Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-08

the present condition Of affairs. Then thsre
were no colleges open to women. no profes:
sions, no trades, no Organizations, not even
temperance society. Still the watchwcrd
was educate the women, and the men, too
for re do not despair Of the men yet, the
speaker said, with a humorous smile
Frau BREEDER Bohm. pluckily taakling her
speech In quaint foreign" English; a sweet
laced Swedish delegate, recalling the high
social position of women in Scandinavia
from the days of the Vikings; Lady Batter
sea, charming and debonair-these followed:
and then came one of the sensations of the
afternoon-the appearance of Nine. Shen,
representing the women of the celestial en-
pfre, and specially accredited by the Chi
nese government to the congress. Nine.
Shen, marvelously attired in native dress, a
dream of scarlet, blue and plum color, with
her dark, sleek head bare and adorned with
curious native jewels did not trust herself
to speak, but her speech was read for her
by her husband, who so thoroughly enjoyed
his share in the performance that it was as
good as comedy to watch him.
Spoke for Their Countries.
The writer deprecated the idea that the
Chinese women were a downtrodden race,
without influence. They might not have a
position in the eyes of the law, but their
innate shrewdness comes to the rescue,
that quality with which nature has endowed
the women of all countries, and with which
Chinese women are endowed in no small
degree.
Mrs. Flora Annie Steel spoke for India.
Lady doctors from Russia and Argentina
spoke for their countries, and Switzerland,
Belgium, Holland, Austria, Denmark, Pal
estine had each a representative. The col
onies were well represented, one delegate
for Tasmania telling us that she came AT
twenty-four hours notice to the congress
a fact which deserves to be recorded. From
every corner of the globe the message was
one OF cheer. The economic society indie
pendent of women's sex, loyalty interest
of +1oi
the refrain of most of the speeches.
The reception at Stafford House in the
evening was very brilliant function. The
Duchess of Sutherland received, assisted
by Lady Aberdeen, and later in the evening
she was Joined by her sister, the beautiful
Countess of Warwick. A thousand guests
thronged the historic halls of the mansion,
Strolled through the suites of magnificent
rooms. thrown open for their enjoyment:
fingered in the picture gallery to listen to
the Blue Hungarians, or lounged On the
staircase to see the later arrivals. Gen
eVteVe Ward, Mrs. Sheldon Amos, Mrs. Fell
wick Miller, Susan B. Anthony, the Baron
ess Gripenberg, Mrs Creightou-these were
some of the faces one came across in the
throng.
The Transvaai Situation.
We are passing through period of sus-
pense in regard to the Transvaal The gov
eminent is waiting for the full reports of the
Bloemfontein conference. These docu-
ments will be in the hands of the colonial
secretary in the course of the week, but l
doubt If the detailed reports of the dis
cussions between President Kruger and Sir
A. Miner will add much to our knowledge
or dc much to clear up the situation. More
important really are the informal negotia-
tons that are going on between President
Kruger and the leading members of the
Africander party, and in which Mr.. Fischer
of the Orange Free State has been taking
active part.
There is no doubt that Dutch opinion in
South Africa outside the TranSvaal is anX-
ious that the Boer government should make
considerable concessions to the Uitlanders.
If the president offered franchise after
six years residence, with a retrospective
effect on the same terms is enjoyed by
the burghers, and at the same time gave
the Rand, where nearly all the Uitlanders
live, fair representation, the British gov
eminent would be obliged to accept the
proposal.
There is a widely prevalent impression In
well-informed quarters that the difficulty
has now reached critical stage, and that
the next few days will determine whether
the issue is to be a peaceful one the
reverse. Notwithstanding the 1ugubrious
views held in some quarters, It is believed
that Mr.. Chamberlain's strong speech at
Birmingham will make for peace. The diff
Guilty hitherto has been to convince the
Boer executive that the government was in
earnest, but after what Mr.. Chamberlain
said there is no further room Tor miscon-
ception.
for whatever may be the outcome. The adj
miralty have asked for tenders for two
ships to act as transports, one of which
must be ready to fit out in any port of the
united kingdom by August II and the
other by September 10. They are to be
taken for three months certain, but a pros
pect is held out for further hiring. 1t is
understood that the engaging of these
transports was decided on some time ago
for ordinary work, but I learn that they
will be used to take troops to South Africa
The admiralty have already closed a con-
tract for four other transport ships which
will also be available for any service. The
three batteries of artillery for Natal will
sail on the 10th of August. Four batteries
intended originally for the relief of troops
in India are at present being held in this
country ready to be sent to South Africa
if necessary.
Missionaries in Africa.
It is good sign of the imminent collapse
of the Khalifa that Lord Kitchener is
about to remove the prohibition to mission
aries, Reformed and Roman, going to Khar-
tum. Both classes have shown little
self-restraint in continuing long to alb
stain from rerrionstrances with the authori-
ties who excluded them, while founding
purely secular and, in Egyptian eyes, Mo-
hammedan College, where General Gordon
persisted.
The Church Missionary Society has been
preparing to move south from Cairo and
north from Uganda. till chain of missions
from the mouth of the Zambesi to the mouth
of the Nile. On the Uganda side Bishop
Tucker has among his $500 recent converts
the King of Unyoro and the queens sister,
Vikitoria- The former is the son of Kabe-
rega, and his baptism took place in the new
capital, Busindi, while in the old capital
other members of the royal family were
admitted publicly to the church. Twenty
one years ago Gordon asked for missiona-
ries for the Makraka, colony of the NAM
Mans of the Bahr-el-Gazel little north
of the Wadelai. One language appears to
be common to the tribes for 300 miles be-
tween Uganda and Fashoda-that Of the
Shilluks Schwetnfurth wrote of the Mann
Mans that whole regiments could be
formed among them in a few days by any
decent man." Only a steamer is wanted on
the Albert lake to form line of mission
airy pioneers as far as Wadelai and Dufileh
While DIR. Harpur and his party could reach
khartum from Cairo in few weeks, the
twelve men and women sent out by the
Church Missionary Society to reinforce
Bishop Tucker a fortnight ago will work
up from the south, using native assistants
from Uganda itself.
Wages of Servants.
Some instructive facts are to be found