state of ‘terrible anxiety’ over the fate of Sylvia who was being forcibly fed in
prison.^52 After the working women’s demonstration on 23 January, the WSPU
had closed its offices in the East End but Sylvia had stayed on and, with her
supporters, formed a radical, militant organisation called the East London
Federation of the Suffragettes (ELFS) which was a part of the WSPU.^53 A
community organisation with close ties to the labour movement, the
ELFS/WSPU was not solely concerned with women’s suffrage, although it was a
prime focus; it admitted men but was always led by women. Sylvia was the
elected Honorary Secretary and the wealthy Norah Smyth, niece of Ethel, its
Financial Secretary. Sylvia hoped that the ELFS/WSPU would broaden the
social base of the women’s movement and bring in larger numbers of supporters,
especially from working-class women. On 17 February, she had led an East
London demonstration and thrown a stone into an undertaker’s window, an act
which others quickly emulated. It was for this offence that she was now serving
two months’ imprisonment in Holloway, in the solitary confinement of a
hospital cell.
Unknown to Sylvia, who received not a whisper of news from the inside or
outside world, her mother was committed to the same prison. Emmeline had
immediately gone on hunger strike. After twenty-four hours, the government
agreed to move her case to the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey so that
it could be heard in the April assizes. Under these circumstances, Emmeline
gave the required undertaking not to incite agitation and was released on bail
on 27 February. Cancelling her immediate engagements, she travelled to Paris
to consult with Christabel on future action if she should be committed to prison
after her forthcoming trial. ‘Mother is in the best fighting spirit that I have ever
seen her in & that is saying something’, wrote Christabel to Elizabeth Robins.
‘She will have a nice Easter holiday before the trial.’^54
On her return to England, Emmeline stayed in her Knightsbridge flat for a
few days before travelling to Scotland and then back down to Woking. ‘I am
using Dr. Ethel Smyth’s house while she is away in Vienna as a place of rest &
quiet’, she wrote to Elizabeth Robins. ‘I would so much like to see you between
now & the 1st of April (the date of my trial). ... Do try to come & see me.’
Elizabeth was staying at her home at Henfield, Sussex, having just completed a
voyage from the States; since she still felt unwell, Emmeline helped by making
most of the arrangements. ‘I have been studying maps & consulting local
timetables & it seems to me that you would have to change at Guildford to get
to Woking’, she told the ex-actress and writer. ‘I could meet you there with a car
& bring you here by road & so save the fatigue of changing. I have jotted down
trains from Horsham to Guildford both before & after lunch & if you let me
know which you decide to take I will meet you.’ The inveterate traveller listed
six train times in her letter.^55
As the WSPU destruction of property continued, and WSPU prisoners,
including Sylvia, were being forcibly fed, Emmeline continued to give her
weekly address at the London Pavilion. ‘One feels that the persons who are
HONORARY TREASURER OF THE WSPU AND AGITATOR