The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-18

Washington, Feb. 1s.-Women have
held all sorts of conventions, many of
which, it has been said have been to
consider subjects which are none of
their business, but at last they have
called one which is about strictly their
own business-that of being mothers.
The attendance at the convention is
very large, reaching fully 1000.
Those who have been inclined to think
lightly of this movement have had rea-
son to change their minds in regard to
1T, as so many women of national, and
even world wide, fame present outside
of those who are to take an active part.
The programme embraces an exceeding
ly wide range of topisc relating to moth
erhood, and is to consist of addresses
made by specialists, who are well up on
the subject that they will handle. There
will be no paper read, which is in itself
g subject for cOngratulation to the lis
teners, as vital topics lose so much of
their interest when exploited by long
and prolix dicussions on paper.
Among the distinguished women who
have arrived in the city are Mrs. Mar
garet E. Sangster, a representative lit
erary woman of America and the editor
of Harper's Bazaar. Mrs. Sangster's adj
dress is to be upon reading courses for
mothers. While in Washington she will
be the guest of Mrs. Hearst.
Another prominent out of town guest
of Mrs. Hearst is Mrs Ellen A. Rich
ardson of Boston, who is well known in
Chicago. During the Worlds fair she
was one of the jury of awards. Mrs.
Richardson's fame was first made as an
artist. her work in ceramics being of
such superb character that a celebrated
expert from Europe considered it worth
while to cross the ocean to see Mrs.
Richardson's beautiful conceptions in
Limoges underglaze.
Mrs. Richardson is best known to the
American public by her recent fame as
manager and organizer of the home
congress of Boston. This was a meet
ing similar to the present mothers con-
gress, and in a measure prepared the
public mind for many of the live topics
which are to be discussed here in Wash
ington. Mrs. Helen H. Gardner of Bos-
ton, the author of is This Your Son,
My LOrd?" is to discourse upon the
moral responsibility of women in here
dity. Mrs. Gardeners mental bent is
peculiarly in the line of the scientific re-
1ation of women to all subjects of inter
est of the day. Another noted woman
who has come to Washington on pur-
pose to be present at the congress is
the Countess de Brazza, whose idea is
TO introduce some thoughts in relation
TO civic consideration of the subject.
Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson of New
York, who is president of the National
Council of Women, was present at the
first session.
From Chicago several bright and we'll
known women are present. Miss Frances
Newton, director of the Kindergarten in
stftute, will be in charge of the nursery
and of the conferences which to take
place each morning from to 10 O'Clock.
These conferences will embrace a range
of topics not included on the programme
of the congress. Mrs. Alice H. Putnam.
delegate from the Woman's club and
Chicago kindergarten club. will speak at
the conference upon punishment for
children, and Miss Nellie. formerly of Chi
cago but now teacher in Mrs. HearSt's
kindergarten here. is to give an address
on the programme upon 1.-The Significance
of Play
On Friday. the last session of the con-
greSs, a nurse from the founding hos
pital of Washington will bring one of
the babies and give object lesson on
dressing and caring for infants to the
present. Mrs. Louise E. Hogan of PhiIa-
delphia, is to speak upon dietetcs, a sub
1ect upon which she has written and
Mrs. Jenness Miller. who has become so
well known a writer upon physical de-
velopment, is to discourse upon a moth
velopment of her child. Mrs. Maud Bal
linguon Booth of New York will conduct
the devotional part of the programme.
Men are also to take part in the pro-
gramme of the congress. Anthony Com
stock is to give an address upon the SUBJ
5ect, How to Guard Our Youth Against
Bad Literature I and Frank Hamilton
Gushing of Washington will lecture upon
The Mother and Child of the Primitive
World So wide has been the interest
manifested in the congress that even from
present
Miss Amalie Hofer of Chicago was
a Kindergarten of the most advanced
type and stands wen to the front of the
kindergarten ranks in the country. She
prints a kindergarten magazine and. with
her sister, publishes books and papers on
the subject. Her address. What the Kim