THE SUFFRAGETTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13676, 19 August 1908, Page 5

THE SUFFRAGETTES.

ORDEAL OF THE, 13. .3 ...•■■• '(Daily Chronicle.) i! } '.;■'■/'.' [ It was 3.55 when. the-.little of thirteen marched down the steps ■; <*? Caxton Hall, London, bound -for ]s& House of Commons. ~ Outside-Vtthe hsiU a considerable crowd had assembled,; and the voteless l^€S': ; > amid encouraging cheers. At the lead of the little band 1 was .Mrs. Pankbugt, wearing over her black dress the suffraj gists' broad sash of purple, green md white, with the. words, " Vote®' for * WoV men." By her side walked Superiiiten-; dent Wells, who acted..as escort. .' :On . either, flank and in the'Teair, the \ladies were accompanied, by "ant ever-growing army: ;of ouj§i>us ■' members£of the' pttbhc; eager to see^ v ' what'Gwoul^; happen^^vj. Scarcely had the, procession turned V |«W "Victoria-street, when.', a" cordon; of police was thrown -acrpsis, . with;-tire keeping back these followers.-., Allowing,the deputation to. pass: the Constables linked arms, thus barring,, the way. ', . ■: But against this human rampart.ittio public hurled themselves,. and %. '.police were powerless to stop. them. Nfcat.tMK Abbey the same, plan .was,tried v ,but) ; agfl'in it failed. , ;,i ' -i; :it: In Victoria-street' the .ladies met > wi ( tli . a mixed reception; on the whole, boW- , ever, it was of favourable character; From the tops of omnibuses cheered them; .'gentlemen raised the£ hats, and wished them luck.. These little, demonstrations of . support . «"o*W' pleased' the.suffragists, and■ some of them smilingly waved their .hands in , acknowy 1 Through a-surging mass Parliament ■square the, deputation... .tow. conducted towards the strangers ,eD™£ . to the House of Commplis.;, l Hcre j a large, body of constables, backed up.< by J*£-, mounted' policemen, were m clear the way. In a manner none-.io* v; gentle, they drove back: the crow,dv, ; :W, - that a free passage for the : might be afforded. .■' ■ •'■' '-■'■ :'., " '^' When 'the" ladies 'arrived outwde ;!*»£ - strangers' entrance they were greeted *wiMij some booing. InspectoK Sottdfebmr ■"J once came forward. - Addressing. Mrs : ; Pankhurst by name, he said.' I amin-i etruoted to tell you- that,- Mr,-A*quitto. ; - cannot receive you or - the • .-deputation,.Neither can his secretary see youy,- M -\ you have anything to say:itohinv;yoa can; put it in writing and eend-.it.;by , ; . The inspector- also told tbe'ttadtes-.that hef had instructions to excludethem . from -,. tie House. ' ' ! ' i - ' ' ' A inurmur of displeasure, arose from tne ■• Thirteen. Mrs Pankhurst wanted;, ,*» : know whether'/the; Prime Minister .had'. re-;) ceived. the second iletter which,had. been addressed to him that evening. ...^,;-,' ,' p " Yes," said > Inspector . Scantlet}ury>. " Mr Asquith has received; both, letters." I Mrs Pankhurst. reminded, the inspector,., that Mr Asquith had,been made, acquaint-, : ! ed of their intention ; to visit the- ..Housei,,;, and she thought he ought to receive %m. , The discussion, was continued for,'some.;,, minutes, and at. last, Mrs Pankhurst.©Jr.claimed, "'Then ,Mr.: Asquith to,, see* us!" ;.'■■; -.•--."» ;'v.'. :: -r-"-.'•• "Yes, Mr Asauith declines to seevyou madam," responded' the inspector,. «f#j* Thereupon, obviously very d^ppWntga,,, the ''unlucky, 13!', ..proceeded : to,,fotSTO r v 1 In. order to avoid the crowd in Parliament square, the ladies walked pathway inside the Abbey .-grounds, .-and thence into Victoria -street. As emerged from the pathway a man his hat, and, bowmg with ( mock said: " Ladies, I hope you nave been ;.W«U snubbed." ■ ».• ■." • : ' '-_, "' : ' ''' ■ Along Victoria-street the thirteen nadUa : plentiful escort of people, who playfully to "cheer up.", When, : : C%t<« Hall was reached a number of Suffrage**, who had assembled on the the deputation. On their .return,, ;'chfcftred them warmly> The crowd .who' _ha6s;\;jfo|fi lowed answered with satirical: ctfesa-trth:•''• Mrs Pankhurst turned- -upon the people, and in defiant -tones exclaimedr "Parks? ment square at. 7 o'clock,!" An& then she passed inside' the hall; with the rest-of J net: band.!. '.'....- .;■■■■•■;''■.'■. ■'■■.....-'■■:■.. !, .-.-y!-y?f& ■