Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05

who arranged for the interna-
tional woman suffrage congress
u that closed this week deserve
warm congratulations upon its
success from every point of view. social,
intellectual and political. The president
of the National Suffrage Association of the
Netherlands, DR.. Aletta II. Jacobs, Is a
woman OF unusual power. and although
only now in middle life she has been
pioneer in womens progress here. She
was herself the first woman physician,
and in order to enter the medical uni
verSity and receive a degree she had to
get permission FROM the government. This
was granted by the broad-minded Prime
Minister Thorbecke. and a short time ago,
when she had completed twenty-five years
of active practice the women Of Amster
dam and vicinity, irrespective of creed,
party or social position, came together in
mass meeting. formed PROFESSIONS, march
ed to the little park on the Heerengracht,
where the statue of Thorbecke overlooks
the wide canal, and decorated 1t with
wreaths. after which they presented to
the doctor a bronze Victory bearing
palm. DIR. Jacobs was the wife Of G. 3.
Gerritson. who was for a number OF years
distinguished member of parliament. In
1904 he came with his wife to America to
see to the placing of portion of their
magnificent collection of books. which
they had sold to the Crerar Library of
Chicago. These included about 10000 vol
umes of history and economics and the
largest collection in existence on sub
jects relating especially to women. Their
handsome home still contains several
rooms entirely filled with valuable books.
During the congress DR.. Jacobs gave
seven dinner parties and large reception,
In addition to her official duties.
The Burgomaster and the Queen.
There is 10 Dutch word which precisely
corresponds to "suffragist'' or advocate of
''wonans rights" SO they have adopted
the French feminist" The majority of
the aldermen are "feminists," but the
burgomaster, who was born In Java, is
"anti-feminist.'' He has much authority.
and so II has been impossible for the
municipality to give tie official recognition
which was so generously extended in
Denmark. His honor declared he did not
intend to notice the congress In any man
ner as he had no sympathy with its
aims but as the time drew near and he
saw the favorable attitude of the press
and learned that a majority Of the liberal
members OF parliament approved OF wom
an suffrage he decided that IT might be
we'll to hedge His cultured wife be-
longs 10 a "patrician" family. their resi-
dence is palatial and by sending out at
home" cards for an afternoon tea-Le
Rouremestre dAmsterdam ct Madame
van IIeeuwen seront chez eux lie Mardi-
a compromise was effected: the affair
was social not official, and the suffrage
bogy did not get In. 1t was really hand
some entertainment in this fine old house.
built and decorated in 1880. with tea
served In the pretty garden. The women
had a good time and the burgomaSter
was not hurt politically. He occupied a
front seat at the opening Of the congress
aud was surrounded by members of the
council of state. of the parliament and the
municipality.
Amsterdam Is American.
There Is no city in Europe that seems
so american" as Amsterdam. n spite
of its quaint houses. numerous canals
and extreme cleanliness. II the crowds
of people on the streets were Get down
in any city In the United States they
would not attract the slightest attention.
There is not the least nationality as 10
their clotheSror manners. and in personal