_Boston’s help for the Infirmary stimulates New York, sometimes to
unconscious humor--Meeting with Fanny Kemble--Dr. Zakrzewska obtains
entrée into the variety of social “circles” then existing--The Cary
sisters--Women of the Press--The educational circle--The esthetic
group--The so-called Free Lovers--The artistic circle--Mrs. Z.’s
social circle--The philanthropic circle--The Fourierites--The
demonstrating Spiritualists--Woman’s Rights meetings--Dr. Zakrzewska
and Horace Greeley opposing speakers in discussion on “Divorce”--Dr.
Emily urges Dr. Blackwell to give up New York for London, opposition
there being lessened by Florence Nightingale’s work--The Fair finally
materializes and is successful--Dr. Emily Blackwell returns from
Europe, making the third physician working upon the Infirmary plans.
(Twenty-seven years of age: 1856.)_
Meanwhile, the letters from Dr. Emily Blackwell, who was completing her
medical studies in England, urged Dr. Blackwell to give up her life in
America and come to England as a more promising field for developing
the introduction of medical women into practice.
But Dr. Blackwell held fast to the fact that in America the first
Woman’s Medical College (Philadelphia) had been in existence for
several years, and she felt that it would be unwise to desert this
beginning.
The struggles of this little college were so great because all aids
to foster its growth were so hard to acquire; and also because many a
student withdrew from the school after a few months of attendance upon
learning what great obstacles were to be overcome in acquiring medical
knowledge and how great was the social prejudice against female medical
students. Hence, only the brave, the courageous, the determined, and
the financially equipped women could remain and weather the stormy days
of their student life.
Thus it was felt best that the realization of the New York Infirmary
should be carried on; and Dr. Emily promised to interest her English
friends to contribute to the English table. Dr. Blackwell’s friends and
well-wishers began with great zeal to arrange sewing circles, while new
friends were acquired who were willing to assist in the charity even if
not inclined to the “reformers,” as we were called.
An old lady, Mrs. T----, residing on Fifth Avenue, was one of the newly
acquired friends. She also wished to assist us by introducing us into
her circle and she invited me to her reception days which were held
from eleven to one--the fashionable hours at that time.
The difficulty was not in my name, for it was very fashionable at
that time to introduce exiles and their friends into society, but
what should be my title? She said that I was too young to be called
“Madame”; and “Miss” would not sound well with my unpronounceable name
while “Doctor”--oh! no! she could not call me that; and “Doctress” was
not reputable. So, what?
Then, what would I talk about? “Hospitals,” of course. Yes, of
course--and then she added, tolerantly, “Well, if you must talk on
hospitals, do not mention women doctors but say for the purpose of
‘training nurses,’ which is now so fashionable in England through Miss
Nightingale’s training at Kaiserswerth, Germany.”
Another lady invited me to dine with her. And she remarked, “I shall be
all alone and we can talk your plans over without being disturbed or
ridiculed by my husband and sons. You see,” she added, “my daughters
are married and we hold by our fortune a position which would equal
that of a duchess in your country, so we must be very careful not to
offend good taste by inviting reformers without a thorough knowledge
of their plans.” When I replied that my ancestry was about as good as
her money as we dated our name back to 911, she was quite relieved and
asked permission to tell this fact to her friends in order to explain
her interest in me.
Then there was the little incident which I never can forget, so
ludicrous did it appear to me, when Dr. Blackwell and I called upon
Fanny Kemble, and she most tragically exclaimed, “_Women_
DOCTORS! NEVER!”
During the summer months, Dr. Blackwell gained a number of new
acquaintances who, being inclined towards the elevation of woman’s
education, were sent to us by Dr. Harriot K. Hunt, of Boston. Among
these were Miss Elizabeth Peabody and Miss Anne Whitney (the latter
then known simply as a poet, now also as a sculptor) who interested
themselves deeply in our projects. And through them we became
acquainted with Mrs. Angelina Grimké Weld and her sister, Miss Sarah
Grimké, and Mrs. Spring, all these being our neighbors across the
Hudson, residing at Eagleswood. Other valuable aid came through Mrs.
Lucy Stone and Mrs. Antoinette Brown Blackwell who, sharing the home
with us, formed strong links with all the liberally inclined members of
the anti-slavery movement. My friend, Mary L. Booth, became of great
assistance to me, and I joined an association of women, called the
_Alpha_, of which she was secretary.
