The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-06
M
WOMAN AT THE FAIR.

BROKEN voices and tho pouting which
marked the last meeting Of the women's
board of managers, there is u vast deal
Of meaning In Mrs, Potter Palmer say
ing chat while "Columbus discovered n
new world, the Columbian exposition
has discovered woman" This. OF course,
is not literally true, since
has cut a most important figure in the
progress Of humanity since the time OF
Eve, but what Mrs. Palmer meant is
that her progress will DO most strongly
impressed upon the VISITORS mind be-
fore the end Of the great fair Is reached.
The first and most important evil
dence of tins will be found in women's
contribution to tho great exhibit, u
work in which we have found occasion
to compliment the Montana contingent.
All observers agree that in extent,
variety and arrangement, this feature Of
the fair surpasses the most fulsome
hopes. Under the able generalship of
Mrs. Palmer, the exhibit includes every
thing pertaining to womon's progress In
the arts, sciences and that which is most
interesting to the male portion OF the
family-the household department.
That the fair offers the best opportu-
nifty to show the world how woman can
rise from what radical adherents call
her thralldom, is evidently fully appre-
ciated and the activity, intelligence and
energy shown in grasping these condi-
tions, will surely meet with fine results.
But there is vastly more to this work
than the exhibit. There is the women's
branch of the worlds congress auxiliary,
an organization purposed to arrange
for congresses Of women in all branches
Of work. The first will v May Is
and will be attended by hundreds Of
delegates from all parts of our own
country, representatives from foreign
associations and the ablest and bright
est women speakers of two continents.
1t is said that sixty-three organizations
will be represented in the discussion Of
a great range of topics. These include
the civil and social evolution of woman,
woman on tho stage, the ethics Of dress,
woman in municipal government, wo-
mar as a social leader, the trades and
professions underlying the home, and
all of subjects relating to edu-
cation, industry, religion, reforms, art,
philanthropy, charity and literature.
The more practical side of woman's life
will be discussed in papers on household
anNrn p,toc tho froSriro IF oh,1IrNr orl
kindred matters.
Later in the season. Miss Frances e.
Willard and Archbishop Ireland will be
found side by side in a great temperance
congress, which, it is believed, will be
the most notable gathering of the kind
ever attempted. Following this will
come the medical congress in which
ome delegates will furnish most
useful and interesting features of the
discussion. Women journalists will be
recognized and their work fully appre-
ciated at the public press congress
which wen during the latter part
of this month. In the great parliament
of religions and missionary associations,
they will be found in the van; indeed,
it would be difficult to fancy what a
gathering Of that sort would be without
them. In lesser measure, they will as
sist in the several other congresses
given to philosophy, sociology, finance
and commerce.. In the discussion Of
the latter subjects Montana should be
at the front since no other state in the
union can show larger or better results
of voman's ability in business lines.
The object Of all this work is to show
the world what woman can do and to
stimulate the development of her facul-
ties in all spheres of life. 1t is q splen-
did undertaking and from enthusi-
asm already shown promises to be as
successful as its promoters intend.
1t should certainly result in broadening
the views Of those critics who insist
that the life and work of women must
be confined within narrow limitations.
1t ought to open the eyes Of the world
to the fact that the brains and efforts
of the woman Of to-day must be re-
warded for exactly what they are worth
and that the time has gone by when
narrow and p~rejudicial notions can have
it otherwise.
DONORS OF THE BRITANNICA.