Nellie Bly With The Female Suffragists

This is a complete transcription of the article “Nellie Bly With The Female Suffragists”, originally printed in The New York World, Jan. 26, 1896.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. — I pushed in the swinging door, noticing as I did that it was covered with yellow canton flannel, and stood within the Church of Our Father.

I had an instant impression of many women, standing in groups and seated in pews; a great mingling of voices in busy conversation and the flutter of yellow. I felt frightened and confused.

Then I saw very clearly a sweet, smiling face, a face so untroubled, of such happy repose, that I ceased to fear.

“Will you tell me, please,” I begun, “where I can sit so I can hear everything?”

“Are you a delegate?” she asked, kindly.

“No. I represent a newspaper,” I answered.

“What paper?” she inquired.

“The New York World,” I said.

“Oh!” she ejaculated. Then added: “Come with me. There are tables for the newspaper people down front, and I will find a place for you. You can hear and see everything there.”

I followed her down the centre aisle of the church, which inclines like a theater. Before the elevated platforms were two plain tables. Two women and two…