The great value of progressive ideas was thoroughly discussed over these cups; and the fact that their husbands were to be brought into a line of subjugation not before anticipated had an inspiring effect.

In short, female Nyack began to carry a high head, and to make male Nyack feel that he was no longer master in its own house.

Dolly Chapman presided at these tea-parties with that smartness peculiar to women of her class, taking particular pains to explain how much could be done for Nyack and the world--if only the women could get the direction of things into their own hands.

A church as the means of carrying out these new and grand ideas was exactly what was wanted.

The tea-party women all took up the idea, and the enterprise was made so popular that each resolved herself into a begging committee, and soon had collected the sum of seven hundred dollars, an amount sufficient to put the thing on its legs..