The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-29
STEAD INSULTS CHICAGO woMEs.
The Notorious English Editor says They
Are Worse Than Prostitutes.

The Notorious Engtish Editor says They
Are Worse Than Prostitutes.
CHICAGO, Dec. 2S--Editor Stead ysster-
day threw bombsheli into the women's
club that Is likely to blow him to pieces
before the matter Is over. ALI the women's
clubs Of Chicago united in q meeting at the
Auditorium to call him to consider plans
for aiding destitute women and children.
The hall was crowded with many Of the
weslthiest and most prominent ladies in
the city. Editor Stead was introduced.
and in part he said: Sitting side by side
with those active workers are some Of the
most disreputabie people In Chicago. Who
are the most disreputable women in Chi
cago7" The women were staring at him
in amazement by this time. 1.-The most
disreputabie women in Chicago" he said,
'are those who have bees lowered by
society and providence with all gifts and
opportunities; who have wealth and who
have leisure and who have all talents,
and who live entirely self-indu lgcnt lives.
These women who have great opportuni-
ties only TO neglect them, and who
have great means only to squander
them upon themselves. are more ais
reputable IN the eyes of God and man than
the worst women on Fourth avenue" The
women were too astonished to speak at
this onslaught They sat, their faces
crimson and with indignation over every
eountenance, but Stead went on: "If
those present should go down into the
depths and come face to face with the ac-
tual facts of human life they would find at
this moment economic difficulties that are
staring them in the face at every turn.
only yesterday met q poor g,ri who /.
willing and anxious to leave the life which
she is leading. Yet when 1t is proposed to
remove her there is at once difficulty of
a debt OF 500 which she owes. So it is all
around the chapter. None are in such
danger of losing their souls as those who
are wrapped up in their own selfish CON-
fort and forget the necessities of brothers
aud sisters of the Lord
After firing this parting shot Stead
quietly stole from the meeting, leaving
the ladies dsxed and parslyEed for few
minutes. When they recovered their self.
possession they proceeded to rend Brother
Stead limb from limb for his insulting
audacity. Indignant addresses were made
by Mrs. W. J. Chalmers, Mrs. John VIII
klnson. Miss Ada Sweet, Miss Jane Adj
arms. Mrs. l.. w. Parker, Mrs. Wilmarth
and others.
Mrs. Chalmers struck the keynote. She
said. There was nothing 10 warrant his
insulting talk. What induced him to
SPEAK as he did | canno. even guess. un-
less he wished to give a parting shaft to
women who nave refused to socially rec
ognize him. He had no sooner finished
has offensive remarks than he skunk out OF
the hall like miserable oward. / think
the husband Of every woman 1T the meet
ing today must Zee. that his wife has been
directly insalted. The Woman's Club at
its next meeting should adopt resolutions
expressive OF the contempt in which they
hold this man. lie IS unit 10 appear be-
iore Chicago women. and the respectable
people OF she community should unite in
securing has aeparta re from the CITY,