The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-06-26
WOMEN IN ENGLISH POLITICS.

Notwithstanding our boosted superior
ity. IN the evolution of progressive ideas,
especially those relating TO enfranchise-
ment ana class elevation, American wom-
en- will have to look TO their laurels or
their English sisters will outstrip them
IN the race for equal suffrage. Whether
the English woman uses more or less ag-
gressive methods, or has greater tenacity
of purpose than the American, she has
apparently with less noise accomplished
proportionately greater results in the
work of political enanc patton. Per
haps her success lies In her beginning Mt
the foot of the ladder. She does not
rest the success of her cause W on the
besieging OF legislative bodies with ele-
quent adore sses and long petitions, or
the gathering together of able, brilliant
and attractive women in convent ons and
societies, to agitate sentiment among
the better classes, but she goes into the
basement of human existence. Among
working women, she establishes indus
trial schools. free schools. Sunday
schools and sewing circles; she leads the
people step by step from the darkness of
Ignorance into region of mt least semi
intelligence and refinement, and all the
while she is imDuing them with her own
personality and ideas. In their or altitude
they regard her as scarcely lower than the
angels, and when election time comes
around. whatever cause she approves and
works for, receives their almost undivided
support. Some recent letters from En-
gland regarding the position of women
there, notably those of Theodore Stan
ton, would seem to lead 10 the above
conclusions.
Women have been allowed TO vote for
municipal councils in England for some
time, but have not been elected as mem
bers. In the new county councils re-
Gently formed the wording of the new act
left the question of lady councillors"
open, and so advantage was taken of the
doubt. ladies committee was formed,
subscriptions collected and the Dowager
Lady Sandhurst and Miss Jane Golden
chosen as their candidates, who after
considerable deliberation consented. To
accept the honors and responsibilities
thrust upon them. Two prominent Lon
don Liberal associations gave them
unanimous support, and both ladies were
elected by large majorities. Miss Golden
will go down to history as the first duly
elected lady councillor in England. She
is one of the eldest of the five brilliant
daughters of Richard Cobden the noted
agitator and economist. She is described
as being striking in appearance, with
masses of prematurely white hair franz
ing a still young face as she is yet scarce
ly IS. She is thoroughly womanly and
refined In expression and manners,
dresses charmingly, and possesses al
together a very attractive personality.
And yet, with all her gentleness, she is
one of the most persistent az tators of the
times. She has spoken oil over the
country on all kinds of topics, and her
name is said to be n most valuable piece
of political stock in trade. Size
is not considered remarkably
good speaker. and she dislikes
1T above all things, but her
devotion TO her cause takes her through,
and her pleasant ways and earnestness
and sincerity carry her audience with her
She lives alone in little house at Hamp-
stead. Miss Golden has already taken
her place among the "progressives" in
the council.
Lady Sandhurst, the second lady
County Councillor, is described as a
deeply religious, thoroughly kind, good
natured woman, with q pleasant, mother
~ face and digniied manners. She is
quite advanced in age and has led an act
i've, busy life, both public and private.
Her pet philanthropic scheme is n Chris
tian Cripple Home, upon which she
spends every spare penny, and where she
herself practices magnetic tie tment upon
the patients with great success. She also
founded the Marylebone Women's Lib
eral Association, of which she is Presi-
dent, and she labors side by side with
Mrs. Gladstone, Lady Aberdeen, and the
Countess Tolstoi in all the great works
of the Women's Liberal Federation.
The school boards in England have for
some time been regarded as a natural field
for women's work. The London School
Board is, of course, the most important
in the kingdom, and occupies elegant
quarters on the embankment of the
Thames. To be member Of the London
School Board means not simply honors
but hard work. Mrs. Garrett Anderson,
nj. D., was the first woman 10 sit on this
board. She was elected in 1871, and
since then every board has had several
active women as members. The present
board of ffty-fve members has only four
ladies-Miss Davenport Hill, Mrs. Annie
Besant, Mrs. Ashton Dixie, and Mrs.
Maitland. The London board meets
every Thursday afternoon, and every
member belongs to four or five commit
tees, besides having some half-dozen
schools under his or her personal super
vision.
Miss Hill is considered the veteran of
the lady members, as she has sat on three
or four previous boards, whereas il is a
first experience TO the other three ladies'
Her pet hobbies are the tenching of cook
ing 10 the school girls and training in the
Industrial schools. She is also an active
member of the Needle Work Committee.
Miss Hill is about 60 years of age, and is
described as stout in figure, pleasant
featured, and plainly dressed She has
an unmarr ed sister, Miss Florence
Davenport Hill, who served some time rs
Poor Law Guardian ON the st. Pancras
Board, and has recently been invited to
fill vacancy at Hampstead, another
London district, and the two busy old
ladies live together at Lauth Hampstead.
Perhaps the most prominent figure in this
group of lady school officers Is
MRS. ANNIE BEsANT.
who belongs to the advanced" class
of workers, is seoul ,rist, u socialist,
an interchangeable worker and lectur-
er, and an earnest friend o. the
working classes. The grand total of
IL, 600 votes by which she was elected
last fall shows Der popularity with the
wofkingmen. She is credited with pos
sessing almost unlimited influence with
the London democracy. and is the sworn
champion Of free dinners, free schools