New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-22
LEADERS OF THE WOMEN.
SOME NOTABLE FIGURES IN THE COUNCIL
AT WASHINGTON.
HOW THEY DRESS. HOW THEY SPEAK AND HOW
THEY LOVE THE STARS AND STRIPES
MISS WILLARD AND LADY

HENRY SOMERSE'
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.I

the flag for an effective feature OF decoration say
the National Council women. So the Stars and
Stripes form the bright background of the stage AZ
Metzerott's Music Hall From the ceiling Is hung
a bright blue banner. which are the names Oh
officers OF the National Council inscribed In silver
letters and two larger banners at the sides
are the names OF the organizations represented
each followed by the name of It's president. The
table serving 80 the reading desk Is covered with
a small flag and a larger hangs over the gal
lery rail opposite. on another blue banner are
the silverettered names OF the officers of the In
ternational Council. that OF its president. Lady
Aberdeen. at the top. To complete The picture are
two or three score or the platform. In hand
some gowns: and for the bonnets. one would
hardly see so many pretty ones in days journey
In the face of all these becoming toilets, 1t Ia
the most natural thing to wonder II there ever was
a time. even short as quarter or a century
ago when women the public platform did not
keep pace with the fashions o. the day. AT any
rate the National Council wonens bonnets and
gowns are far and away from any suggestion OF
such past. When the representative or the
American Administration Society. Mrs. Mary a.
Lowell of Pennsylvania, Unexpectedly called at
tentlon to nodding plumes and jaunty feathers,
she caused a decided hutter and stir all over the
house Nobody could have told five seconds after
how it happened. Probably Mrs. Lowell herself
a tai slender young woman ready talker ana
undoubtedly clever-could not have explained just
how she slipped into the discussion of The In
to Bear upon Daily Life" this quiet but none the
less startling protest against the refinement OF
cruelty which gratifies fashions demands Dy de-
stroying the birds. 1t was all over IKE a nash'
but there not feather in the house whch
did not give a sudden frightened little shake on the
head of it's wearer including the pretty bonnets
on the platform. whore but two women escaped
Miss Susan 3. Anthony. who follows the safe Old
Quaker custom OF removing her bonnet. and the
anti-vivsection representative herself. who wore
roses on her bonnet instead OF birds feathers
The president OF the Council. whose gray hair
and stately grace make her striking figure. sets
the example OF rich stuffs and becoming shades,
and for evening wears colors which light UP well.
Miss Anthony holds to black as a rule In satins
ard brocades relieved by soft white lace. though
now and then she makes a departure In favor OF a
ruby velvet gown. Her hair. yet only partly
gray is worn precisely as II has been for fifty
wears smoothly framing In her fine strong race,
now more and more expressive or sweet serenity
which shows that the rough places in her lfe's
road passed over.
Mrs Bagley, wife OF Ex-Governor Bagley. or
Michigan vice-presdent OF the Council and a men,
Der OF the Board OF Lady Managers for the Worlds
Fair Is one OF the exceptionally wel-dressed women
whose gowns are rich and plain. Mrs. Bagley Is
handsome woman Of middle age. Mrs. Mary Lowe
Dickinson OF New-York. delegate from the Inter-
national order of the Kings Daughters ana sons
is a woman Of fine presence, who might give the
IMPRESSION OF being a society woman II she were
not so we'll known as a practical phiIanthropist
Mrs Bagley and Mrs. Dickinson are just now per-
haps most talked Of In connection with the election
~ the new president Of the Council, which takes
place next week Both are women OF strong ind-
v,duallty and considerable executive ability. Mrs
Dickinson being Of somewhat the more aggressive
temperament The choice of either would give to
the Council a hra-class presiding officer
In the younger set one OF the most personally
attractive and popular women is Mrs. Rachel
Foster Avery. OF Philadelphia who. when
schoolgirl. became disciple OF Susan Il. An
thony When. ut the death OF her father ana
few years later the death OF her mother she
found herself mistress OF large fortune. she
took up the cause of woman not simply In the
line Of suffrage but in all lines which would ad-
,anc. and widen the sphere OF woman's useful
ness. Mrs. Avery Is "A gifted and cultured woman
and as the corresponding secretary OF the Coun-
eli ever since organized. has displayed rare
ability II is an open secret that she would he the
unanimous choice OF the Council II she would con-
sent to accept the place. To be president OF an
organization having FOR its aim the highest good
OF all mankind and for its platform a breadth or
thought and action which includes all creeds ana
every political faith and knows no color line Is
an honor few women would decline Mrs Avery
s a Young woman OF slight figure. fair smiling
face and magnetic presence. She advocates dress
reform" TO the extent OF good taste IN Color anu
fashion most becoming TO the wearer
Another Of the younger set and "A popular woman
is Mrs. Harriet Taylor upton, uhuS"'e' Va ~
Representative Ezra b. Taylor. of Ohio. Mrs
linton is treasurer OF the Womans National SUI
frage Association. But happy fate always puts
her at the head OF the Press Committee-happy Tor
the press representatives. She Is frankness ITSELF
but never gives away secret. though she comes
close to IL when her keen sense OF the luui-
refuses to accept what 20 Others appear
10 be the gravest and most weighy ana'rs oi 'he
Council. -
The National Council OF Hebrew Women as
represented by It's president ana three aeiesuths
an5iencrs in more ways than one. Not much
because this ia the youngest orsanization IN tne
umknSwn sents four beautiful women young tai
ented and whose papers were SO brilliant ana IN
teresting to be easily the cher feature OF lGes
cago president OF the organization; is slight,
graceful dark-eyed woman. with charm OF voice
and manner which would have held her audience
II the treamen, OF her sn6es had not 9gen
benjamin. OF Colorado Mrs Isabel Riehman wal,
iach OF New-York. and Miss sadie American OF
Illinois. brilliant types OF Hebrew beauty en-,
three apparently is above twenty-five years OF age.
SO lar no pprT hs n %'I tcrar V s as sckoaTy
research and practical application which mark the
Frances L. Willard scored one for the temper,
ance cause when referring to her visit to the
sympathy for the great polygot petition. she said
that Mrs. Cleveland was a total abstinence WON
committee of which Miss Willard was spokes-
rd on Mise ss waas wi her oS
that Mrs Cleveland able to take this decided
stand The Presidents wife replied that II had
moi been hard for her To be total abstainer, Tor
friends had been most kind. All of this was r>
cevei with hearty applause.
But no stimulus needed to arouse audiences
TO enthusiasm whenever Miss Willard and Lady
Henry Somerset. the great leaders OF the cause IN
two worlds appeared the platform. Though her
Ufcwork for temperance has been long and unceas-
ing IL cannot be said OF Miss Willard that she has
grown gray in the service Her hair is the same
soft brown. and she still has all the eloquence.
earnestness and magnetism which have MADE het 4
powerful and popular speaker for the last twenty
live years more and the same gentle wom am
ness which has endeared her to the pubic Lacy
Isabella Somerset. who at the head OF tne brtisn
Women's Christian Temperance tnGn 10 LOT W.
though she hardly looks her years In PHYSIQUE anu
compile xion she Is typical English~o oman anu sHe
has the charm of fascinating manner DOM ~,
public and private life. The personal attachmens
between Miss Willard and Lady Somerset Is more
than the bond OF friendship In a common CAUSE