The morning call., 1893-09-26
WOMEN'S MARCH.
An Interesting Address on
Their Progress.
EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK
Mrs. Laura Ormiston Chant Speaks
in the Pariors of the First
Unitarian Church.

WThe spacious parlors of the First Uni
tartan Church we're filled to the doors
yesterday by an audience Of ladies who
had gathered to listen to an address by
Mrs. Laura Ormiston Chant.
The meeting was under the auspices of
the church society of Christian work, and
the mem bers thereof had invited their
friends, besides sending special invitation
to the ladies Of the Second Unitarian
ChurcF, consequently every seat was oc-
cupled some little time before the meeting
was formally opened.
Mrs. Chant, who looked charming in an
elegant costume of art brocade with very
becoming bonnet TO match, was introduced
to her audience by Mrs. Horatio Ste5bns,
who presided, and after gracefully ac-
knowledging the applause which greeted
her, proceeded directly to the consldera-
tion of her subject
"Woman's Progress" was the theme of
her discourse and she treated ii in mas
terly manner throughout, holding the close
attention of her hearers from the beginning
to the close, which, though she spoke
nearly an hour, came too soon in the esti-
nation of many.
Mrs. Chant spoke entirely without
notes, fuently, concisely and impressively.
and occasionally touches of humor brought
responsive ripp!es Of laughter from those
who little later it might be were moved
TO tears by some tenderly pathetic story
taken from the rich harvest of her own
experience.
In speaking of the presen: development
of women and the changes for the better
which the past comparatively few years
have made in their opportunities. both in-
dustTial and educational, Mrs. Chant spoke
at some length of home influence and how
il should be eXerted. boys and girls"
she said. should be taught spontaneity :;
to feel, TO think and TO do at one and the
same moment. This spOntaneity is great
thing TO learn, for through learning it we
learn to become helpful to ourselves and
helpful 10 Others"
Mrs. Chant strongly approved of giving
to each child in family, Irrespective of
sex, thorough education in some trade or
profession. For girls she believed such
training would be especially benetic in
asmuch as it would render them indepen-
dent In times of reverses and do away In a
great degree with the marriages of con-
yenience, which are so pitably frequent
and from which comes % much misery and
sin.
In this connection the speaker said that
"a true marriage is the nearest glimpse of
heaven We have on earth. To have for
your nearest and dearest friend on earth
one who truly loves you and utterly be-
lieves in you; to whom you can tell your
most secret thoughts and confess your mis-
takes and shortcomings without fear that
your confidence will be betrayed, this is a
true marriage and the only kind that ever
should be entered into. 1t is a fOTetaste of
the sweet fellowship which we all hope to
enjoy in the hereafter"
Mrs. Chant thought that women should
learn TO express themselves
''W OmeD." she declared, ''have been
perlshlng their souls out in the past for
want of expression. One of the saddest
things in this world lie TO have noble
thought and no way in which to express
Ito be, as II were, imprisoned within
ones SELF"
OF herself she spoke as being completely
free.
Whatever 1 think is wise and right TO
do, that l do" she said, recognizing no
limitations and fearing no criticisms.
Women are on the threshold merely of
what they will be in the future, and some
hesitate there, fearing adverse comment
or distrusting their own strength. l ask
such women not to Disjudge their sisters
who have the courage, knowing that there
TO pass them by"
Speaking of herself Mrs. Chant told her
hearers that her first philanthropic work
was done when a child of u. in rescuing a
poor outcast and leading her to a safe aud
com ortable home. AT 20 she described
herself al being IAN odIOuS little baggage"
lnasmuch as she was ION the wrong side"
OF many things which she had gotten on
the right side of since.
Teetotallsm and woman suffrage were
two OF the things concerning which she
had changed her position since her girl
hood, and in speaking of the latter she
said: "One thing | want to say and that
is that the old joke concerning the for
hidden appearance of women suffragists
Is no longer applicable. The ladies on the
woman suffrage platform in Chicago were
the prettiest best dressed and most
kissable looking set of women that l ever
saw there, and | was glad to see it. Our
outside appearance affects those we meet
long before they can catch a glimpse of
our inner selves, and IL is every wOman's
duty to make herself in all ways as lovely
as she can"
In speaking of that for which she is
particularly strnggling-eQual pay to both
sexes for equal work-Mrs. Chant stated
that in England the magazines often pay
less 10 women than they do 10 men for
ordered articles. and that women speakers
and preachers, no matter how popular,
are rarely, If ever. given the same fee as
men for the same services.
This she has been fighting against since
first she entered public life, not only for
herself but for the sake of other women,
and she related several of her personal ex-
periences on these lines which were re-
ceived with peals of laughter.
In conclusion she urged all women 10
realize that they should have definite
aim in life-not necessarily of a public
nature. but something to look and work
up 10, which would take them away from
the pettlness of narrow, self-centered
life. And of herself she said 81 want il
placed on my tombstone not she hath
done what she could but she hath done
what she would"
AT the conclusion OF the address an in
formal reception was held, al which re-
freshments were served. and all present
had the pleasure of an introduction to the
lady who had so charmingly entertain ed
them.