by an old man, it was with difficulty that we could discern the monument, it is surrounded by no fence, is near the bank of the Deleware, & was almost hidden by ship timbers carelessy thrown around it --

Penn was born in 1644 & died in 1718 -- Thus is the spot sacred to the memory of a most amicable adjustment with Indians, left in neglect -- Mrs. Rose does not agree with me as regards the worth of Penn, indeed she does not regard the memory of any whom we are accustomed to think of with

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reverence, She sees good in none save such as the world has traduced - it is well that there are some to bring to light the virtues of the neglected & despised.

We dined at Mr. Webbs, two daughters Harriet & Elizabeth, & a daughter in law - Mrs. R. returned to the Dr's, & I went to the Female Anti Slavery Society.

In Attendance was a young lady, Virginia of Mary land. She & her sister had left them by their father, three slaves worth $1000. each - whom they set at liberty, besides these three, their father left 13 slaves, all of whom save one they have been instrumental in freeing, this one is a cooper & belongs to their only brother, who is ill & not expected to live long - he has an offer of $800. for the slave but tells the girls, of they can give him $400. he will take it & thus set the last of the 16 at liberty - Virginia has raised over $200 & I hope she may succeed in

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in getting the remains of $200, In consequence of freeing their slaves, she & her sister have been compelled to resort to day labor - She has a fine expressive face. It is indeed noble to see two such young girls make such a sacrifice of their all.

Went to Spring St. Institute only about 20 or 30 there, Mrs. R decided not to speak -

The fates have indeed been against us - not a meeting have we had that has paid expenses --

14. Friday,

Dined at James Motts, Abbey Gibbons, Sarah Grimpke, Thomas Curtis, Griffith Cooper & Eliah Capron & wife Rebecca, were invited guests. An Uncle of Thomas Motts wife, Mary Anna, from Texas was there - We had a very chat - spiritualism as usual being the principal topic, Mrs. Rose & Mr. Curtis believing the spirit inseparable from the body, of course, were on

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[April /54]

the unbelieving side. While Sarah Grimpke was all enthu siasm in the faith, Eliah Capron doesn't believe, he knows there is a reality in spirits disembodied, communicating with the living, the rest of the compa ny, with myself, seemed not to know whether or not there is any truth in these modern manifestations.

Mrs. R. returned to the Doctor's immediately after dinner to rest for the evening meeting to be held at Samson's Street Hall - I remained & with Lucretia Sarah Grimpke & myself on one side & Thomas Curtis on the other, had an argument as to the probable future existence of the mind or soul or spirit of man - not an argument could one of us bring, other than an intuitive feeling that we were not to cease to exist, when the body dies, while Mr. Curtis reasoned, (as has Mrs. Rose often done with me) that all things in Nature die,

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or rather, that the elements of all things are separated & assume new forms, that if the soul, the vital spark of man lives eternally so must the essence of the tree, the animal, the bird & the flower.

There certainly is no argument to be brought against such reasonings - But if it be true that we die like the flower, leaving behind, only the fragrance or the [contra?] while the elements that compose us, go to form new bodies, what a delusion has the race ever been in - What a dream is the life of man -

James & Lucretia accompanied me to the Hall, the rain fell rapidly - Not a score of persons were present & Mr. Mott stated to them Mrs. Rose would not speak - just as we got to the foot of the stairs, found Mrs. R., in the Carriage, I got in with them & returned to the Dr.

Mrs. R. decided to stay over Sunday & speak at the liberal meeting

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Apr. 17 Monday -

Snowed all day & the night before - left Phil. Saturday A.M. 9 Oclock, by way of Camden for N. York - The N. Jersey farmers had been at work - the various kinds of vegetables were seen in beautiful green lines through the large fields.

The rain fell rapidly, & after getting about 30 miles north the green vegetables were seen peeping through the cold snow & as we advanced the snow grew deeper & deeper, & in N. York - it seemed like winter - took a carriage to Brooklyn - had quite a time in finding Cousin Anson's, though he lived on Hicks St. his residence is 70 Columbia St.

Yesterday, Sunday Cousin Henry accompanied me to New York to Cousin Elisha Rogers, no. 117 Henry St. where I staid until night, & returned to Brooklyn, the rain & snow fell rapidly & the wind blew a gale. This day I have passed very lazily, written a letter to

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Antoinette Brown & one to Father. have been very much disappointed in not finding Cousin Demantha here, Cousin Anson is also from home.

Apr. 18 Tuesday.

Went over to N. Y. called at Fowlers & Wells Office then at Mrs. Fowlers, found her about leaving for Massachusetts, then went down Grand St shopping. Thence to Dr. Trulls & dined - took a look at his school room all very nice, but it seems to one the Dr. has taken too much upon himself, to be able to do all well - but perhaps not - About 3 Oclock went to Reade St. - found Mrs. Rose returned, chatted with her an hour then went to De pot - As I took my seat in cars, several drunken men seated theselves on the front seats, they were exceedingly disgusting both to the eye & the olfactories, presently a respectable looking man from their vicinity came back, & said, Madam if it

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will not inconvenience you too much, I would to take a seat with you, I moved my bandbox, & as he sat himself down, the fumes of tobacco were quite as disagreeable to me, as the rum was to him.

I have never seen as much drinking on board of any car before, just opposite my seat was a company of young men who also had their bottle & passed it around among their number. I arrived Lydia Mott at 10 pm Evening, found her just in bed - had a long talk.

19 -

In the A.M. I called at Aunt Ann Eliza's, Uncle A. gone to Curtisville - thence went to Aunt Hannahs, found there her nephew Stephen R. Mallory who does indeed look very much as Uncle [Israel?] used to - He invited Cousin Ellen & myself to accompany him to the Idiot Asylum - We arrived there just at dinner hour, but were not allowed to look at them while

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eating, which I very much desired to do - The teacher called a few & exercised them some in reading spelling arithmetic & geography. Many of them show that there is a spark within them, but it is a most painful sight to see them, their idioic stare, & idiotic laugh are terribly revolting - returned to Aunt H's & dined, then Mr. Mallory accompanied me to Lydia Motts, (where I was most happy to meet Judge Hay, he is a dear old man, & says he has enlisted in the service of his country for life - is at work for his grandchildren, says he will prepare a Code of Laws for the next Legislature.) thence to the Stage office & saw me fairly shipped for Troy. At Troy I had a long walk to the dyers for my dress that Mary had left to be colored found Phebe James full of business as usual. Sallie Holly had spoken in Troy, had small meeting.

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Apr. 20 Thursday - left Troy at 7 Oclock A.M. arrived Easton sister Hannahs, at 10 A.M. found Mary there, Eugene gone to N. York - Aaron came at 12 1/2 took dinner & left in the Stage, bound for N.Y. Mary & self worked at my [Delam?} dress.

21 Friday - Mary decided to remain in Easton & teach school this summer -

22 Saturday - After due delays Mary & I started, with Eugene horse & waggon for Battenville sprinkled some when we left but began to rain swiftly before we had gone half way - had a break down going down the hill at Dorns Deliveryes, he came out, & we [all?] went in & dined with Huldah - rained all the rest of the way to the hill - every thing looked the same, no change for the better in the houses or lands as we passed along -

23 - Sunday - Attended Church with Gula to hear Mr. Pegg expect he preached a good