New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-12
THE DUCHESS OF MARLBoF
Ry DORIS Z. FLEISCHMAN.

By DORIS T. FLEISCHMAN.
TIME ticket which admitted one
TO the gathering at the resi-
dcnce OF Mrs. Q. II. P. Bel
mont. in Newport, last Wednesday
spoke OF a Conference 8. Great
Women" Although such phrasing
might be d triAe optimistic, the re-
sul,ant meeting was Of enormous in
ter.st in that many OF the foremost
women OF to-day were present
women who have agitated for and
have put into effect reforms in all
departments Of the national house
hold.
That these women. whose efforts
have been watched by the entire
country. arc sufragists is merely q
coincidence. and there is no moral
necessarily to be attached. Nor was
the meeting business meeting. Its
purpose was more Of d social ono
than otherwise. 1t was a friendly
gathering Of women Of note whose
work lies in different fields, but who
feel the same big purpose inspiring
them all to make practical the con-
notation OF the vague term better
meat"
Have Stimulated the Fallen.
Mrs. Belmont, in opening the
meeting, spoke Of them as women
who have Stimulated into life a
sense OF scli-rcspect lying dormant
in what the world chooses TO call the
fallen woman; who have devoted
many years TO the service OF the lit
tie child laborers who are being done
70 death in the mills and factories
and mines of our country; who are
agitating against the evils OF the
sweatshop system and have taken up
the cudgel in behalf Of the underpaid
and overworked women in industry;
who preside over juvenile courts and
are endeavoring to reclaim the way
g ward boy and girl; who have
brought little light and hope into
Departing prisons.
Some have raised organized re-
b forms which have proved so great a
public benefaction that they have
been taken over by the state, whose
laws then declared that none but
voters could be members of the gov
erning committees. And some OF
them pursue the gentle art Of de-
handing political rights on equal
terms with men. These women need
no. identification otner than tina:
given By their own deeds. They
have achieved greatness and are no
longer some mans wife, sister or
daughter
Hated Speakers Time Limit
In more ways than one was this
meeting unusual First, the audi
forum" was on the terrace OF Mar
hle House; below was the delightful
rsrk, with its pond and specially
made river. We brought down two
pelcans that we expected would
greatly enjoy this river" said Mrs.
Belmont, but one Of them regarded
its, surroundings disdainiully and
few out 70 sea Another unusual
feature was that each speaker was
privileged 20 talk on her particular
hobby, with the plessurable knowl-
edge that all the other speakers were
as interested in what she had 20 i'm
part as she had been l.. their words.
The short space OF time was source
OF regret both TO the speakers, who
hated 70 tell all about the decline
and fall Of Rome in ten minutes,
and 70 the listeners, who were deeply
!. moved oy inc sincerity ana force OF
N the women who addressed them
UThe little bell more than once an
noyed everybody with Us warning
Times up"
In such an interested gathering it
Is difficult 70 pick out one person
whom one might designate as hay-
ing been the most affected by the
proceedings. unless il be one OF the
few men present, who sat IN front,
and by his spirited, generous APP
pIsuse and sympathetic CALCULATIONS
showed q most welcome enthusiasm.
Mrs. Belmont, however, showed eyi-