The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
THE CONGRESS- OF WOMEN.
Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Asso-
citation for WOman's Advancement.
Ida A. Harper Attends the Convention and
Gives Journal Readers Cosby and Chatty
Outline of What Was Said and Done.
Special to the Indianapolis Journa,.

the present age Is toward the fippant and sar-
castle, and the general tone of writing and con-
Versation shows a want of reverence for persons
and things. Correspondents are urged to make
their letters bright and entertaining, even at the
sacrifice of other qualities. The public demand
10 be amused, and the facetious reporter is the
court Jester When those standard topics of
newspaper wit, the mule, the stove-pipe and the
mother-in-law. had become positively obsolete
the profession found a bonanza in the
advent of "women's rights" Here was
an inexhaustible fund, capable of
as many variations as kaleidoscope.
And SO, for quarter of century, ''the strong
minded female" in all her various phases, has
been served no for the delectation of the weak
minded Of both sexes. 1t is common saying
that ITO ridicule an object is to kill it," but this
question of ''women's rights" seems to thrive
Under this treatment and commands more re-
epsct with each succeeding year. The term
s'women's rights" is commonly accepted to mean
''wpman suffrage" but. in fact, woman suffrage
Is OILY one Of the rights that women insist upon
possessing. The woman's congress advocates
all other rights except that Of suffrage. which is
left an open question.
The Association for the Advancement Of
Women was organized at New York city. in
1873, in answer to q call from the Soross Club
20 'all women who, by voice, or pen, or prac-
tical work, have conquered an honorable place
Ia any of the leading reforms Of the day" The
organization was perfected with Mary A. Liver
more for president, and its object declared ito
consider and present practical methods for Sc
nj kn ;oko
and physical conditions, with a view
TO the improvement of all domestic
and social relations" Since that time the annual
congress has been held at Chicago, Syracuse,
Philadelphia, Cleveland, Providence, Madison,
Boston. Buffalo, Portland, Baltimore, Des
Moines, and this year at Louisville It's presid
ing officers have been Mrs. Livermore, Prof
Maria Mitchell, Mrs. Kate Newell Doggett and
Julia Ward Howe the present incumbent. The
congress Is composed Of the most able and in
tellectual women in the country, and the papers
presented are of the highest order of literary
and artistic merit
The briefest possible extract from very few
of the many valuable papers presented will give
an idea of the general scope Of the congress
Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, on prison
reform:
formerly It was q standing charge that women were
Che Levtes who passed by on the other SIDE leaving
tbe fallen to their fate So long they recog
diced almost duties outside of The home the spirit
which tacity asked; Am my brothers keeper was
depiorably common Now there is marked change
Benevolent associations, organized and managed solely
BY women, are leading feature of the day.
Mrs. Edna D. Cheney, in report on art, said:
One important word to Is to take hold of art
seriously and not in diettanM spirit. It is very
important factor in the industrial problem. Women
can earn good living by it. This whole branch of
art, into which young entering a regular
profession, is open to Our industrial ex-
Changes with their shelves loaded with unstable
plaoques teaching useful lesson, that what is
pretty and pleasant to do and acceptable gifts from
friends is not salable and that money which
every woman should aim to do for others sake,
people want. What you put up in the spare bedroom
TO get out of sight is not what can get high prices
for.
A splendid paper on "Women as Landholders
In the West" was presented by Mrs. Emma Had
dock, of Iowa City, who, with her husband, car
ries on large law practice. Over 5 per cent. of
Western lands is owned by women, who cult
vate in Iowa alone over l. 900 farms. One of the
finest papers given to the congress was 1.-THE
Story of an Idea, or Religious Freedom" by
Mary c. Peckham." of Rhode Island. 1.-THE AS
ISOLATION of Collegiate Alumne," by Ellen NJ.
Folsom, of Massachusetts,, was very strong
paper showing the practical work that is be-
ing done by this association. which already rep
rosents fifteen colleges. Perhaps the most
practically important paper was read by DR..
Anna D. French, president of the New York
"Woman's Institute of Technical Design It
was illustrated by over one hundred specimens
of wOmens work in designs for carpets. wall
paper, oil cloth, carved affairs and mantels.
stained-glass windows, exquisite work in silver,
bronze and copper. painting, drawing, ETC. She
spoke of the great amount of such work that YVES
waiting to be done, and was very remunerative,
and urged women to turn their attention to such
pursuits, instead OF taking up occupations that
are already overcrowded 'What Agencies
Should Women Employ for the Uplifting
by Mrs. j. T.. Sunderland. Of Michigan
She thought the hope of an improved
condition OF society rested almost entirely in the
influence of women, and especially of mothers,
who needed to be educated in the highest con-
ception of their duties. Much interest was mani
tested In the excellent paper on Marriage and
Divorce" by Mrs Julia Ward Howe. She did
not consider the fact that husbands and wives
found themselves utterly unccngenial cause
for divorce They should learn forbearance and
unselfshaess. and to yield many points. but she
especially emphasized that this yielding should
not be carried to the extent of blind submission
But In cases Of infidelity, or OF inhuman treat
ment. or of utter detestation and disgust divorce
was wise and just provision.
1.-The Effect OF S.imulants and Narcotics Upon
the Health and Morals of Women" was elo-
quently discussed by Dr.. Mary j. Stafford of
Massachusetts, and even excessive tea drinking
was condemned. No finer paper was ever pre-
scented to any audience than that of Mary F.
Eastman, also Of Massachusetts, upon 1.-The
Governments Duties in View of the Mineling of
Races in America Miss Eastman is certainly
one of the ablest women in the United States
and no man in the country could have treated
this subject In more mastery manner At the
meeting Just closed the congress for the first
time in its history, discussed the question of
equal suffrage. An earnest effort was made
TO induce some of the members who are opposed
to be present aud speak in the negative. but it
was unsuccessful, and oil who spoke took the af.
Armative. Mrs Edna d. Cheney, Of New York.
and Laura Clay. Of Kentucky made most forci-
BILE and unanswerable arguments in favor of Civ
ing the ballot TO women, and general discussion
followed. Most intense interest was manifested,
and, although the shades Of night came down
and it was necessary to light the gas scarcely
one Of the five or six hundred people left the
house. and from the loud and frequent applause
u was evident the audience was in hearty sym