The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-07
IS assumed such immense pro

~ - sS dSSuulcu SuCu DIO-
poi is, that at least four or five diff
ferent sections could be proftably en-
ployed at the same time during the
meeting of the National Conference.
When we come to think for moment
what they undertake to consider in one
brief week, the wonder is not that
they do not get down more to detailed
work, but that they are as practically
useful as they are universally acknowl-
edged to be. This usefulness is due to
the hard working officers of the Con-
ference, who spare no time or strength
to make it a success, and who bring
real knowledge and ability to the work
to the various committees who assist
these officers in their laborious task,
and to the zeal and unanimity of the
Conference itself.
1t is due also in large measure to the
character of the men and women who
compose the body. This is no band of
dilletante. These people are not play
ing at reform. Nor are they a set of
enthusiasts with more zeal than knowl-
edge, or band of theorists who wear
Claude Lorraine glasses, and see every
thing in rose colored mist. They are
practical men and women as fond of
facts as Mr.. Gradgrind himself, and
who have gathered the facts for them
selves in many instances. They have
worked in these lines until they know
whereof they speak-and a mere the
orist is not listened to at these meet
iDgs as a general thing. They are the
men and the women who throughout a
long series of years have been trying
one method, and then another, in some
form of practical philanthropy, and
they are ready now forgive the results
of their experience to others who are
taking up the work. The majority of
them are more than this. They are
men and women who think, men and
women who study, men and women
whose sympathies are broad and deep
and true. Many of them are people of
high social position and generous cult
ure, who give their lives in one man.
ner or another "to make less the sum
of human wretchedness.
AS a mere matter of intellectual in
terest, the body is one we'll worth study
ing. The men who are the leaders, are
mostly men in middle life, and there
are a good many silvery heads among
them, but they are in their intellectual
prime, and as full of force and fire as
the younger members. The faces are
all earnest, some inteDse-a few look
ovefw6fked. There is a general air u
culture and refinement about them, and
the language used, in almost every case,
showed them to be men of scholarly
tastes, who knew how to express them
selves simply and well. The women
bear a general resemblance to each
other They have fine mOtherly faces,
full of sympathy and tenderness, and
by no means lacking in intellectual
force. Notiner looking body of women
has it been my lot to see. The only
body which can be said to rival them
in general appearance, is the Woman's
Congress-, where larger number of
representative women are gathered to.
gether.
1t was good to see Clara Barton with
her bright expressive face-her coal
black hair so smooth and glossy, and
her winciDg smile; to see Mrs. Hayes,
wife of the president, with her cheer
full, most attractive countenance, and
fine gracious manners Mrs Hendricks
in her widows weeds, deeply attentive
and interesting Miss Emily Hunting
ton, of kitchen garden fame, with her
stately presence and most winning
talk; Mrs. Hallowell, who spoke so
well for kindergartens-Mrs Virginia
Smith, of Hartford, Conn, who told of
practical work among children, with
such modesty and grace and many,
many others, whose faces as they list
ened, seemed like a benediction upon
the meeting. The heads of many schools
and reformatories among women were
present, and they were distinguished
looking hO0V az a whole This NAV
also be said of the men connected with
such institutions. One could safely
assert that there was not a Squeers
among them, and that the methods of
DothebOys Hall were not their meth
DDS. During the visit which the Con-
ference paid to the Reform School, sit
uated little out of the city of st. Paul,
the quick eye which these men and
women had for all the practical affairs
of the school, was easily detected, and
their impatience with any merely SEN
timental and 'goOdy- goody" talk. Their
remarks to the boys and girls were all
full of practical good sense, and yet of
tender feeling. They were not afraid
of telling the boys good story or two,
and avoided in conspicuous manner
the dTiveling idiOcy which is often dealt
out to the helpless inmates of such in
stitutiOns at such times. Poor JOe's
account of the ministratiOns of Mr..