Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-05-03
THE WOMAN'S BUILDING.
Address of Mrs. Potter Palmer and lad
Aberdeen.


Address of Mrs. Potter Palmer and Lady
Aberdeen.
CHICAGO, H., May 1.-The last nail in
the woman's building was driven.
Mrs. Potter Palmer spoke as follows:
The moment OF trutiOn has arrived.
Hopes which for more than two wears have
gradually been gaining siren 9Th and def
niteness have now become realities. To-day
the exposition opens Its gates. On this Oc-
casiOn of the formal opening of the wom-
ans building, the Board of Lady Managers is
singularly fortunate IN having the honor to
welcome distinguished official representa-
tives of many Of the able foreign commit
tees and of the state boards, which have SO
effectively co-operated with it in accomplish
ing the results now disclosed to the world.
Experience has brought many surprises,
not the least Of which is an impress
sive realization of the unity of hui
man interests, Notwithstanding differ
enCeS OF race, government language,
temperament and external conditions. The
people of all civilized lands are studying
the same problems. Each success and each
failure, in testing and developing new theo-
rieS, is valuable to the whole world. Social
and industrial questions are paramount, and
are receiving the thoughtful consideration
Of statesmen, students, political economists,
humanitarians employers and employed.
OF all existing forms OF injustice, there
is none SO cruel and inconsistent
as is the position in which women are
placed with regard to self-maintenance; the
calm ignoring of their rights and response
bilities which has gone on for centur-
les. If the economic conditions are
hard for men to meet, subjected
as they are to the constant wedding out OF
the less expert and steady hands (whO are
thereby plunged into an abyss of misery it
is evident that women thrown on their own
hava ri oh SIR tp
dure, especially as they have always to con-
tend against public sentiment which dis
countenances Their seeking industrial en-
plOyments as a means Of livelihood.
The theory which exists among cOnaerva-
tive people that the sphere of woman is her
home thatit is unteminine, even mOnStrOus,
for her to wish to take a place beside or TO
compete with, man in the various lucrative
industries, tells heavily against her, for
manufacturers and producers take advant-
age Of 1t to disparage her work and obtain
her services for nominal price, thus profit
nglargely by thenecessitieS and bel plessness
OF their victim. That so many should cling
to respectable occupations while starving in
following them, and should refuse to yield
to disbursement and despair, shows high
quality OF steadtastneSS and principal.
These are the real herOineS of life whose
handiwork we are proud to install in the
exposition because it has been pro
duced in factories, workshops and
studies under the most adverse con-
ditions, and with the most sublime patience
and endurance.
The absence of just and general appre-
citation OF the truth concerning the position
aid status OF women, has caused us to call
special attention to it, and to make a point
OF attempting to create, by means of the eX-
position, a well-detined public sentiment in
regard to their rights and duties and the
proprlety of their becoming not only self
L.
ing their families when necessary.
Lady Aberdeen, representing England
and Ireland, spoke briefly. In part
she said:
1t is great honor to be allowed to take
part in the opening ceremonies of an enter
prise towards which the eyes Of all who
take an interest in the work OF
women and the position of women
throughout the world are turned with hope
and CONFIDENCE Mrs. Palmer has told Us OF
what she and her colleagues desire to attain
through this great undcrtaking-th objects
which she has put before us are calculated
20 arouse our utmost enthusiasm. l am
sure that the women of other countries
represented here will never forget
the deep debt OF gratitude under
which she and her fellOw-workers have
placed Us, and we can assure her that she
viii ever receive the most loyal support that
we can render III our measure throughout
the course of this exposition. take it that
the one supreme subject Of friendly rivalry
here will be to show how much
the women of each country have
served that country and have thus raised
it high in the civilization of the world by
their devotion, their skill, their talents,
their influence for good. And taking this
as the standard by which we are to test our
selves, l am proud to think that l am here
as the representative Of the two countries in
which | can claim share OF nationality
Scotland and Ireland.