There was a quiet revolution going on in all strata of social life. The
present generation can form only an approximate idea of the spirit of
the time in those years. New England transcendentalism had influenced
all intelligent people throughout the country. It was a real _Sturm
und Drang_ period which pervaded men and women alike. Abolitionism
was at its height. Everywhere, the _pros_ and _cons_ of the means to
abolish slavery was the topic of conversations and discussions. And
transcendentalism was interpreted into all kinds of _isms_ because
nobody could define its meaning. Thus it happened that there arose
a great many circles and cliques in which one or more theories were
nurtured.
One of the pleasantest of these circles was that formed by the sisters,
Alice and Phœbe Cary, who kept open house every Sunday evening from
eight to eleven o’clock. These were not the fashionable, senseless
receptions of the present day, but real social gatherings where
everybody came regularly and often took up the conversation where
it was left unfinished the week before, or brought the new events
of the week for discussion. All was informal; no sitting down, the
little parlor often holding fifty or sixty guests, many representing
the press or politics; no refreshments except a pitcher of cold water
and glasses in the hall. Eminent men were always the center at these
gatherings--the names of Greeley, Colfax, Ripley, Garrison, and a host
of similar leaders were never wanting.
This description answers very well for all the other circles. The
charm of all these gatherings consisted in the fact that they were not
receptions but places where everybody came regularly when disengaged
otherwise, or while in New York if not resident. No refreshments were
served but a liberal supply of ice water, with plenty of glasses, stood
in a little room or in the hall, while conversation or discussion or
music or even dancing formed the attraction.
One circle was the promoter of women in the press, and this was
headed by Mrs. Elizabeth Oakes Smith. She held open house on Thursday
evenings, and here all the then-known press women, musicians and
artists met in the most liberal spirit.
In the educational field were Mrs. Kirtland and Miss Haynes, who each
had the best school for young ladies but to whose houses invitations
were needed.
The esthetic group, representing those who aspired to the cultivation
of the fine arts, and including exiles of renown, gathered at evening
receptions under the leadership of Mrs. X. In her elegant parlors every
one who was introduced by those already accepted was welcomed and
entertained with music, conversation and card playing. Mr. and Mrs.
George Hildreth could be found there week after week, as well as the
then most-renowned musicians and actors.
Another very prominent circle was that of the Free Lovers, then so
called. Mrs. Grosvenor was called by Mr. Alcott, whom I first met at
her evenings, the “high priestess of free love.” This circle was most
frequented by all persons who represented any _ism_. Mr. Alcott
held his conversations often in this house. Messrs. Ripley, Greeley,
Albert Brisbane; the pianist, Gottschalk; the advocate of Spiritualism,
Andrew Jackson Davis; the communist, Stephen Pearl Andrews;
representatives of legislatures and of Congress; as well as literary
women and artists--all could here find people who were intellectually
congenial to them in this field of speculation.
A purely artistic circle gathered at Miss Freeman’s studio apartments.
She being then the most prominent illustrator of books, drew around
her delightful aspirants in art and music. In her parlor, I met Miss
Charlotte Cushman, who kindly patronized me and my internes and
students after the New York Infirmary was established, by sending us
tickets to her performances.
An important social circle gathered around Mrs. Z., the leader of taste
and fashion, who entertained in her elegant and spacious parlors. Here
also whist playing was cultivated under the leadership of Mr. George
Hildreth, who patiently taught me whenever I could join his table.
The philanthropic circle was the smallest. Its leaders were Mr.
Charles Brace of “Five Points” fame, Mr. Peter Cooper, Miss Elizabeth
P. Peabody, and the Sedgwick family, of which Miss Catherine Sedgwick
was the most prominent member. I attended meetings of this circle
through Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell.
Another important and active influence was exerted by the admirers of
the socialist Fourier. A movement was initiated similar to the Brook
Farm movement, in Boston. Mr. Marcus Spring had erected a phalanstery,
in Eagleswood, New Jersey, where ideal housekeeping, education, the
cultivation of literature and high-grade amusement were the objects
pursued. To this phase of social life, I was introduced through Mrs.
Theodore Weld, Miss Sarah Grimké, Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody and Mrs.
Horace Mann. Menial labor was abhorred, in contradistinction to Brook
Farm ideas; the culture of mind and of body was preëminent, and Mr.
Theodore Weld was the High Priest.
