[Illustration: T]O the Temple of Untrammelled Thought.
_Sunday, May 10, 1882._ Heard a transcendent oration from Althea Duxmore
on "Dogmas and Dogmatics." Bi-monthly levy for the expenses of the
Temple. Stephanotis Hewleigh and I the eleemosynars who collected in the
new Septentrional Vestibule, where the men are put. Their united
contributions amounted exactly to half a Victoria! Several dimes in the
salver. The new Act, limiting the personal expenses of Adult Males, may
have something to do with this. Shall move in the Saloon for Returns
showing the working of the Act. Alfred nowhere to be seen in the
Vestibule; perhaps detained by the children's toilette. In the afternoon
at the new Museum of Natural History opened this Spring, at Kensington.
The Galleries crowded. Several of us, including Professors Sara Sabina
Thewes and Caroline Gostrong, delivered extemporary lectures on the
animals; the men very attentive. In the evening to St. Paul's; heard the
new organist, Charlotte Bach Stopmore, Mus. Doc. The Cathedral a blaze
of splendour with the Tyndaluminospectric light. We Women have yet
something to learn in physical science.
_Monday, May 11._ Received, by appointment, a deputation from the
electors of New Marylebone, inviting me to candidate that District at
the next General Election. Mrs. Admiral Stenterton, and Miss Lydia Boss
Wolloby, the dominant spokeswomen. Spread out my views on the Husbands'
Regulation Movement, the Cigar-Tax, the Compulsory Inspection of Men's
Clubs, and the Repudiation of the National Debt. All satisfactory, and I
agreed to retire from Jutley. Deputation luncheoned with me. No place
kept for Alfred, who had to sit at a side-table.
To the Club (the Gynecium), and flashed a long private cryptogram to the
Chairwoman of my Committee at Jutley. Dined at the Club. After dinner in
the Fumitory. Took a Cabriole to the Saloon. Driver an extortionist; but
I knew the exact distance, to the tenth of a kilometre. Saloon debating
the Juries Exemption (Women) Bill. Spoke, I think, with sensation. The
venerable Earl of Hughenden came in as I was perorating. Alfred, in the
Gentlemen's Gallery, in tears. I wore my black velvet and point lace
pelerine, with the diamond star he gave me after the Jutley election.
That tiresome, tedious, insufferable Hannah Longbore (how South-West
Suffolk stands her so long I cannot imagine) prosed on against the Bill,
and sided with the Men, but we fidgeted her down at last. She had on
that old crimson satin which has seen three sessions at least! Maiden
speech from Marian Spray--pretty enough. Forget what Men spoke. Mrs.
Leader Donne, the lovely (!) and accomplished Member for Ironville,
closed the debate. Rather too great a parade of learning; positively she
quoted Lycophron in the original! But we all see through Mrs. Leader's
schemes--she means the Educational Under-Secretaryship, when Bella
Falayse goes to the Upper Saloon as a Peeress _jure suo_. Home by
Twelve. Alfred sitting up for me. What a resource that _Hortus Siccus_
is to him!
_Tuesday, May 12._--Card from Madge Bassingham, R.A., for her Inaugural
Praelection, as Pigmentary Professor at the Royal Academy. Could not go,
as I was engaged on a Committee at the Saloon--Metropolis Extension,
Brighton Annexation Bill. Dined with Mrs. Abraham Skrooley, M.P. Woman's
party. The Constantia exquisite. Discussed over our cigarettes the
arrangements for the approximating Women's Cosmopolitan Congress. Alfred
and one or two other Men came in the evening.
_Wednesday, May 13._ Not well in the morning. Flashed for Dr. Martha
Walkingholme. She was detained at the Spleen Hospital, but her partner,
Harriet Chamomile, came and applied the Magnetic Detonator to my spine
and the backs of my ears. Instant relief. In the evening at the Biennial
Banquet of the Indigent Widowers' Pension Fund at Willis's. The Duchess
of Middlesex in the chair. After dinner the Indigent Widowers circuited
the tables, and attracted much attention by their neat and respectable
appearance. I proposed the toast of "The Gentlemen." Alfred responsed,
and for a wonder did _not_ break down.
_Thursday, May 14._ Gave Cook a lesson on the harp before breakfast.
Sitting in the Library reading Mill's "Woman Triumphant," when my
electric alarum rang. Message from Oxford from my youngest sister,
Bianca, to say that she had that instant been elected Fellow of Carlyle
College. Three hundred and ten competitors. Tremendous examination,
lasting three weeks. Bianca's thorough domination of Russian, Japanese,
political economy, statistics, aerostatics, electrology, hygiene and
thermapeutics, gave her the victory. Hope some day she will stand for
the University. For joy I took a half holiday. (Left Alfred quite happy
with his silkworms.) Gymnastic relaxation at the Palaestra on the
Expanse at Hampstead. Then by Tube to Dover. Tunnelled over to Paris,
shopped, and back by the six rapid. Might have stayed later for we could
not make a Saloon: seven short of the legal Quorum, a hundred--so many
Members (men, I need hardly say) absent at the Great International
Croquet Tryst at the Crystal Palace. Passed an hour pleasantly at the
Diatomaceous Society, of which I have lately been balloted a Fellow.
_Friday, May 15._ Busy all the morning preparing my oration on the "Wise
Sayings of Wise Women in all Countries and Epochs," for the Congress.
(Interrupted twice by Alfred, who had got the housekeeping accounts and
the washing-book into a fearful muddle.) Great meeting at 3'30 in
Emancipation Hall, to welcome Mrs. Hale Columbia Spragg, the first
female President of the United States. She has transited the Atlantic to
attend our Congress, but can only be present at this evening's
Inauguratory, as she must be in New York again before sundown to-morrow.
Went to the Saloon, but it immediately adjourned, on the motion of Mr.
Theodore Stuke, to enable the Lady Members to festinate to the Congress.
Immense success. Fifteen hundred Delegates from every country in the
world processed down the Hall, and then arranged themselves by
Continents on the gilded dais. Twenty-five thousand women computed to be
present in the Spectatorium. Our distinguished champion and unflinching
Hegemon, Amelia Smackles, assumed the presidential throne. Incessant
coruscations of enthusiasm, which culminated when a black sister moved
the fourteenth resolution, demanding the total, immediate, and
unconditional transfer of all menial labour from Woman to Man. Did not
get home till 1 p.m. Left my key behind me, so obliged to rouse up
Alfred, who was in bed, in great distress at the loss of one of his
canaries, and had forgotten to order my stout. Vexatious!
_Saturday, May 16._ Dejeuned at the Constellation Hotel with dear
Amelia, to meet Mrs. President Spragg, Chief Justice Roberta Cokestone
(from Liberia), the Lady Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Lady Mayoress,
the Mistress of the Mint, and other forward Members of the Congress. The
President left us at noon. She would balloon over to New York in five
hours and a half. Quiet dinner at Richmond in the evening. Only Amelia,
two of the elder Sisters of the Trinity House, and the Delegates from
Germany, Turkey, Greece, and China. Bianca joined us unexpectedly from
Oxford, and introduced her bosom friend, the Professor of Anatomy,
Henrietta Stott Trawsell. Delightful promenade by the river before
dinner. Met Alfred fishing for gudgeon.
* * * * *