Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-13
BY GRAPH.
.soeiated Press kilograms TO the Dali,
KennebecJ Journal
MAINE DISPATCHES.
THE wOMAN's CONGRESS.
An Interesting Session Thursday-Talk'
ing Over the Grievances Of Women
Their Veal and Woe.
PORTLAND, Oct IL.

PORTLAND, Oct IL.
At the Association for the Advancement of
Women on Thursday the members met in
private executive session at 10 A. NJ.
new and interesting feature of the ex
ecgtive session was statistical reports from
various vice presidents concerning the GRIM
inal classes Of various States AS condensed
from the records Of State Prisons.
The following questions were more or less
fully answered How manv male and female
prisoners are there: How many committed
great offences! Is there any differences in
the kinds or certainty Of Punlshments be-
cause of sex; in matter of offences, what is
the average term of punishment: The
answers to these questions were received
from twelve States. All of them asserted
that little difference was made in this kind
of punishment between men and women, a.
slough the latter were convicted of crime,
such as night walking, etc, which are sci.
dom brought against men as should be done
! The total of all criminal classes i'll Penn
| sylyauia is 4GiS. Three-fourths of the con-
victs had been to public schools. New Jer-
sey reported 10 per cent of the criminal class
| as women.
| Many spoke of the general use of tobacco
| in prisons, and of its pernicious effects. The
Colorado State penitentiary has had only
three women prisoners for ten years and
none at present. The full reports were very
| interesting, making this most important ex-
ecutiye session.
At the Thursday afternoon regular
sion the hall was we'll filled. Mrs. Julia
Ward Have, the president, opened the meet
| ing at 2.45 by Introducing Mrs. c. NJ Sever
| ance of Cal, who after some brief remarks
read her paper on the Chinese question from
a womans point of view. She pronounced
them peaceable, iaw-abiding and Industrious,
always maintaining the equality of all men.
| China has a vast collection of books, singu-
larry pure in thought and word. They have
Il practical religion, and vast number of
laws on morals and on the rearing of chill
dren. She cited objections once made to
the Irish and how that dreaded Irishman
has now come to be regarded as good citi-
zen. The Chinese have not been driven out,
but have made a place for more and well
skilled labor. In many places they have
risen INTO high position and official places
as in Singapore. Among them women hold
higher place than would appear from their
rales as they often select their own hus-
bands. although the father is supposed to do
that. The Chinese are moral people and
their peaceful. calm and gentle nature is
needed as a check to the impetuous and
headstrong American people. This able and
thoughtful paper was received with applause.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe discussed it, say
that Chnaman as well as animals should
have friends. and women should be their
friends.
Mrs Prof Richards. of the Institute of
Technology, Boston, briefly followed, saying
she found the Western people had certain
impetuousity of youth and desire to over
come obstacles, and Chinaman was one of
these obstacles.
Miss Eastman read a report of Califor-
MIA physician which said the Chinese eat to
live and do not live TO eat. They do not
drink whiskey; they keep clean and have
no epidemics, while they have less small
pox than the same number of whites. A
captain, who has brought many Cinnamon to
American. says they are neat, intelligent,
orderly and decent in every respect, and the
Chinese sailors are the most efficient. The
Chinese problem is simply problem of our
national honor. Much applause greeted her
pithy remarks.
Mrs. Lita Barney Sayles, of Connecticut,
then read a paper on the history and result of
past congresses of the Association for the
Advancement of Women. Ibis association
was melted by the Sorosis' Womans Club,
of New York. The first congress was held
in the Union League Hall in October of that
wear. Since then congresses have been held
in Chicago, Syracuse, Philadelphia, Cleve-
Land. Providence, r. l., Madison, Wis,
Boston and Buffalo. There were nine con-
crosses previous to this. The number of
members at present is about $50. The
work of the association is intended to en-
number are found prominent women of
America in all the professions and walks of
life Our methods are to present II papers
at six public sessions upon variety Of sub
jects written by women capable, by their ed
ucation and experience, to write upon these
themes. Discussion by members is expect
ed upon each of these papers. The results
are the enlightenment of women in relation
to themselves and encouragement to those
who aspire to take place in the ranks Of
the workers. Many groups and art clubs
and clubs for study have grown from this. !
This review of the congresses of the asso- I
citation was very interesting, especially to