Free Free Woman by Marion Meade

Announcing her candidacy was only the first step. She had no intention of stopping there. People already knew that she was a wealthy, self-made woman; now she had to make the entire country aware of the socialistic principles for which she stood.
    She began to write a series of essays about politics and government which later would be published as a book, The Principles of Government . The essays, appearing first in the New York Herald , were much too scholarly for the average reader. But they succeeded in giving Vicky a new image. People couldn't help but conclude that Mrs. Woodhull was a learned woman, a person who had the intelligence and qualifications to be President. In that way, the essays served a useful purpose.
    The dream in sight at last, Vicky felt a sense of jubilation. Still, she knew that hardly anybody cheered the announcement of her candidacy. Oh, her friends had hurried over to the brokerage office to offer congratulations. And a few newspapers took her seriously. One editorial remarked that her candidacy was notable for its novelty and courage. "Now for Victory for Victoria in 1872!" it said.
    Another paper pointed out that she was a smart and handsome woman. Therefore, "she is the proper person to stand forth against the field as the woman's rights candidate for the White House."
    But other papers sneered. The "weaker sex," they said, already have plenty of privileges. Women should be happy with what they have. The obvious was mentioned—that men would never accept a woman President.
    Finally, the press got around to saying what really bothered them. The men who wrote newspaper editorials were pretty much like most people in the country, and most people believed it was unnatural for a woman to govern.
    As news of Vicky's candidacy traveled across the country, people began to talk about her. Over steins of ale in the taverns, men asked what the world was coming to. Some felt sure that she must be a homely, man-eating spinster with a cat. Only that type of woman would make a public spectacle of herself. Other men said she must be a beautiful courtesan. Only that type of woman would call attention to herself.
    Over their teacups, the women also gossiped about her. Vicky intrigued them. They wanted to know all about her, but what they learned made them uneasy. She might be rich and beautiful, but she also sounded unfeminine. No true woman would demean herself by running for political office. This woman, so different from themselves, troubled them.
    Those who had the most trouble with Vicky's new prominence were the Claflins. Tennie, as usual, thought anything her sister did must be wonderful. She was busy clipping newspapers. But the rest of the family scoffed and sulked. The one who felt most put out was Roxanna.
    "Where do you get these fancy ideas?" she would screech at Vicky. She placed the blame on her son-in-law.
    "It's that hellhound Blood who put you up to it," Roxanna squawked. "Blood and Andrews and that passel of free lovers hangin' around here. I reckon they bewitched you!"
    At first, Roxanna had liked money and new clothes. But after a while she began to loathe living in New York. She felt lost. Nor did she like Vicky's friends. Her ambition for her daughters was for them to catch rich husbands and drive around in their own carriages. She ignored the fact that Vicky could afford her own carriage.
    Vicky no longer listened to her mother's advice. Neither did Tennie, who now went along with everything Vicky did. Roxanna thought longingly of the wagon trips zigzagging through the Midwest, telling fortunes and selling "Miss Tennessee's Magnetic Elixir." To her mind, those were the happy days.
    When Vicky asked Polly and her family to leave so that Stephen Pearl Andrews could move in, there were more scenes. Roxanna stormed and carried on. Finally, with much bitterness, Polly departed.
    The feminists should have been happy about Vicky's announcement. But they ignored her. She was not one of them. All