A strange center was that of the demonstrating Spiritualists, who
were held together by Mrs. Cleveland and her sister, Mrs. Horace
Greeley. Here, as it happened, abolitionists appeared most prominently,
and general invitations to the house were extended only during the
“Convention Week” in May. The Fox Sisters have been said to perform
wonderful feats on such occasions. I never witnessed any, as each time
that I happened to be present disturbing elements were said to prevent
the materialization of the spirits. Soon after this, the Fox Sisters
joined the Roman Catholic Church and were said to have confessed that
all their performances were well-arranged deceptions.
Thus I became acquainted with the leading minds who agitated the
public, and who helped to advance our plans for the establishment of a
hospital where women physicians could prove their capacity and skill by
attending sick women and children.
Unfortunately, Dr. Blackwell was not in general harmony with these
different phases of social development; on the contrary, she often
felt repelled by the theories advanced by them. And I was not only
interested and instructed in the various ways of freedom of thought
and speech, but also greatly amused by the frequent extravaganzas and
oddities of persons and occurrences, especially at the Anti-Slavery
meetings and, later, at the so-called Woman’s Rights conventions.
For instance, on one occasion Mrs. Ernestine L. Rose was speaking, when
a mob of men was determined to quiet her by making unseemly noises.
A handsome, delicate little woman, she stood silent on the platform
listening to the roaring of these men. All at once they became quiet,
impressed by her statuelike dignity, and one of the disturbers called
out, “Go on, old steamboat!” to which she calmly replied, “As soon
as you have done.” She then spoke for a whole hour without further
interruption.
Similar interruptions can be related by Lucy Stone and Antoinette
Brown Blackwell. Both of these ladies at that time formed part of Dr.
Elizabeth Blackwell’s family, in New York, which was presided over
by the most genial, kind and efficient old lady, Mrs. Blackwell, the
mother.
A great misfortune for us was that the components of these circles,
while not exactly poor, were certainly not rich. All the assistance
which they could give us was in good will and good wishes. Yet these
were of great help after all, for they opened channels which led us to
the well-to-do. These latter were influenced by motives of philanthropy
and also by the general awakening of the spirit which began to demand
nobler fields of action than the providing of mere physical comforts.
They also opened the way for us to friends such as Mr. George W.
Curtis, Rev. O. B. Frothingham (then in Newark), Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, Drs. McCready, Kissam and Porter, Rev. Mr. Bellows, Rev. Mr.
Chapin, Dr. Tuthill (one of the editors of the New York _Times_)
and his wife and sister; Mrs. R. G. Shaw (mother of Col. Robert Shaw),
Mrs. Marcus Spring, the Misses Sedgwick, Mrs. Howland and many others,
who came to our assistance and turned the social scale somewhat in our
favor.
I might here record an experience which I had as a member of what we
would now call a “Woman’s Club,” and which was named the “Alpha.” This
association was composed of women who were striving for the advancement
of women. Its leader and president was Mrs. Lyons, Miss Mary L. Booth
was secretary, and Miss Sarah Tuthill was treasurer. Its meetings were
held alternately at the houses of Mrs. Lyons and Miss Booth. It also
held social gatherings several times during the year, and to these
gentlemen were invited and asked to take part in the discussions.
Among these latter were Horace Greeley and George Ripley, but there
were also all persons well known in literary or professional life.
At one of these latter meetings the divorce question was made the
subject for discussion, and Mr. Horace Greeley was appointed to take
the negative side and I the affirmative. As I was with and in the
spirit of the times in discussing the subject, it was decided by the
judges that I had the better of the argument.
Mr. Greeley was so excited and provoked that he said, “Then, Madam,
I understand that a man has the right to say to his wife on Sunday
morning when he finds that a button is missing on his shirt, ‘Wife, I
demand that we get divorced!’”
All were rather confounded by his argument and looked dubiously at me.
Fortunately, my wits were previously rather excited, and so I replied:
“Mr. Greeley, the sooner such a man seeks a divorce from his wife, the
better for her, because if he considers such a trifle as he mentions a
cause for divorce, he is not married in the sense he ought to be.”
This incident he related soon afterward in the _Tribune_, with
the addition of pointing out the danger to which the “thinking” of
women will lead. And he markedly ignored me whenever by chance we met
afterward.
