Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer

by D. C. Bloomer

A VISIT TO NEW YORK STATE.

During the summer, Mrs. Bloomer visited her former home at Seneca Falls, N. Y., where she received a very warm welcome from her many co-workers and friends of former days. Writing home to the Visitor, she says:

“Seneca Falls! There is a charm in that word, D——, that will ever arrest our attention and awaken an interest whenever and wherever we may see or hear it. So many years of our lives have been spent here, and so intimate and dear are many associations connected with the place and the people, that they can never be forgotten however attractive or absorbing may be the future events and associations of life’s journey. You will feel a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with sadness, when you know that I am again on the spot thus endeared to memory, and again surrounded by those with whom we have long held social and business intercourse. Would that you were with me here for a little time, would that you could walk with me again the streets so often trod by us, and note with me the changes that a few months have wrought! Would that you could see face to face the friends of old, and receive the hearty grasp of the hand which would meet you at almost every step, and above all that you could gaze with me upon our dear cottage home which we took so much pleasure in improving and beautifying and in which we found so much real enjoyment! I can hardly realize that it is not my home still, that I should not if I passed within find everything as of old, and you to welcome my return.—A. B.”

AT THE NEW YORK STATE CONVENTION.

While in New York, Mrs. Bloomer went to the second annual meeting of the Woman’s State-Temperance Society held at Utica on the 7th day of June. It was largely attended, and was presided over by Mrs. Mary C. Vaughan who made an able and eloquent opening address. Great interest prevailed among the temperance workers in the state at that time, owing to the veto by Gov. Seymour of a prohibitory liquor law which had passed the legislature. Various resolutions bearing upon this subject, and upon the reasons assigned by the governor for his action, were offered and discussed. One resolution, aimed at the use of tobacco as a fruitful cause of drunkenness and of injury to the boys and young men of the country, was also offered; on this, Mrs. Bloomer took the floor and spoke as follows:

“She said the resolution under consideration seemed to her one of great importance. The tendency to this vice in the young boys of the day cannot escape the attention of any observing mind; if one may believe the statements of some of the best physicians of the country in relation to the use of tobacco, it is a fruitful source of disease and crime. That it creates a thirst, is admitted by those who use it; and that thousands are led to quench that thirst in the intoxicating bowl, is a truth that cannot be denied. One of these poisons seems to imply and call for the other. Tobacco comes first in order, alcohol follows.

“In view of these facts, what must we anticipate from the boys of our country who have so early become addicted to the use of the weed? Is there not fear that their future career will be an inglorious one, and that they will be led to slake the unnatural thirst which tobacco has occasioned in the cup? Does not this thought call loudly to the parents to look well to the habits of their sons, to fathers to set them an example of virtue and sobriety by themselves abstaining from the use of the filthy weed, and to both fathers and mothers by their wise commands and counsels to lead them to hate and shun the vice as they would that of its twin brother, drunkenness?

“It is a mournful truth that too many parents regard the tendency to evil on the part of their sons with indifference, as an innocent harmless habit. They seem to think it a matter of course that they should grow up filthy tobacco chewers and smokers; and hence we see little fellows who have hardly escaped from their frocks smoking the cigar or long pipe in perfect imitation of their elders, and this, too, without reproach or warning from those who should teach them better. The practice if followed will prove ruinous to health, if no more terrible results follow. Parents should take this into consideration and act accordingly, as they value the future happiness of their children.”

Of this New York Convention, Mrs. Bloomer on returning home wrote for the Lily as follows:

“The meeting passed off most happily and we trust it will be productive of great good to the cause. The officers and agents of the society, with one or two exceptions, were present. The report of the executive committee and the treasurer show the society to be in as prosperous a condition, if not even more prosperous than at its annual meeting one year ago. A determination was manifested on the part of all to go forward in the work so long as their efforts were needed. Five or six agents have been in the field during the year, and their collections have amounted to nearly two thousand dollars. This money has been expended for the good of the cause. One of the agents told us that she had lectured one hundred and fourteen times since last October. This shows an amount of labor expended in the cause equal to, if not exceeding, that given by any man in the state. Altogether, the convention was highly interesting and pleasant and it afforded us much pleasure to be present at its meetings.”