New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-09
THE WOMEN'S COUNCIL.
A NINE DAYS TALK ON EVERYTHING
UNDER THE SUN-THE WICKED
LORDS IN OPPOSITION.
London. June Is.

LORDS IN OPPOSITION.
London June %.
nine days' session Of the International Coun-
ell of Women is an appalling theme for mere
man with a beggarly column and a half at his
disposal. Famous women from every country
under heaven have assembled TO hold high de-
bate on every question that has entered Into the
mind OF man. AS many as fifty sessions are
held in five or six halls, and in the course or nine
DAYS there will be rambles in light and shade.
over hill and dale, through such quiet fields and
thorny thckets education, labor legislation
itera ture art, science. drama. journalism. music
local government, trades unionism, hortcut-
ure agriculture. emigration, prison manage
ment protection Of animals treatment or desu-
tuition. preventive work equal moral standards
for both sexes civil disabilities of women, pro-
fessional occupations. domestic service,l temper
ance and amusements The invading host is so
formidable and the range of its operations so
wide that II is not surprising that the House or
Lords has taken alarm and passed an anti
suffrage amendment to the London bill on the
opening day Of the International Council This
was done, moreover. with an air Of insolent de-
fance when the galleries were filled with
duchesses peeresses and gayly dressed society
ladies' and when the Marquis Of Salisbury had
done his utmost to convince his three hundred
colleagues that the heavens would not fall If
women were allowed the privilege Of member
ship In the new Metropolitan Councils, and even
Of becoming Aldermen.
The opening session of the International Coun-
ell. however. sufrced to establish at least two
points namely, that women are expert organ
izers and that they know how 10 speak with
freshness and vigor. The arrangements made
for this nine days debate are most orderly and
complete and prove that women can master the
complex details Of organization required for an
international assembly. They have even sue
ceeded in providing adequate facilities for the
press-something that is never done In Eng
land when the management is in the hands OF
mere man, whether there is a Jubilee celebra-
ton on, or a Gladstone to be buried In west
minister Abbey. any great public function to
be described. They have also shown exceptional
ability in public speaking They have neither
hemmed nor hawed. like the noble lords who dis
qualified women for service in the Metropolitan
Co~~clls. but have spoken with clearness,
nuency and animation Lady Aberdeen. who
pre- sided over the opening meeting, was not only
as graceful and resourcefu as Lord Rosebery
could have been but she also delivered her pres
idential address In a resonant voice and was
wholly at ease in directing the business OF the
council The speakers who followed her were
not perhaps equally at home on the PLATFORM
but they spoke without embarrassment or hest
tation, and made their points neatly and quickly
The speaking at every section meeting has been
remarkably effective
Another point was clearly indicated at the
opening session at Church House and at subse-
quent meetings. This is the unwngness OF ad-
vanoed. progressive women. whatever may be
their aspirations in civil political ife to sac
rihce their personal charms by vagaries af-
quer man. or at least 10 force upon him an
alliance equal terms. they mean to &C com-
plsh their mission habited in the latest Partisan
fashions and in the brightest and smartest mil
lnery. The stalls and galleries OF Church House
were occupied by as brilliantly and correctly
dressed an assemblage OF women could be
seen In Vanity Fair at the most fashionable
afternoon concert or the most privileged garden
party. There were no eccentricitites OF dress on
platform or in the house. The Countess Of Aber
deem, in the seat Of honor. had a black striped
satin gown, with white chiffon vest Yellow
feathers waved trumphantly in the hat Of Mrs.
May Wright sewall. OF the American moth
ers Of the council when she proclaimed that the
object Of the campaign was not separation but
reunion with man. The French delegates were
in the height OF spring fashions: Mrs Fannie
Humphreys Gafney was perfectly gowned in
intuition OF the woman Of the future. and even
the Rev Anna Howard Shaw ecclesas-
tic dream in royal purple. AS the presentations
went on from thirty colonies and countries, the
Partisan mode was disclosed as the golden bond
uniting the women Of the universe. Even Nine.
Shen. with her gorgeous Chinese embroiderles,
had white gloves as dainty the little feet be-
meath her pettcoat.
The noble Lords, who were occupied at that
moment In the craven task OF REFRESHING the
Aldermanic aspirations Of the gentle sisterhood
Of woman, would have blushed II they could
have heard Lady Aberdeens temperate address.
which explained the main motive Of the Interna-
tional Council the enforcement Of the Golden
Rule That was not revolutionary. nor was her
exclamation: Man was not meant to live alone,
but still less was woman" and her closest APP
proach TO sarcasm was the sentence: 1T may be
well TO have unions OF mothers. but DO the
fathers count for so little In the home that their
counsel is not needed?" The noble lords would
have shifted uneasily In their benches II they |
had heard Baroness Alexander Gripenberg from |
Finland. in bad English but with solemn earnest
ness of manner denounce the struggle OF the |
strongest against the weakest and they might |
have doubled their majority for the anti-suf- |
s~sxa amendment 4 they had caught GLIMPSE !