All these experiences were of great interest and advantage to me
personally, and I developed all these opportunities for forwarding my
plans and gaining friends, little by little, for the idea of employing
women physicians. But the main object at that time was to gain friends
for the proposed Fair in December.
As I now look back on that time when a little pin-cushion or mat was
presented for this enterprise and think how joyful we were, as we saw
in every little gift the desired dollar, or even fifty cents, and then
compare that state of affairs with the present, when we calmly announce
that ten thousand dollars must be raised by a Fair, I cannot hope to
describe the happy emotion which I then felt over the gift of fifty
cents.
It is not the size of the gift or the amount of money which it
represents which swells our breast with thankfulness and happiness.
It is, after all, the sympathy which the gift conveys which makes its
value, and this value is greatest when such sympathy is most needed.
Oh! the golden time of Youth and Hope! How little we improve the
chances in our later years to assist the young in their aspirations!
And thus do we deprive both them and ourselves of that which means true
happiness, namely, sympathetic relations between on the one hand, those
who keep the world and its interests moving by their aspirations; and,
on the other hand, those who have retired, often with disappointment,
because of the little they could effect individually.
It is youth and the superior wisdom of the young, no matter whether
they have it in reality or only in their imagination, which leads
humanity onward toward the millennium. Humanity is, and must remain,
young; and no olden times are worthy of being held up as an example.
Meanwhile, letters from Dr. Emily Blackwell, who was continuing her
studies in England, came cheeringly with promises of help towards the
Fair. But she also continued to urge the abandonment of the work in the
United States and its transference to London, where a desire to promote
the education of medical women had begun to manifest itself after
Miss Florence Nightingale had so successfully shown the necessity of
educating nurses in their profession.
One of the great advantages in such transference to England urged upon
Dr. Blackwell was that we would not there have to live down or fight
the nefarious and criminal practice which was being carried on chiefly
in New York City, but also more or less in smaller places, and which by
its advertising in the newspapers had created such a strong prejudice
against “Doctresses,” as its practitioners were styled.
We were obliged to place the intention of training nurses in the
foreground when appealing for sympathy or assistance in our work, in
order to get any kind of hearing among the philanthropists, or in
sending articles to the newspapers.
Finally, in November, we saw the result of our efforts becoming
substantiated in boxes, in baskets, in trunks and in the closets, so
that we now were ready to decide upon a locality where we might offer
our treasures to the benevolent of New York City.
Dr. Blackwell called a meeting in her parlors of all the ladies who
had interested themselves during the summer, and we discussed halls,
as well as vestries, which might prove attractive to the public, and
a committee was appointed to visit the different places and to seek
interviews with those in control of them.
I was, of course, one of the members of the committee, and we decided
to go to the places in groups of two or three and to report the result
at the end of a week. In less than three days, however, the chairman
called a meeting of the committee because of the experiences of the
three groups who had spent two days from morning till evening visiting
the agents of the different desirable, and even undesirable, locations.
Everywhere they had received the same answer, namely, “We don’t want to
have anything to do with women doctors or irresponsible ladies wishing
to hold a Fair in our place.”
Not the proposition to pay in advance nor the promise that we should
not advertise the fact that it was intended to furnish a hospital for
female physicians, as they were then called, could soften the hearts of
these men, who simply closed all discussion by saying, “It is not our
custom to deal with ladies.” Even the kind words of Dr. Bellows could
not induce the men of his church to allow us the use of their vestry.
What was to be done?
A general meeting was again called, and the husband of one of the
committee, Mrs. Haydock, suggested that we hire a large loft in a
building, in the business quarters, of which he had control. This was
an unfinished room with a bare floor of unplaned boards with numerous
knot holes and protruding nails. It had no fixtures for lighting and
no ornaments overhead but rough beams and rafters. Another lady of the
committee proposed to send her parlor chandeliers to be connected with
the gas pipes; while a friend of Dr. Blackwell made a drawing showing
how to cover bare, rough walls with evergreens and wreaths. Others
loaned rugs for the floor and draperies for the walls, and we used
evergreens to conceal the bareness above.
The necessity to have a place at all caused us to accept these
propositions and, in spite of three long rough flights of stairs,
we advertised our Fair largely and also the motive for holding it,
praising its arrangements and enlarging upon its novelty as well as
upon its choice goods. We charged ten cents admission and we drew
a good attendance for four days, realizing six hundred dollars net
profit. And what an immense sum this seemed to us all!