The Washington herald., 1920-08-29

the slavery of the dark ages? Where does
she stand in the new republics of the old
world-those nations born of strife that
shattered boundary lines and restored lands
to their own peoples?
The persons to answer this question best
are the women themselves, and here certain
representative women, who were asked to
give American readers the exact condition Of
woman in their respective countries, tell
their stories.
Among the nations, one, Letvia, formerly
part of the Russian empire, is not even
quite certain that she really is a nation, be-
cause America has not yet recognized her.
Poland has been fighting for her very e1-
istence, while Czecho- Slovakia is a healthy,
usty infant, with both feet securely planted
in the center Of Europe.
The women who are speaking to you in
these articles are the most prominent leaders
OF the new thought and progress in each Of
the countries represented.
ENRST meet Madame dewitt Schlum-
berger, who will speak for France She
is the granddaughter of a prime minister
under Louis Philippe and has an estate in
Normandy. She married a member of an
old Alsatian family years ago, for Madame
Schlumberger is now white haired and near
seventy. They had five sons and one daugh-
ter. After 1870, when Alsace became a part
ct Germany, every young man had to do his
military training in the German army or
leave Alsace never to return. The Schlum-
berger sons chose yhe latter, turning their
he tbofr
fathers important industries. When the
fifth son came of age the family determined
they could stand the separation no longer,
so they gave up their place in Alsace and
established themselves in Paris.
AL Of the sons were in the late war, one
Of them was killed, and one, after serving
at the front, became attached to the French
High Commission in Washington. Another
son, an engineer of note, was appointed by
the French Government chief engineer of
some important mines in Alsace soon after
that province was restored to France.
Madame Schlumberger is president of the
French Union for Women Suffrage and first
vice president of the International Woman
Suffrage Alliance. She speaks English
luently and represents all that is finest in
French family, intellectual and political
Life. She also has a keen sense of humor,
which helps her out considerably in her
battle for womcn's votes in France.
Next, meet the Marquesa del Ter. beau
tiful woman of Spain, who, however. is not
a daughter of CASTLE, but married into the
nobility of that country. Like the queen.
whom she resembles, she is English and has
the fair hair and complexion of her race.
She has a son who is an officer in the
Spanish army and is now in Morocco.
7 WISH that might in some small meas
l ure convey the wonderful impression
made by the women representing British
India at the suffrage meeting They seemed
to make of the world such verv small
place; they seemed to make the human
being stand out as such. with the same
1-ztincts, the same necessities. the same
ultimate aims, whether that human being
were white, yellow or black; whether he
were Hindu, Mohammedan. Hebrew or
Christian. Only the methods of arriving
at those ultimate aims were different. But
even those methods could be discussed on
common ground, and their very divergence
made the possible scheme of human
existence so much more interesting than if
ETery one were alike.
We sisters of a western civilization"
had plenty of opportunity of meeting and
observing these fascinating, dusky women Of
a far off land. The delegation of ten or
dozen Indian women stayed at the Hotel
de la Paix, headquarters of the American
and British delegations. Conspicuous in
their gorgeous fabrics and sparkling jewels
the dress of their native India-these
women were constantly engaged in CONVEX
sation in the hotel lobby, or in the
restaurant.
l rather think they looked down upon US,
mere children of a western civilization,
which seemed so sure that its methods,
ideals and its ways of progress were above
those of Asia. They never for one instant
forgot that they came from Asia, the mother
Of all races, Asia whose knowledge goes back
thousands Of years when Europe was yet
in chaos, perhaps even uninhabited except
by wild beasts.
had Interviews with Mrs. Naidu, and
with other Indian women, as we met in the
hotel, or TAXED back and forth to the con-
vpntion meetings, at the other end OF
Geneva. Their sumptuous draperles-one
end of the fabric, usually embroidered in
silver or gold, formed a scarf over the head,
and a subtle, mysterious perfume foated
from their graceful folds, hanging loosely
or folding cape-l like around the figure. OF
course one cannot imagine such costumes
in the CRIME or rain of western city streets,
hut in the scintillating sunshine of Geneva,
surrounded by the vivid greenish blue Of
the Lake of Geneva and the rOseate white
ness of the Alps rising beyond, those cos
TUNES seemed to fit harmoniOusy.
But in spite of personal conversations, 1
don't believe one could give a more faithful
impression of Mrs Sarojini Naidu than to
present her article below. She made a
speech at the congress which was recOg-