Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-11-05
Correspondence.
Womans Congress.


] In the American OF oct. ed a reference Is
male TO the Woman's Congress which wa.
held in Chicago on the II, IL and l.. Of octo-
Der. fuller report OF this interesting and
novel gathering may interest your readers: a
meeting which gained the admiring and listen
Ing attention of hundreds OF thoughtful men.
aud women, from commencement TO close. and
which made impressions en- their mind, which
cannot be eGsced Many deeply feel the i'm
portancc Of the matter, discussed.
I We rcjoicc TO say that this meeting. organ
lied. planned and conducted entirely by wom-
. On. has proved a success. and has done errs,
honor TO the orig,ns;ors. Prom it, viii 20 out
an influence which will cllupon the future Of
many ofour women in this City. neighb3r-
hood. and throughout the country.
| The subjects were wisely chosen. and all
,cnd.d to the elevation OF woman. to make her
more truly womin,y. 10 nil her allotted -phere
more faithfully, 10 hc more what God design cd
her 10 Ice. II the idea, there advanced were
, followed out, there would be no more ciiici =
. cni. ihoughtless. useless. ain,c.s women.
Many facts were stated showing WHIST women
had done, and become.
Reformation in drcs., in our social If. and
in physical and mental culture wa. suggested
and elaborated. which II carried oai would re-
suit IN good only to mulliiudcs. Men have
/ nothing to fear, from such gatherings, but
ought rather TO encourage them II they would
seek their own good. The blame Of the short
coming Of women was shown not wholly TO
originate in herself but her present condition
has BEEN wrought out by influence. brought TO
bear upon her by mel. for which she {, only
mcasurablv responsible.
The papers read In the Congress were on
sybleci. well chosen, and will speak Tor them
selves; which show the discretion and wisdom
OF those who selected them. The honor OF the
success falls mostly 10 Eastern woman They
brought their wisdom and intellectual culture
10 U.s. and II was rich treat Tor which we
feel truly grateful. " hen there are more such
women Mary Livermore. Julia Ward
Howe, and Mary Stafford Blake, then we NAV
expect 10 see woman taking that stand In the
world to which she has a righiful claim .nd
hliing new places Of horror and trust. A. well
as performing the responsible and equ ally hon
orable and noble places Of the true wife aud
mother.
Ms. Liyermore presided with great dignity.
presenting each Of the speakers 10 the au IL
ance. with come happy introduction. and IN
VAriably adding timely. wise aud wei di -ested
thought 10 give eight 10. or ciucidita Whist
had gone before Ner manner /. very refresh
ing and exceedingly womany: her words
come from a life Of experience and thu. carry
great force. She spoke upon every topic PR
sented. commanding instant attention, and wa.
invariably warmly welcomed.
The opening theme was Finsncc. un Ter
three head.; lst. What Monetary Enterprises
can Woman safely undertake; ~. that new
element can woman bring into the Field Of
Finance: 3D., The part Of Woman in the hnan
cial good. or ILL., Of the Country
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe opened thi. discus
sion with fine essay. She stated She had not
herself been able TO solve the whole problem.
but she felt that great part OF the weakness
OF women in this regard arose from their not
being used TO control, and disburse their own
moneys, thus learning how TO Use it, Every
woman should De 50 trained that she might be
able TO carry on business ifit became necessary
TO do so. But while this know ledge wss emf
nently desirable, she said that home was the
appropriate sphere OF woman. This subject
called out several ladies, who spoke OF their
personal experience, and confirmed what had
been previously said by facts and figures
Physical Education OF Girls was the next
theme. This subject seemed eXhau,tless. 80
grest had been the departure from the right
Way 10 the training Of our girls, that II was
urged with great earnestness, that n reform be
At once made 10 save our race fiom utter ruin.
Fallen woman," and the Influence of Lit
erature on Crime" followed next in order.
The nrst subject was Admirably treated by 4
chicago lady. Mr.. Ellen Mitchell. II time
would permit. should like to give synopsis
Of this Essay. which WAS replete with fIct.
figures, and reformstory ideas
How TO combine intellectual culture with
household management. and family duties, -
was question which called out MANY sugge,-
tions and most Of them were 80 practical that
they could be followed out by the most Labor
ious working woman. One great hnderance
10 intellectual pursuits was the amount OF time
spent in social Intercourse with your friends.
and neishbors; thus subject was dwell upon
with great earnestness.
"Woman's part in Journalism" "Dre.s Re-
FORM .'Our Inheritanee, with reference TO
prenatal Influences" How can woman best
oppose lntemperance," and 1.-The Science of
Domestic Economy were considered with
great proprieiy, and practical earnestness.
Many very interesting, suggestive thoughts
were presented. the influence of which will
not be lost. The elevation Of woman was ever
the prominent theme and Mrs. Flynt. of Bos-
ton. gave us an exhibition Of some Of her new
style Of dress. designed not only TO promote
health, but 10 add TO womanly grace. Great
good will come from the presentation Of this
subject. Already lsdies are modifying their
dress by following out the idea advanced of
having all their garments entirely supported
by the shoulders.
Mrs. DIR. Blake said just rs soon as woman
could get into better style Of dress she wonld
have added health and strength for work.
The Woman's Congress was received with
great appreciation in this City. The Press
spoke in the most complimentary manner OF
the great propriety with which it was conduct
ed.
The religious Press also, gave full approval
with this reservation. in which many minds
were in sympathy, that great prominence was
given TO physical and intellectual culture, TO
the neglect of the spiritual. This criticism
was justly applied. 1t is TO be hoped that the
Congress which is TO meet in New York next
year will heed this suggestion.
The proceedings Of The Congress will be pub
lished in volume. aud will make q useful
book Of reference, and study. Those who list
ened to the debates and papers, and who watch
ed the course Of thought, as well as those who
read the terse, pithy reports Of our Daily pr
pers where this convention occupied place Is
extended that sceordedt to the meeting Of ma
tienal political convention. even extra sheets
being printed 90 that its wisdom might daily
be read ut the breakfast table. were satisfied
that woman has abundant work appropriate 70 |
her sphere, beside suffrage conventions, and |
political harangues, and the scramble Of the |
ballot box.