century has said the last word on grace and elegance, seeming to defy all future creations of inventive genius in the way of furniture and bibelots. And there woman again, such as Rosalta and Mme. Vigée Lebrun painted her, is enthroned like a goddess. It is to her that all is dedicated-these sleighs, these sedan chairs, these thousands of bonbonnières, of snuff-boxes, of needle-cases, of tablets, of smelling-bottles, of enameled watches, of delicious nothings over which collectors quarrel.

To describe the part taken by women of all countries in the exhibition of clothes seems useless. The art of dressing has never been manifested with so much brilliancy, and, in spite of several men's names among dressmakers, the art is still chiefly feminine. In the galleries of decoration and furniture the modern styles have many women interpreters.

But perhaps I should have begun by hunting for her in the palace that bears her name-a white pavilion, handsomely built, situated on the Champs de Mars. The interior decoration is gay and fresh, large rooms furnished with comfortable seats, small tables scattered here and there, permitting the visitors to install themselves and write, or consult the French or foreign newspapers, or read the works signed exclusively by feminine names arranged in an especial bookcase. On the ground floor in the hall there are some good examples of statuary, although our celebrated women sculptors, Mmes. Bertaux, Itasse, Syamour, etc., prefer entering into combat with the men at the Palais des Beaux-Arts. The walls are lined with cases containing all the most varied specimens of needlework and of small decorative art, all arrayed upon Lyons silks of harmonious colors. Still on the ground floor are to be found restaurants and cake

shops, where one can be refreshed while listening to excellent concerts, given at certain hours, of ancient and modern music. On the first floor adepts in a charming art which has grown less fashionable since the reign of photography-miniaturepainting-exhibit a number of portraits. Here also those curious about statistics may find again the charts which appeared at the World's Fair, where they attracted much attention. These ingenious charts show not only the number of French women engaged in each profession, but also the proportion of married women, of mothers, of widows, of deaths in each department of France-a long, precious list of information concerning our army of women working in all fields. The compiler, Mme. Pégard, who for years has not ceased taking the lead in enterprises of which the "Society for Protecting Women Emigrating to the French Colonies" is certainly not the least interesting, has just been decorated with the Legion of Honor, a recompense given also to two other women, a scientist, Clémence Royer, and a writer, Daniel Lesueur.

In the gallery of paintings one exquisite picture is especially noticeable, by Mme. Demont-Breton, the foremost of our women artists to-day. artists to-day. "The Divine Apprentice" shows us the Holy Family at work; it is marvelous to have lent to this subject, which one might think exhausted, a revival of originality, simple and profound. And Madeleine Lemaire has sent some of her flowers, and Mlle. Klumpke a very good portrait of Rosa Bonheur. The æsthetic jewelry of Mlle. de Montigny, translucent enamels curiously set, is admired in a case at the end of the picture gallery.

The Palais de la Femme contains also a theater whose programme changes hourly under the skillful direction of Mlle. Thénard, from the Théâtre Français. Ballets, shadow pantomimes, tableaux, succeed each other with rapidity, and a troup of children actors give a representation twice a week for young people.

All is gay, graceful, and elegant in this tiny palace. One must not seek there, however, as I said before, manifestations of so-called great art; these are to be found in those parts of the Exhibition that are open alike to men and to women, who never gain anything by being separated.

Among the foreigners Mile. Breslau, of

Switzerland, and Mme. Waalgren, a Russian, are greatly admired; still more so the portraits of Miss Cecilia Beaux; they are certainly worthy to figure among those of her most eminent masculine fellow-artists, which is saying a great deal, for the United States exhibition of paintings is extremely interesting. It has succeeded perfectly in proving, as it set out especially to do, that since 1889 American art has become greatly emancipated from foreign influences and has begun a career which is wholly its own, which assures it the position of a truly national art.

I want here to repeat the flattering testimony of an artist well known for his beautiful landscapes, Iwill: "Often in our yearly exhibitions I think, at the first glance before some work that strikes me by its especial character, its personal note, This must be an American picture,' and on investigation it seldom happens that I am mistaken." Iwill must have found this character, so expressive of a certain ideal, in the portrait by Mrs. Sarah Sears entitled "Romola”—an American Romola, an interesting type of the coming woman, who, her head held high, her heart silently crushed looks back with sorrow, with pride, thoughtfully and somewhat disdainfully over what she has renounced of the past.

It is in the class of charities and education that one meets woman with the greatest pleasure. The realms of letters, science, and art, and of pedagogy, are full of her good work which it would take many days to appreciate; it is easier to glance at once at the share, however important it may be, which she has taken in philanthropy and public aid.

