New-York tribune., 1897-12-30
FRENCH WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
DAILY NEWSPAPER MANAGED AND
MADE EXCLUSIVELY BY WOMEN.

MINES SARAH BERNHARDr. AUGUSTA HOLMES.
sEvERINE LOUISE ABBEMA ALPHoNsE
DAUDBr JEANNE caAuvrN AND OTHERS
AMONG THE CONTRIBUTORS TO LA
FRONDE"-MME MARGUERITE Du-
RAND THE EDITOR OF THE NEW
ORGAN OF FEMALE PUBLIC
OPINION OUTLINES THE
COMING CAMPAIGN.
Paris December 8. 1897.
The latest development Of "femnisme'-a word
having no exact equivalent In English. but which
means the assertion In a natural. unasgress've
way Of feminine independence-takes practical
shape to-day In the first appearance OF farisian
daily newspaper entitled LA Fronde. which IS
edited by women for women Not a solitary male
being Is employed "La Fronde' IN any capacI'y
whatever The Office 'boys' and printers oeViis
are active young maidens. smartly att'reo III
simple dresses and coquettish aprons. The press
men" rnachinists. compositors, telegraphers
photographers photographers. proofreaders, clerks
advertising agents delivery ard circulation agents
the foreman OF the pressroom. the foreman
Of the composing room. reporters, artists' iore'sh
correspondents. dramatic musical and literary
critics society writer's medical writer's scientihc
writer's fashion writers. cookery writer's no'eie.e
writer's leader writers the day editor. the city
editor the financial editor the night editor. the
business manager and the editor n-chief are
women, one and all Of them. and as In Paris all
the newspaper stands are kept by women IL may
fairly be said that La Fronde' Is even sod py
women.
Like the "Figaro" and the Petit Journal" LA
Fronde" has \ handsome building Of its own. oc-
cupied exclusively by It's own staff and employees
The "F'ronde" building is situated at NO. ~ rue
Saint George three minutes walk from the Grand
Opera The building is In pure First Empire style
furnished and decorated throughout In excellent
taste The composing and press rooms are on the
ground floor The editorial STAFF are Installed IN
large suite OF apartments arranged with the
greatest comfort and luxury. There Is wei
stocked library. and also restaurant win pieh'-
fu supplies Of substantial food and tea. coHee'
chocolate etc. but all alcohoiic beverages arc
strictly prohibited. The rooms have high ceilings
md are lighted with electricity. The counciroom
has already become the rendezvous Of the feministe
movement which In the opinion OF some or tne
most enlightened women OF France is destined not
only TO secure the emancipation still withheld oy
French law but to create a school which can
not fail TO arouse the sympathy and emulation OF
the women Of the United States and OF other
countries.
CENTRAIIZINC THE MOVEMENT.
To realize the Importance Of the present move
ment IL should be remembered that the women OF
France have hitherto refrained from joining TO-
steady systematic perseverance. the degree OF
freedom enioyed by their English speak! sisters
There his been plenty OF individual energy and dis
ID efforta great deal OF guerilla warfare
but this Is he first time that feminsme has been
marshalled and united under one banner With one
common object in view. This centraliza ton Is due
to Nine Marguerite Durand dc valfere. who at
the Woman's Congress. at Brussels was made
high commissioner instructed with the task OF COL
lecting and classifying the most urgent needs ~
modern woman. and bringing them I'm the most ef
fective manner before the proper authorities.
Az can readily be imagined the step from these
duties 10 the founding OF a newspaper was very
natural one Mime. Marguerite Durand has been
selected by her countrywomen as the editor-in-
chief and manager OF La Frondc" Belonging 10
no pronounced sect or faction. and having no en-
tangirg alliances OF political character she was
able 70 group about her women Of undoubted talent
but whose special fads or fances might otherwise
have kept them apart For instance. among the
writer's OF La Fronde' straitaced. fervent
Roman Catholics Ike Mile Mangenet and Nine
Marie Duclos and Socialist free-;hnkers such as
Mines Marya Cheliga. Pontonie-Pierre. Paul Mink
and Louise Michel Nine. Severne Is one OF the
leading editorial writers. In the theatrical de-
partrnent are Mines Sarah Bernhardt. Catuile
NendAs and Rachel Boyer OF the Coincide Fran
calse An occasional supplement containing orlkl-
nal musical compositions Will be contributed by
Nine Augusta Holmes The welknown Partisan
painter Nine Louise Abbema, will attend to the
Ane arts. Among other members OF the regular
s,aT may De mentioned Mines. Aphonse Dau-
det Ast!e de Valsayre. Mar!e-Anne de Bouvet JUL
ette Lamber. Judith Claudel. Clemence Royer
schmahi Pgnon Hubertine Aucler and Marie
Krvs,nskn Nile Klumpe the female astronomer
attached 70 the Paris Observatory. will deal with
scientAc subjects The law courts and ali legal
matters will be under the supervision OF Mile Chau
vim who recently took with high honors her de-
gree OF Doctor OF Law. and the question or whose
admission to tho bar denied by the Judges. will
shortly como before Parliament for special logisa-
ton. Nine Daniel Lesueur TO whom the French
Academy has ava rded the first prize for versinca-
tion will contribute short poems and stories. Inc
inim,tabls "Gyp"-Msrquise de Martel. and grand
niece OF the great Mirabeau-will furnish Parisian
skits and wtttcisns Nine Saint-Vdal Will write
about fashions Mile. Heene see Is the parha-
mentary reporter who will keep sharp lookout
uuon all that goes on In the Senate and Chamber
OF Deputies and In the Municipal Council. Nine
Pauline Kergomard viii make specially OF the
subject OF female education. with reference 10 the
proposed mixed schools and colleges for both sexes
which now asttate public opinion. Mile. j. Marni
Is the chief sporting editor. Nine Emma cave
Nine Rose Caron Mile. Breval Nine. Re)ane. Nine
Rartet ReichemDerg Nile. Brandes and others VIII
write now and then about the drama ana opera
Among the foreign correspondents are Nine
Ranche Roosevelt. whose department 10 Ensish
Parliamentary news and gossip. and Miss Maude
Come who will write about ireland and the Irish.
The principal foreign correspondents on the Con-
tnent are Mines Claire de Prats Kaethe Schr-
wacher Pane Baggar and Ida Sach. and each or
the above has taken degrees In law. literature or
philosophy.
THE EDTTOR-IN-CHIEF.
Nine Marguerite Durand. who has gathered to-
eether this brilliant staff Of writer's Is one Of the
most charming and intellectual women In Paris
There is nothing about her suggestive Of the blue
stocking" or OF the popular conception OF the
new woman" She is essentially feminine In all
her Ideas and tastes When quite young girl
Mile Marguerite Durand entered tho Paris Con-
servatory, and. after three years hard study was
graduated from the dramatic department with
frat prize She received an engagement at the
,rheA,re Francais where she made series OF
debuts in the ella ssic and modern repertoires with