Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

"a in Europe much more time Is
~ given to social festivities than is
allowed in the United States.
Perhaps this is not always car
ried to such an extent as at the last IN
ternationaI peace conference, which In
The Hague is referred to as the eat
congress As a rule sessions of the Inter
national Women's Suffrage Association
are held only in the mornings and even
ines leaving the afternoons free. Foreign
ladies have confidentially told us that
when they went to conventions IN our
country they were surfeited With Work
and farnished for food Well. our husthns
proclivties must. indeed seem a hltle
strenuous to them, and 1T Is also true
that we do not give them as much to eat
as they get at home. AT these meetlngs
the women Of all countries look more
rosy and solid than the Americans. ana
they declare that it is because we are
underfed, but we prefer to think IL is the
difference in climate and the temperature
of the houses in Europe that give the
ruddier healthier appearance. and also
the fact that they live much more out OF
doors. American women are more apt
TO carry their youthful figures INTO MD
die life than are those of other countries
and this is worth some sacrifice.
Glimpses of Home Life.
" II.
of the cordial hospitality which we re-
ceive at these congresses abroad. 1t gives
US glimpses of a home life that even
long sojourn as tourists would not afford
and this differs widely among the various
nations The most elegant residences in
Amsterdam are situated upon the banks
of the widest canals, some of them facing
the street with the garden at the pack
sloping down to the waters edge and pro-
tected by dense shrubbery; others sep
arated from the canal by the paved street
and a row of tall trees. with Waileo-ln
garden behind, and in either case com
plete privacy is assured, which seems
impossible for American homes Along
the Keizer's Gracht and Heeren Gracht
are long rows of what are known as
"patrician houses" most of them about
300 years old. dating from the opulent
days of the Dutch republic 1hey are
built of small f1inty bricks with splendid
~ carved stone facings and cornlces, the
five or six stories running up to the h1gn
pointed gables characteristic of Holland
architecture. and they show not the sllght-
est sign of decay. The massive front door
of what is really the second story opens
out on "stoop," with steps on either
side down to the street. Here in olden
times the rich merchants smoked their
pipes i'll the evening. while the ladleS OF
the family gossiped back and forth with
their neighbors Few bridges crossed the
canals in those days. and the ships We're
anchored in front of their doors laden
with merchandise. much of which was
hoisted up into the spacious StoreroOmS
under the roof by the big cranes which
still swing from the lofty points
The Dutch Aristocracy.
The nobility then. as now lived. for the
most part. in the country, but these mer-
chant princes. these patrician families
formed an aristocracy whose prestige
still fingers about these fine. old man
SionS Some Of are OccuDe0 by
their descendants, others have gone into
the possession of those who are founding
new families. but the old regime has
passed away. Scores of bridges now
span the canals. forbiddng entrance to
the ships. but giving the populace easy
access to these pleasant tree and water
bordered streets. and the patrician has
fed to his garden. The houses life
less and impressive as monuments. 1t
would be the height of bad form for a
face to be seen at d window, and. when
an occupant must emerge, the door is
quickly closed after him by the solemn
faced butler. and the house resumes it's
air of mournful and exclusive desOla-
ton. There is. however. charming fam
lily life within and this we have several
times been permitted to share at the din
ner parties which have been given for us.
One especially to be remembered was
that at the home of Mr.. Il. l.. GompertZ,
now the head of the great banking firm
of Wertheim & Gompertz whose highly
cultured wife is chairman of the COM
mittee of reception for the congress. The
hall and reception rooms on the first
floor are richly adorned with pictures,
statuary and almost priceless bronzes
and porcelain. while the drawing room
on the second floor is famous for its
mural paintings. the work of noted artists
nearly~two centuries ago.
Wyman Suffrage in Mythology.
The price of one of these panels would
buy any house in Amsterdam a guest
told us They line three sides of the
room from the floor to the high ceiling
which also is richly decorated, and the
large windows on the fourth side over
look the lovely garden. There were
present members of both houses of par
lament. the leader of the liberal party,
university professors, foreign consuls and
presidents of various boards. After a
sumptuous dinner all passed into the gar
den, where. scattered among the flower
beds against a dark background of trees
and shrubs. were little tables. each con-
tanning a handsome electric lamp and
bowls of pink. white and red peonies
Here coffee, liquors and cigars were
served, and conversation was continued
till nearly midnight-in English, though
all were Dutch.
The opening reception of the great in
ternational suffrage meeting now in prog
ress was held al the Couturier. the Sher-
rvs of Amsterdam. with the usual splen-
dor OF such affairs. a pleasing variation
capital little play in blank verse
given by party of young people from
The Hague. The Council of the Gods F."
Jove summons the gods and goddesses to
know the reason OF the terrible strife GO
ing on in the world beneath. whose noise
penetrates his realm. Mercury says II
guess. but. Mr.. Chairman. IN not sure
that tbs the ladies making all the row.
In the midst of the discussion q mortal
woman begs admittance. sets forth the
grievances inflicted on those of her sex by
man. and ends. And so. great gods.
come imploring your assistance" Jove
says: This Is. by Jove. no easy ques-
ton. You. Juno have the floor" She
answers. TITS not the first time that
have TO solve a problem Then she
moves that the woman present her
case, after which the gods and godde Sses
argue IL in very clever manner, the for
ner using the threadbare arguments, the
> latter refuting them. the woman trem-
bling with anxiety the gods declare
that IF more rights are granted, women
Will fail in their duties.
Pluto Makes It a Tie.
Finally Juno calls for vote; II stands
Ave for the woman. four against and Plu-
TO makes IL tie. saying: II am opposed
for if woman got the upper hand my
reign would soon be over. Juno then
summons Themis, goddess of justice. who
bids the woman lay her duties on one
side OF the scale, her rights on the Other.
ba Yatf f1ipc To ha hao