Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-12-04
THE WOMAN'S CONGRESS.


in Toronto of the A. A. w.
The eighteenth annual meeting of the
Association for the Advancement of
Women, which has just been held in
Toronto, was notable gathering. 1t
was the first time tho Association has
held it's annual convention outside
the United States, and it brought to-
gether many women from different parts
of Canada, as we'll as from dozen or
more Of the States of the Union. New
York, Michigan and Massachusetts
were the States most numerously repre-
scented.
Toronto lavished attentions upon its
visitors. The platform OF the great
Pavilion, which was placed at tho dis
posal of the Association, was hung with
English and American flags, conspic-
uous among them the maple flag" of
Canada; and in the center was the in
scription Welcome to Toronto" in
large letters of coloring as warm as the
hearts of our entertainers. We were
invited to visit all the public buildings
the excellent schools, the flourishing
Women's Medical College, the uni
versity, and other points of interest. A
committee of city officials took all who
wished to go for long carriage-ride
through the city and suburbs, past the
handsome private residences and public
buildings, by the magnificent new Par
lament House in process of erection,
through the beautiful tree-shaded
streets, planted with some of the finest
mountain ashes | ever saw, laden at this
season with vivid red berries; out to the
breezy reservoir, and across picturesque
Rosedale Ravine, deep natural chasm
overHowing with following naples.
Intelligent and interested audiences
assembled at every meeting, and the
daily papers gave very full and friendly
reports. great deal OF hard work in
preparing for the Congress had been
done by DIR. Emily Stowe and the men,
bers of the Woman's Enfranchisement
Association, to whom the gratitude of
the A. A. W. is especially due.
To anyone attending even single
convention OF the A. A. W., it is easy to
see why these annual Congresses of
women do so much good, and why in ev-
cry city where they are held, women's
clubs, Educational and Industrial
Unions, and other useful associations
of women spring up in their wake.
They not only stimulate thought, show
what women can do, and encourage self
respect, mutual fellowship, and esprit d
corps among women, but they make il
evident to the men of the community
that women of high intellectual attain
ments are not necessarily eccentric,
aggressive, or disagreeable. In the
gracious and dignified presence of Mrs
Howe, the sweet face of the young
secretary, and the intelligent and pleas
ant-looking group of distinguished
women who surrounded them upor
the platform, there was an objec
lesson stronger than any words. The
rood sense and merit of the papers
and addresses also carried their Owl
moral. The chairman of the local exc
cutive committee, School Inspecto
Hughes, put the matter in nutshell
when he said, In MS closing ADDRESS
Before the A. A. w. came to Toronto
many men were little afraid of thu
scientific women We are entirel,
cured. We have learned that you are
body of women whom we can respect
and with whom it is an honor to C,
operate"
heard women and girls with shin
ing eyes declare that they had never at
tended any meeting so inspiring in thei
lives;they had never before had the faint
est idea of what women were doing an
could do. Strong men said the same
and both men and women realized wit
heartfelt Joy what good the A. A. W
has been doing for nearly twenty years
Long may it fourish!-Alice Ston
Blackwell, in Woman's Column.