The San Francisco call., 1897-04-27
SEALED
ORDERS
BROKEN
Opening Day of the Fourth
Annual Woman's
Congress.
THE MAYORS ADDRESS
OF WELCOME.
The Church, the state and the
School Are Ably Repre-.
Sented
MRS. GARDENERS TRIBUTE TO
CALIFORNIA.
Brilliant Papers on "Chi Psyche
MRS. GARDENERS TRIBUTE TO
CALIFORNIA.
Brilliant Papers or "Chi Psyche
ogy" Read by Noted In.
StructorS.

The first keynote of the Woman's
Congress was struck by Professor JOr-
dan. In language at once poeticaI and
striking he characte rized woman's at
titude to-day rs one of working.
striving, sailing under sealed orders.
At once the happy phrase caught
on" Mrs. Helen Gardener immedi lately
voting in its favor and pl eading for it's
adoption.
THE congress will please come to order.
l will ask the janitor if he will kindly
close the doors during the prayer" With
these woris Mrs. John f. Swift, president
of the Woman's Congress of the Pacific
Coast, opened their fourth annual session
Yesterday morning and started the flow of
reason and tie feast of deep thought and
cultured observation.
The congress was a bit late in coming to
order. The shift of the place Of meeting
from the First Congregational Church to
the Golden Gate Hall at such short notice
found the ladies somewhat unprepared for
the reception OF their interested adherents
and guests. Ready hands, however. came
quickly to the rescue and by the time all
rose in silent reverence to join in prayer
the stage was bright with palms and fair
Gala lilies, with a touch of color added by
means of draperies OF yellow bunting. On
the presidents table rested a huge bunch
of snow-white roses, and everywhere was
disCernible that touch OF woman's hand
that beauties and adorns even the cheer
less lecture platform.
In spite OF the CHEEKY hustle of prepara-
tion and the natural excitement conse-
Quent upon a great work carrying with it
such tremendous results, the opening
session of the congress found the active
members sad with painful memoir
les. On every tongue was the name, in
every mind the thought of the dear de-
paired, revered late president, Mrs. Sarah
B. Cooper.
JUDGING by the first days session this
congress will lack that spirit of restless
excitement of the suffrage congress. There
will probably not be so much burning
eIoquence and spirited rhetoric, but m more
of the general result of the union of
thought and heart that the object of this
congress, general education, inspires. Il
the fourth congress has not brought such
Wel-known workers as the worthy Susan
B. Anthony and her witty lieutenant, Miss
Shaw, it has given in their stead such
distinguished guests as Mrs. Helen Gar
dener and the Hindoo sage, Brahma-
charm Bodhabhikshu.
The first day ession afforded no op-
portunity for a lengthy discourse from
these widely known orators, but their
sententious responses to some of the dis
courses gave foretaste of the pleasures
in store.
Mrs. Gardeners timely answer to Mayor
Phelan showed her possessed O.. that
ready wit, an apropos answer. She
speaks in quick. clear-cut tones, each word
carrying its weight and adding to the
force OF the whole. Her tribute to Cali
fornia was glowing ana i'm mediately cap.
tured all hearts.
Il am not surprised at anything see
in California" she said. The only thing
that astonishes me Is how all the people
happen 10 be rich. Where do they get
the time to make their money? They
certainly spend all their time, according g
TO my observation, in being courteous to
strangers"
The Brahmacharin though following
this neatly turned com pliment, managed
however, 10 win the sincere respect If not
the hearts, OF all his auditors. He voiced
bis sentiments in excellent English,
rounding his sentences with sonCrous,
musical voice and impassioned gestures.
Woman, as daug hter, is the heavenly
flower stolen from Paradis sc TO adorn he
home" he POLITICALLY exclaimed. "As the