The morning call., 1894-05-05

naper upon Free Libraries as Educational
Institutions" $50 far revolution has been
confined to the schools. that of the libra
ries is coming" she said. You know how
little you think Of the library as an active
factor in philanthropy. | beg you to turn
stance, are continually being haranqued
by walking delegates They would like to
know If there are not two sides to uues-
tiOn. They will turn to library and the
library will only be serving its purpose in
instructing them"
An amusing picture was then drawn of
what, under existing conditions, would be-
fall an inquiring young mechanic. going
to pubic library for technical books
bearing on his trade. "There will be a
decided tendency on the part of the library
TO assume the attitude that the man is
thief, and he will soon be made aware of
ii. He will be watched. handed from one
person to another. with watch that man
air. He will have to SIT In certain place,
and he will not be permitted TO move his
chair. either for better light or air. He
Will be given lot of lists and indexes,
that it has taken years of patient and
deviIish toll of specialists 10 evolve, aud
be expected TO master it and know what
he wants Immediately"
Further discouragements to the student
were enumerated, and the speaker con-
cluded: ut is high. time that the pu hlc
insist that this school open its doors wide
and so forth into the field of magnificent
possibilities and work. and l ask you to
constitute part of that public"
A paper on "Women on the Managing
Boards Of Public Institutions" by Mrs.
Mary S. Gibson, read by Mrs. Elmira T.
Stevens, had as its theme: ut is pretty 10
be called angels o; mercy, but let us be-
angels OF mercy and save our sisters from
N n m SllcPpalfnl
if We have to make mOrtIfying confes.
slons." Itwas evident that the writer had
no fear of Confessions" for the paper
was intensely direct and outspoken.
Speaking of church work. IL said: With
out the self-respect to possess a pocket
book of our own. we make pies. tides and
bookmarks. wash dishes. sell tickets and
peddie grab-bags in order to maintain our
religious convictions. Letus not tell what
we could do IL we had the rights, but use
the rights we have and go ahead"
The last paper OF the afternoon. by Mrs.
Olive S. England, read by Mrs Charlotte
Perkins StetsOn, gave an interesting his
torical account of "Women Founders OF
Universities" The session was then
to hear Miss Ball expound some further
theories respecting Dress Reform"
During the days proceedings an interest
ing greeting was delivered from Mrs. U.
5. Grant. who was prevented by Ill health
from attending the congress in person.
Mrs. Johu Vance Cheney at the opening
of the evening session alluded TO the we'll
known acoustic deficiencies of the hall.
She said, "Many complaints have come to
me about tho impossibiity of hearing in
The rear of the hall. l am assured, how
ever, that if the audience are perfectly
quiet they can hear what is said"
The general theme for the evening was
Modern Methods" Mrs. Helen Camp
bell IF New York spoke on the General
Condition of the Wage Women OF the
United States" The speaker referred to
the average of wages for women through
out the United States as being Sc 25 q
week. This. however is not for ffty-two
weeks, but an average of forty weeks, so
that the actual wage for the year round is
only S4 week.
The speaker asked her auditors to put
themselves in the place OF the few at that
wage and ask themselves what they would
do with their many wants and necessities.
Often she declared families are found liv-
ing on S5 week and there were laborers
in the sweating business who made only
50 so to So a week. Speaking Of the In
dustrial armies, Mrs. Campbell said this
country had not until this year real lied
what the labor question really is.
A remarkable address was made by