as a governess and wanted to leave. Emmeline felt embarrassed by what she saw
as Adela’s irresponsible behaviour and apologised:
How sorry I am that our naughty child is giving you so much trouble. I
have already adopted the course you recommend with her. Just before I
left London she wrote about going to Canada. I replied that I would
not sanction her giving up her post & would find no money this year. If
next year she was still in the same mind I would do so. I quite agree
that the best thing for A just now is that she must be made to feel a
sense of responsibility. She has taken her post [,] she has the college
she wanted [,] money has been spent & expectations raised & she must
stick to her bargain like a good girl.
I had a letter in reply that she would do so. Surely nothing further
has happened since!
I will write to her from here.Emmeline wondered if she should have ventured further afield and paid Helen a
visit. Helen was having problems of her own; her husband was having an affair,^2
and Emmeline offered consolation. ‘I am sorry you have private & personal
worries. They are the hardest to bear still with patience & philosophy every-
thing is finally settled.’ After explaining that she would soon be joining
Christabel in Paris, Emmeline thanked Helen for all her help. ‘Dear Mrs.
Archdale how much I appreciate all your kindness to me & mine. Recent years
would have been more difficult for me but for your goodness.’^3
Emmeline had decided that she would undertake another paid lecture tour in
the USA in the autumn, thus giving herself the benefit of two relaxing voyages,
the relative freedom of speaking without the fear of rearrest, and the chance to
earn some money for the women’s cause.^4 Now that she was Honorary Treasurer
of the WSPU she had to thinks of ways to raise money for the ‘war chest’, as she
termed it, especially since the British government restricted her movements.
Joan Wickham was appointed as her agent and sailed early to New York, Mrs.
Belmont putting at her disposal an office at the headquarters of the Political
Equality Association. The American press buzzed with the news; although the
New York Journalwas enthusiastic, most newspapers were more cautious, even
hostile. On 14 September the New York Timesran a long article headed, ‘What
will New York do with Mrs. Pankhurst?’ If Emmeline Pankhurst is not allowed
by the immigration authorities to land in this country, the article began, ‘the
sighs of relief which will waft her on her homeward way will amount to a
respectable gale’. A dilemma was highlighted. Although most of the American
suffrage leaders said they honoured Mrs. Pankhurst, they did not approve of her
methods. ‘Her visit is going to put them in an awkward position. If they don’t
pay any attention to her they will be accused of a slight to a women who has
spent her life working for “the cause”. If they do show her attention, their
action may be interpreted as an approval of militant methods.’^5 The loyal
OUSTING OF SYLVIA AND A FRESH START FOR ADELA