Lila Meade Valentine 1865-1921 Virginia Suffragist, President and Member of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Written and Performed By: Liv Wisnewski Setting: Richmond, Virginia, 1920 Lila sits in a rocking chair on the porch of the home she shares with her sister, Marianne. She is not supposed to be outside, as her health is slowly failing her. She is stubborn though and refuses to be confined to her room Ð especially on the day the Anthony Amendment has been ratified. Marianne comes out of the house to find her sister listening to the celebrations in the middle of town. Marianne, (full beat) weÕve finally done it! Today, 36 states have finally, finally, ratified the Anthony Amendment. WomenÕs suffrage is a success. Across the nation, women in all states, have the right to vote at the federal level. If I were feeling stronger, I would be out celebrating with everyone else, though being able to hear them from the porch, is nearly close enough. I only hope that by the time it is November, I will be well enough to go cast my ballot. I cannot believe we have come so far, from the Richmond Education Association. We have gone from sponsoring kindergartens and protesting the conditions of high schools, to having made change at the federal level. If that is not something to be proud of, I am not sure what is. ItÕs the vote! Now every young girl will be able to share her own opinions and have them hold weight. If only we could have grown up that way. Someday RichardÕs granddaughters will look back to today and know they have their great aunts to thank. IÕm so grateful to the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia, and the others of course, but without you and those women I wouldnÕt have been able to do this. None of us could have managed this alone. I wish Benjamin were alive to see this, heÕd be so proud. IÕm sorry to ask you to stay here with me instead of going downtown with everyone else. I couldnÕt bear to be alone today, when I can hear the celebrations. I canÕt be out long, if my doctors catch me, they wonÕt be happy with me. They arenÕt often happy with me lately. They have been so concerned that if I get excited over the progress of the movement, my condition will grow worse. I have tried to tell them just how impossible it is to not be excited, but they wonÕt hear of it. TheyÕve nearly forbidden me from going outside entirely. But you know, Marianne, just as well as I do, that IÕve broken the rules my entire life, and I donÕt intend to stop now. That said, donÕt tell them that IÕve heard a registrar is coming to visit me. I want my name on the poll books in November, and I am sure the doctors will find a way to stop that if they know in advance. ItÕs just so unfair that I have been fighting for this for so long, and I cannot even go to celebrate it. (short pause) ItÕs just as unfair of me to insist that you stay here as well. You are healthy enough to go celebrate our accomplishments. (pause while M responds) No. No. YouÕve spent plenty of the day here with me. And if you go down now, you can tell me all about it, this evening. I do have one favor to ask you. If I write something for the other ladies to hear, will you read it for me? You will? Can you get me a pencil and some paper?