Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-02
THAT WOMAN's C0NCREsS.s
A Characteristic Account BY a Delegate
TO the Late Chicago Meeting.
TCorr. Cincinnati Com. Gazette.


Corr. Cincinnati Com. Gazette
October both. Dear Sue: You know
promised TO tell you all about the
Woman Congress, i'll which you are
so interested, and which we went 10
Chicago on purpose to attend-that
is. did; but Sally wanted to match
some feathers and have her hair
banged. She is a dear girl, but does
not seem to have the remotest idea
about the higher life, her duty to
wOmanhood. and all that sort of
thing. YOU know.
II rained the first day. Il was just
horrible Chicago weather certainly
proves that habit is stronger than
principle, for the mercury slid up
and down in the thermometer, the
wind blew from all points Of the
compass, and all this after we had
been promised fair weather.
We went for a drive after break
fast with Jack, and he would take Us
ont to the park, although We told him
that we were under moral obligation
= 90 the meeting. He said he guess
ed there would be enough women to
carry the thing through without us.
don't like t. hear JACK adopt that
tone Ii there is one thing women
like - DO i. is 10 encourage each 9th
er in the cause, by their presence at
least.
When we got back the meeting
hal adjourned, bat il did not make
much difference, for it was business
undergraduates, and reports, and
things. | don't believe you would
care much for them.
In the afternoon we heard paper
you would have liked SO much. |
forgot the title; but it was ali about
children and drunkenness and power
ty and crime, 1t was read by an
Eastern lazy. They just love such
things She wore a black dress, and
looked so sweet and noble up there
on the stage When she said the
State ought to interfere, and women
ought to make it their business to see
to it, | was thrilled to the heart, and
was willing to do anything to help
the good work Then there was a
discussion of the paper that | did not
hear, because was trying to remem-
Der what l had done with Sally's sam
pie of velvet.
That night there was a grand ban
quet at the Palmer House. | did
want to hear Miss Barton speak on
THE Work of the Red Cross" but it
was impossible. We had made up
our minds to go to the banquet. and
knew that we should be all tired out
and fit for nothing if we tiled for
both.
1t was a lovely party, and l have
sent you copy OF the Society Jour-
n al, in which there is full account
of it.
was so glad we had taken evening
dresses with us. 1t is such asa.isfac-
ton to show the world that woman
can take serious, earnest view of
life, and still pay some attention to
her appearance.
The next day it rained so hard
that is really seemed foolish to go out =.
We had accepted an invitation to
lunch. SO we spent the morninh get
ting ready. We really ought to have
declined, bat it seemed little rude
to do that, especially as she said that
we could all 60 down together to the
afternoon meeting. Luncheon was
delayed by cslls. and then there was
a baby-dear little thing-but she
just would not go to sleep. and We
could not leave her crying. l felt
real guilty.when we reached the hall
and found the session nearly over. 1t
was not very enjoyable; one cannot
be interested in the discussion of pa
per one has not heard of. 1t is try
ing, too, to feel that you are not liv-
ing up to the level of your friends ex-
pectations. Some of the ladies seem
to think we might have been earlier
if we cared to, and make themselves
really dsagreeable, even after l had
explained how it was. | think, real
ly. the great problem is how women
shall portion their time justly between
conventional and their higher social
duties. Next year l will present a
paper on the subject if you will help
me.
do think Jack is lovely. We met
him in a barber shop. where Sally
went to have her hair banged. He
said she looked like the wreck of an
ill-spent life, but if she would wear
her hat far down over her nose he
would take us some place for supper
and see that We were in time for ev-
ening services. think men have a
better idea of time than women, don't
youg l was real glad he went, for
one of the ladies talked so seriously
and earnestly about sowing wild
oats. There were many gentlemen
present, and all looked impressed
when she referred to Darwin, or
Huxley or Spencer. for you know 1t
takes very strong mind to read those
books.
On Friday morning there was the
election of officers. More than half
the ladies forgot their membership
tickets. and good deal of time was
taken up in making out new ones 1t
was after eleven before the ballots
were distributed. A list Of vice-presi-
dents and other officers is made out
by nominating committee, but each
member can scratch any name and
substitute another. There were two
or three would like to have chang
ed. but did not have pencil. AS
Sally was in hurry to 60 for her
feathers. l just voted the ticket as it
was and left.
There were some papers 70 be read
that afternoon, and a charming tea
party at the rooms of the Fortnight
", that | was awfully sorry to miss,
but we decided hastily to come home
with the kinseys-you know father
does not not like TO have us travel
alone.
| feel more and more how import
ant ii is for woman to cultivate her
mind, and have come home with a
fixed and unwaverimg purpose to ell
evate my sex, and to cling to the
Of tt,t,