The French exhibitors have done all they could to make attractive these rather severe rooms by collecting various elements of interest. Nothing could be more curious to a foreigner. for example, than the comparative exhibition of the Children's Aid Societies now and formerly. The organizer, Mme. Armand Landrin, general inspectress of the children's departments, will show you the rooms of the asylums in the sixteenth century, when there were only two especial shelters for children, so that the poor creatures of all ages were mixed together pell-mell. The Sisters of St. Esprit received the infants left out under the porticoes of the churches,

where a cradle or basket awaited them, the first evidence of humanity to protect their little bodies from the cold of the stone steps. Next came the revolving receptacle, thanks to which the baby was promptly int oduced into the asylum, without its mother being obliged to reveal her identity. Opposed to the necessary inadequacy of the first shelter offered to children by charity is the admirable modern organization of public aid, with the model of a biberonnerie (a laboratory for the sterilization of milk), the rooms for consultation, for the distribution of medicines, for preparing the baths, etc. You may compare the bringing up of children from the long-ago swaddling-clothes to the innumerable instruments of torture that could still be met with forty years since in the country, the small parcel of life being hung against the wall for safe-keeping, or placed in a rolling carriage to learn its first steps. The headband which deformed the head under pretext of molding it advantageously, the stupid bourrelet,' the old grandmother remedies employed in days of ignorance, all are here to emphasize that progress has interfered to good purpose. One may visit corners suggestive of the Paris crèches, where a woman again, Mme. Marguerite Cremnitz, has superintended the reproduction of scenes taken from life. Manikins and pieces of furniture add to the illusion. All the other charitable establishments also exhibit.

It is well to speak, in this hasty review destined for America, of the important rôle played by American women in our Exhibition. They have given us evidence of really magnificent generosity and sympathy, in offering us the equestrian statue of Washington which will henceforth decorate the Place d'Iéna; they figured brilliantly also as representing the Daughters of the Revolution at the inauguration of the Lafayette Monument, deserving the praise of General Porter, "Women are found everywhere when there is a noble task to be fulfilled." Thanks to them, the American Pavilion has been constantly the hospitable center for charming reunions of the International Council of Women, founded at Washington in 1888. It has established a burea of information concerning the nature and purpose of this Council, where every morning a 1 Padded head protectors.

representative stays to answer questions and distribute pamphlets treating upon the important subject of Internationalism, which the President, Mrs. May Wright Sewall, eloquently spoke of at the Congress of Works and Institutions of Women.

We touch here on the significant question of Congresses—a means of communication between women's organizations in all countries, affording opportunities for women to meet together from all parts of the world to confer upon questions relative to the welfare of the commonwealth and the family. The principal feature of the 1900 exhibition has really been the number and infinite variety of Congresses; at several among them women have taken a brilliant part; for example, in the Congrès du Patronage des Libérés much attention was given to Mme. d'Abbadie d'Arrast, Secretary-General for the Patronage of Prisoners, for her intervention in obtaining the grant that the direction and administration of the chief establishment for women should be intrusted to women managers, inspectresses, etc.; that even the medical service in the prisons should be confided to them. Doubtless this desire will not be realized at once, but it has already made a large place for women in prison government.

At the Agricultural Congress a French woman, Mme. Bodin, and a Russian, Mme. Czaplinska, pointed out the need of special schools where young girls may receive higher education in agricultural branches. Mme. Bodin is directress of one of the two dairy schools which exist in Brittany patronized by the State. In these establishments the young girls are received at the age of fourteen years; theoretic instruction includes the science of the dairy, domestic economy, hygiene and the care of the sick, the raising and fattening of domestic animals, veterinary practice, the principles of agriculture and apiculture; practical instruction includes the making of butter and cheese, keeping the farm and the house, cooking, sewing, washing, care of the barnyard, the beehives, etc. The plan of study is perfectly adapted to young country girls, and insures them a means of existence whether they go back to their families or exercise the profession of farmers, whether they take a position in the country or become teachers,

as many of them do both in French or foreign schools.

Our housekeeping schools, like those at Rennes and at Nancy, our practical schools for commerce and industry for young girls like those which exist in Marseilles, Lyons, and other provincial cities, have a just reputation; and in the Agricultural School directed by Mme. Bodin there are Belgians, Russians, Norwegians, English, and even Americans. At the Congress of Commerce and Industry Mme. Daniel Lesueur, the well-known novelist, proved that the gift of imagination does not exclude a sense of the practical. In a very fine speech she lent herself toward proving that the impetus of feminine activity is one of the characteristics of our epoch, and that this evolution is determined by the action of economic, moral, and social laws which no one can escape. She demanded, where men and women are concerned, for equal work, equal salaries. At this Congress were also recounted the great services rendered by Mme. Malmanche, directress of the schools of commerce, not only to young girls by fitting them to earn their living, but to French commerce, which gains from their ranks many of its best employees. In many stores the money and bookkeeping are intrusted to them. And the list would be long to-day of women occupied in the administration of railroads, business establishments, etc.

It goes

This has all existed for years, but many people ignore it. It is well to proclaim it publicly in assemblies composed of men and women from all countries. without saying that in the Congresses given up to education, both individual and social, women figure in great numbers very competently; at the Congress of Comparative History a Polish woman, Dr. Lisinska, took part in the midst of celebrated writers and authors; but it was at the Congress of Works and Institutions of Women that the progress accomplished in France by the woman's cause during the past few years was particularly noticeable. This international feminine assembly lasted from the 18th to the 23d. of June, in the Palace where 129 congresses have succeeded each other. At it they read and discussed 230 reports in six days.

