New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-26
MRS. GAFFNEY HOME AGAIN
SHE COMPARES THE AMERICAN WOMAN
WITH HER ENGLISH COUSIN
HrR VIEWS or rHn r1r1MArn GooD or THE IN.
TERNAT1ONAL CONGRFss-T0 LERATlON


TFRSATlONAL CiNGRfS@~ I'l'fffA iAD-'
NEEDED IN SOCIETIES.
Mrs Fannie Humphreys Ganney. president ~ the
National Council ~ Women Of the United states
and Of the New-York Society for Political STUDY
has Just returned from London. where she went
70 attend the international Council and has gone
10 her new home. at 40. A Riverside Drive where
she will entertain party Of friends during the
Dewey celebration
When asked yesterday what her impressions were
Of the international Congress ~ Women held In
London last summer. Mrs. Gaffnev said.
l believe that as pebble dropped into water water
creates circles which widen and increase NH shore
Is reached. s. will tho outcome ~ this congress
circle spread til IT'S waves Of earnest thought cover
an ncaculabe distance
BY means Of such assemblies and conferences
women learning 10 comprehend each other II
much less a5oni oacp oth"r than they did about
men. In these gatherings women are forced 10
learn TO discriminate and also 10 exercise tolera-
ton. and their range of thought and sympathy IS
thus widenei Toeration is quality frequently
lacking i'm the mental equipment OF women, for the
reason that woman's social and moral training has
words custom and training impress upon women
what not 10 do and what not 10 sanction bur they
have no corresponding code which teaches the re-.
sponsibility OF doing and the duty Of rising equal
10 occasions
Woman has had her
'Litte, hoard OF ma>lnns preaching down daush-
ter's heart
we'll drilled into her. but those larger maxms which
and duty OF expression never been impaired 70
her IN an equally important light.
r IN TINS congress women were Obliged 10 listen 70
facts and propositions from other women in other
countries and living under other conditions. ana
realized that the manners and customs of New
York must not necessarily get the standard Of cor
Thus the much needed wedge OF liberation was in
uoduced into womans outlook on the world.
one fact stands ont prominently before me 10
nestness and bgb ' seree g afI which ex-
z a
and lift the burden Of condition from the backs Of
weaker and less favored mortals our American
women Of wealth and influence do nobly ana gen
erously for sweet charity h1i they have strong
need to emulate their English sisters m the way
I'm which they exercise the privilege Of generosity.
and assist in the perfectng Of the Repubic py
weaving together the interests and affections OF
freely in the texiureIfhen let them emulate the
English women and lend Of their presence and per
people or women Of wealth in America are
tons) content 10 1--we more ana nave thcr peHs I'D
the sphere or set 10 which they socially are ell
discreetly and the purse rather than the preseh.
end personal influence Of the woman is given 10
Not so in England The woman who is born
70 landed estates noble name has born WITHIN
and welfare Of the tenantry about her. Sne 4'flnS
~ taking an interest in The children Of tho lodge
worship If a fair IS given she lends her presence
TO open #; she gives bali 10 ner tenant d.1
loss Of dignity Is there mass meeting c9lled
for political philanthropc reasons some itled
woman Is always found ready 90 take me
chair WOrthiy and earnestly
The contrast IN this respect among our women
Is 10 be regretted How many members Of our
plutocracy lend themselves or their time ana
strength n similar uses2 How seldom do We read
Of our society danes identifying themselves ~
the same active manner with fho political or social
issues OF the day do our English titled sisters
Bear in mind that while our American women
are not heirs 10 tho responsibilities which come 10
English women with hereditary privileges YET
they are just as certainly heirs 10 thc responsible
tiles which accrue from the possession oi great
wealth. acknowledge tho generosity or our
American women. hut J would point ont 10 mem
the need Of awakened alert interest ON in,T
part 10 the public movements inaucurated u.s. OBJ"
masses for honest purposes OF improvement li''7-
IRE or profit. ,
With an respect 10 those men and women who
have DISTINGUISHED themselves by large eraiiiil's
10 public institutions or colleges. would say thfy
have done we'll bur they are not thereby relieved
from that cverprcsent and continuous personal m
dav commonplace public interests which ar" of
such vital import and concern 10 the "oIka'ay
II takes trouble and strength 20 preside at
meetings and listen Oftimes 10 nr0sN spec u'- on
affairs i'm which YOU have no special concern 1T
10 draw a check and be rid ~ the matter. Rut
the man behind the check is "a power apart from
his money and his word and presence might large
lv assist a cause our women Of wealth hero. HIN
20 through society functions which weary and noIr
,hon1 because il is expected of them They must
and causes which they must attend and uphold
even though they are ar the cost Of much Wtari-
ness of the flesh. because their posiuo demands
the sacrifice and the world ar large expects III OF