The Washington herald., 1908-07-05

London. June 25.-Ten thousand earnest
and determined women, bent on securing
the right 20 vote at Parliamentary cleo
tions. walking the principal streets Of
London in imposing parade. was a sight
never before witnessed in the English
capital.
The procession was eminently notable
for its cosnopoitanism. French. Ameri-
can, German, Dutch, and Belgian suffra-
gists marched the three miles uncom-
plainingly.
Women OF titleAone. at least, indirectly
connected with the blood royal-walked
with kitchenmaids; women Of wealth. fac
tory workers. nurses, and shop girls-all
joined in emphasizing their one ideal
Many of the marchers had reached their
three-sCore years and ten. and looked
likely 20 reach yet another score. Two
old persons-Mr. and Mrs. Haslam, both
more than eighty-wallIed with the agile
step Of youth under the green banner of
'Ould Ireland" The proudest moment
OF my life" said Alr. Haslam. as he ex-
planned that his great mission in life,
votes for women" began nearly half
century ago.
Mrs Despard as grim and resolute as
her world-famous brother. Sir John
French. strobe out behind the gloomy
banner of the Holloway martyrs"
Every step she took. every glance she
gave % right or left, seemed to say: I'VE
want the vote, and we mean to have it
whatever the cost may be"
Quartet i'm Lead.
The head Of the procession. which ex-
tended more than two miles from start TO
finish. gave the keynote 10 the whole. A
distinguished quartet they were-Mrs.
Fawcett, Dr. Sophie Bryant, Miss Emily
Davies. and Lady Frances Balfour.
Mrs. Fawcett and Or. Bryant wore the
mortar boards" and scarlet robes Of their
varsity, and across Miss Davies slight
fgurc was thrown a crimson sash that
coutrasted strangely with the somber
black she wore.
caps and gowns appeared in number
20 make a varsity procession. one hun
dred and fifty graduates came from Cir
ton, almost as many from Newnham. and
women who had wrested honors from
London University marched with them.
brains are IN the procession, surely"
exclaimed Miss Corbett. with a ring OF
pride IN her voice. as she ran up and
down the lines 20 see that everything was
running merrily on.
There were brains" indeed-brains and
resolution. Mime. Sarah Grand was there.
and bliss Beatrice Harraden, who thrilled
the reading public with her ships That
Pass I'm the eight" Miss CiCely Hamil-
ton. the author OF Diana OF Dobson's
was followed closely by Mrs. Thomas
Hardy. the wife Of the man whose Wes-
sex tales have become English classics.
Women doctors, women scientists. wom-
en- philosophers. walked without flinching
IN this vast procession
The dresses and costumes Of the women
were striking. They formed an ever
varying kaleidoscope Of color. There were
kiuouo gowns, pinafore gowns, empire
gowns, and princess gowns. In bright
green. pastel blue-white, and the latest
dazzling hue Of copper brown. There
were picture hats trimmed with the gay
est of roses. and hats bedecked with the
flimsicst OF ribbons. The front windows
of West End dressmakers were here in
moving panorama.
Motor Cars in Hundreds.
There were motor cars in hundreds and
carriages drawn by high-stepping horses.
Ordinary traffic was held up" but Supt.
Wells marshaled the stream Of color
through its living banks with wonderful
sagocity.
Still. IT was a powerful tribute to wom-
anho0d that London should halt at its
command. Motor omnibuses throbbed in
dignautly as the procession swept by.
Private motor cars had TO break their
journeys and wait with what patience
they could muster. The hand that rocks
the cradle had swept ordinary routine
aside.
The 200 banners and banuerettes were.
Of course. a great feature Of the show
Never have such banners been seen in the
London streets They were works Of art
The Florence Nightingale banner. which
preceded the nurses, received the greatest
notice II bore the word "Crimea." and
at The sight old soldiers saluted and barred
their heads
Every great town in England. some In
Scotland. and few Of Ireland had its
bannor-gayly painted with suffragist mot
toaS and emblems
The reception of the demonstrators by
the crowd was varied. There was little
cheering. save when clusters Of women in
sympathy with the movement waved their
lanokerchleIS ana shouted IN chOruS, or
those on the balcony Of the Lyceum Club
threw down q shower of roses on the
passing pageant
Few men jeered and scoffed. Fewer
broke into ribald abuse. But the women
marched on. obivious TO them all.
They were pleased grathed. by the
pageant they had produced. 1T was in
deed magnificent said Mrs. Fawcett. in
her speech in the Albert Hall. 1T was a
glorious triumph. and. above ALL * show
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