38
WOMEN OF NANTUCKET
maining objects that had been familiar to her girlhoodIt was touching to see her stop in the street any aged person she met, questioning about the past 70 years. Though almost 84 years old, the voice of Lucretia Mott was gladly heard at the "Woman's Congress" held in St. George's Hall, London, in October, 1876. These are the words of her testimony in regard to her life's work: "The unequal condition of women in society early impressed my mind. Learning while at school that the charge for the education of girls was the same [as that for boys, and that when they became teachers wo men received but half as much for their services, the injustice of this was so apparent that I early resolved to claim for myself all that an impartial Creator had bestowed. The cause of peace has had a share of my efforts, leading to the ultra-non-resistance ground that no Christian can consistently uphold and actively en gage in and support a government based on the sword, and relying on that as an ultimate resort. But the down-trodden slaves in our land being the greatest sufferers, the most oppressed class, I have felt bound to plead their cause in season and out of season, to endeavor to put my soul in their soul's stead and to aid all in my power in every right effort for their im mediate emancipation. In 1840, at the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, we were treated with great courtesy and, as strangers, were admitted to chosen seats as spectators and listen ers, while our right of membership was denied. We were voted out. This brought the woman question more into view and an increase of interest in the sub ject has been the result. The misrepresentation, ridi cule and abuse heaped upon this, as well as other re-