St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-03-08
WOMAN,s WORK IN WASHINGTON.
An Interesting Account Of three Recent
Congresses.
(From our Special Correspondent

February has generally been con
sidered the principal month for hold
ing women's associations and con
ventions in this city. The month
just closed has been no exception to
this rule. Three Women's Congresses
have been recently held in this city,
besides the third triennial National
Council of women of the United
States.
The latter held its sessions from
February II to 10. This Council is
composed of women of many societies
of different religious and political
beliefs, of leading philanthropies and
social reforms, yet so thoroughly
organized and managed under the
leadership of its able president and
the experienced officers that it is a
pleasure to attend it's meetings and
listen to many of the reports, able
papers and discussions. You are
thus brought in contact with the
leading questions Of the day relating
to women, as presented by those
who have given much time and
thought to their subjects. This
Council numbers many affiliated
societies, who if not in entire SYM
pathy in all respects, yet exercise the
Christian grace of courtesy and do
not indulge in wrangling nor have
recourse to criticisms through the
press of each Others opinions. This
makes it harmonious Council, and
one that other societies would do
well to follow in that respect. Mrs.
May Wright Sewall of Indianapolis,
the president, resigned her office and
Mrs. Peck of Davenport, Iowa, is
her successor. Rev. Anne Shaw is
the leading parliamentarian of the
society.
1t is difficult to choose from the
many papers, but we enjoyed the
symposium where the ladies discussed
the question, "What should be the
attitude of the women of the United
States towards the peace conference
proposed by the Carr" -Four ladies
were assigned to discuss this ques-
ton. Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer of
Rhode Island was the leader and a
lady Of thought and culture, who
fully believed in the honesty of the
Cars proposition. Mrs. Belva
Lockwood, a lawyer of the District,
and Rev. Amendo Deyo of Pennsyl-
vania looked at the matter from a
national and International stand
point and emphasized the horrors Of
war and the benefits of arbitration
and peace.
The special services upon Friday
afternoon in the In Memoriam exer-
cises of Frances E. Willard were
touching and beautiful, bringing out
the various characteristics of her life,
character and leadership of the w.
c. T. U. Ladies had come as dele
gates from many and distant states
OF the Union to attend this Council
and also that of the third National
Congress of Mothers which was
appointed to be held from Feb. II
to the 18th, but the terrible snow
storm and blizzard kept many away,
detained Others on their journey as
well as those who were coming to
the International Press Union-Feb.
16 to 19-with headquarters at
Wizards hotel. Many and thrilling
were the adventures of delegates
who were resolved to brave the
storm and reach the meetings in
session. The 35 inches of snow that
had fallen during the series of snow
storms was piled up in high drifts in
the streets, which were almost i'm.
passable, and no electric cars were
running. A lady from Minnesota
paid $11 to be taken from Capitol
Hill to the meeting of the Council.
A coachman asked another delegate
$50 to do it, but passing milkman
offered to take her for $3.50 and she
accepted the offer and was to pay
SIS on her return. The women were
cheerful and resolute, although the
attendance was small at the first
sessions and some receptions were
given up. The ladies from Dakota
declared that it seemed just like home
and not much like the Sunny South
To add to the discomfort steady,
drilling rain fell and froze on the
snow making the sidewalks very
dangerous as well as the roads. To
reach Wizards hotel from the Ebbitt
house, one block distant, was a
hazardous undertaking and only