The sun., 1909-05-02
their party and make il almost impossi-

suffragists would be disappointed at q
very limited franchise. and yet many
believe that only bill passed by the
chance in the House Of Lords and that h
would veto any woman suffrage bill
adopted by the House Of Commons.
IT wo,hd require more than mortal
wisdom to clarity this situation. The
spread OF favorable public sentiment has
gone far beyond anything that could
have been imagined few yeaT ago,
but it seems pretty evident that the
militant branch OF the suffragists has
made several serious mistakes OF late
which have caused some reactionary
feeling against the 1I movement; men .rl, The
and it hopes and believes that this inter.
national congress. which has convened
at its invitation, will dissipate the re-
action and restore enthusiasm.
The international board is besieged
with requests to miH up In the contest
one side begging that 1t will use its in
huenoe to persuade the suffragettes to
modify their methods another implor-
ing that 1t will send deputation to Pre-
mier Asquith urging him to Introduce
a Government bill into the House OF
ear and stands strictly upon Its cardinal
principles OF internationalsm and non
interference with the suffrage politics Of
any country. .
The best idea Of the welcome awaiting
the congress may be gained from the
by various English organizations to
present their greetings TO the lnterna-
tional Alliance and sympathy with its
object. Among these are representatives
from the Women's Liberal Federation
U4ady McLaren its vice-president, will
and Unionist Women's Franchise Asso-
citation. Scottish Liberal Federation Of
Men, Union OF Ethical Societies Adult
Suffrage Societies. Independent Labor
party. Irish Society. Women Industrial
Workers, Fabian Society; Women's Free
Mems League for Women's Suffrage. the
three suffrage leagues OF women ac-
tresses. artists and writer's and many
others
1t would be impossible to mention the
organizations from all parts Of Europe
them are the Holland Mems League for
Women's Suffrage and the National
Councils OF Women in almost every coun-
try. The International Council will be
represented by its president. the Coun-
tess Of Aberdeen. or possibly her proxy,
M spondinss s"e secretary. "i The % General feder-
alton Of Women's Clubs Of the United
States will have as its delegate Mrs. Will
lam Tod Helmuth Of New York.
A letter has been sent to all the clergy
men in London asking them to refer In
object the Sunday before it opens, and
scores. OF answers have been received
agreeing to do SO and expressing sym
pathy with its aims from ministers OF the
Church Of England. Catholic. Jewish and
| Nonconformist denominations.
The great demonstration OF the week
will he the Albert Hall meeting. held under
! the auspices Of the National Union OF
Women's Suffrage Societies Of Great
Britain. with its president. Mrs Henry
| Fawcett. in the chair, and members OF
Parliament among the speakers. Mrs.
dent OF the International Alliance, will
preside over all the day and evening
meetings Of the congress in st. James's
Hall
One OF the London papers. drawing
upon its journalistic imagination, said
dainty little delegates from Japan. clad
in lovely howered silk kimonos, with
chrysanfhemums in their hair. Mrs.
Gait says she thinks this is great advance
over the old time descriptions which al
ways pictured the delegates to siif-
frage convention as wearing rusty bonn
bazine dresses and carrying blue cotton
umbrellas. -
The oficial social function will consist
OF q supper at the fashionable Prince 6
Restaurant. with speeches by Mrs, Kendall
Granville Barker and others. followed by
concert and woman suffrage play,
both given by noted artists 1t would be
utterly impossible to enumerate the teas.
mncheons. dinners and receptions OF a
semi-private nature extending into the
week following the congress.
A notable function will he the reception
given by the Mems League for Monen-
Suffrage. II the names Of the men in
the Anti-Sufrage Association represent
the titles Of the nobility OF Great Britain,
so do those signed 10 the declaration Of
the MenB League represent the leaders
in public artificial life, in the church,
law, universities, science, literature,
Is safe to say that no such list Of names
was ever before presented in favor Of
any one cause.
Some Of those in literature most famil-
lar to Americans are Barrie, Hardy,
Meredith, Benson. a. @. Wells, Justin
snd Sir Serey Suntns edor oi he
Contemporary Revien: connected with
the drama, William Archer, Pinero, Ber-
nard Shaw, Bouoioault, Forbes-Robert-
son and Sir John Hare. On this list also
are many members Of the nobility, among
them the Earl Of Warwick. Earl Of Lyt-
l cannot close this letter without re-
voyage hither BY having as a companion
Miss Ethel Arnold, who had just COM
pleted four months lecture tour Of the
United States. II was interesting to learn
the impression made on one 30 widely
travelled and 80 highly cultivated through
education and close association with
eminent men and women. Miss Arnold
did not form her ideas wholly from expert !
ences in New York, as Is the case with
many Europeans; she considers that city
the least typical of American life.
THE dominant impression IL made
upon me was that Of unreality, she said. |
when / would walk or drive through !
the streets and see the never ceasing rush
and pressure Of people and traffic would
constantly say to myself, There is no
stability about this; it isall unreal. transit
tory New York is city without back
ground"
Its background is in Europe I an
swered.
She found no people. however, that |
she liked better than those OF New York,
and shes brought into the drawing room |
Of the ship and exhibited to the ladies
with a good deal Of pride the loving cup
presented to her by the New York women. |
She was especially impressed by the |
beautiful homes and the cultivated women |
that she found in the smaller cities and
she is looking forward with much pleasure |
to her more extended lecture tour OF next |
winter. Her sister. Mrs. Humphry Ward,
Il III - - l. I