The programme, somewhat too exten

sive, perhaps, embraced philanthropy, social economy, legislation, moral education, social and individual; pedagogy, labor, arts, letters; sciences, divided into five sections, each one of which was presided over by a woman competent in the especial subject. Among the honorary Presidents, between Mme. Bogelot, who has consecrated her life to the prison work, and Mme. Jules Simon, widow of the illustrious man who, better than any one else, could talk of the working woman, figured a distinguished American, Mrs. May Wright Sewall. The President, Mlle. Sarah Monod, had necessarily a right to this title, by the impetus she has so long given to a work which paved the way, one may say, for the Congress-the Conférence de Versailles, of Protestant origin, where all questions relating to woman's lot are discussed. The Vice-Presidents were Mme. Coigues, historian and moralist; Mme. Blanc Bentzon, novelist and critic. The Secretary-General, Mme. Pégard, of whom I have already spoken apropos of the Woman's Palace; five secretaries for each section-Mme. Henri Mallet, a name high in the financial world and also in the leading charities; Mme. Kergomard, the eminent pedagogue; Mlle. de Ste. Croix, of the newspaper "La Fronde;" Mme. d'Abbadie d'Arrast; the Comtesse de Maupeou all representing a mixture of religions and opinions of divers characteristics and great toleration. In her opening discourse, Mlle. Monod brought out the progress accomplished in twelve years by the woman's cause, the numerous successes that have crowned it; Mme. Bogelot next took the stand, uttering the wish that in every country there might be constituted a union of women who should keep themselves in constant touch with a great International Council of Women. The foreign delegates next spoke, the Germans distinguishing themselves by their command of the French language. It is certain that the great majority understood little of the discourses pronounced in foreign tongues, and it is for this reason that the paper of Mrs. Lawrence on the numerous Americans who for fifty years have distinguished themselves in literature did not reach all ears, and that Miss Addams, of Chicago, was especially applauded for what was already known of her work at Hull House,

There was a charming speech from the Greek delegate, Mrs. Parren, who brought with her some flowers from the Acropolis.

Two Canadians, one French, Mme. Dandurand, the other English, Mrs. Hendrick, made known to us the customs of their country in its twofold aspect, which is so curious; the lamentable state of Armenia was placed before us by an Armenian, Mme. Berbéroff. Austria, Hungary, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, had appointed representatives, and hundreds of auditors met together as much at the sections which were held in the morning as at the public séances in the afternoon. Certain desires expressed, such as the abolition of the legal incapacity of married women, the management by them of their own property, the freedom to dispose as they please of the product of their labors, the equal rights of mother and father in all that concerns the children, the right of guardianship given to women, the founding of professional and art schools. for women and scholarships for apprentices, the suppression of lucrative work by children under thirteen years of age, were the outposts set forth for excellent reforms. And notice that this Congress was organized by the most moderate of the believers in women's rights, by those who wish to keep to the scrupulous observance of religious and moral laws, and who hold that man and woman would be nothing one without the other, while their closer union, on the contrary, constitutes a harmonious being.

In the beginning of September, from the 5th to the 8th, a second International Woman's Congress was held, far more advanced in reforms than the Congress of Women's Works and Institutions. The President was Mme. Maria Pognon; the Secretary-General, Mme. Marguerite Durand, directress of the "Fronde." Conducted undoubtedly with more method and authority than the first, by professional women accustomed to the platform and to journalism, it was assured the support of a number of men belonging to the Government; the programme, at the same time concise and sensational, was of a nature to strike the imagination. Many working women were interested in it, and the question of syndicates was eloquently discussed.

No one can deny that the Congress of

"Woman's Condition and Rights " has been a very brilliant one, full of life and boldness. But any foreign delegate of some discrimination will nevertheless recognize, if he has followed both Congresses, that the first one, by its very moderation, its timidity, perhaps, on certain points, was the just expression of the spirit among the masses of French women; however prudent it may have been in leaving aside the suffrage question, for example, it was entirely unanimous in demanding equal culture and instruction for both sexes. Let us add that in the presence of women doctors like Mme. EdwardsPilliet, of lawyers like Mlle. Chauvin and Mlle. Popelin, a Belgian doctor of law, culture carried to the furthest limit did not seem in any way unpleasant.

The June Congress was criticised for having given too much place to the reading of reports and not enough to discus

sion. For our part we find that it was necessary primarily to inform ourselves on the condition of women all over the world in their respective countries.

The English who might have had much to say on the woman question were unfortunately conspicuous by their absence,

although one of them who has become a French woman, Mme. Schmal, distinguished herself among the leaders by claiming independence for married women and the economic emancipation of working women.

It is not the first time that International Women's Congresses have met in France; they were held in 1878, '89, '92, and '96. But the governing powers did not sanction them; like the Catholic Congress which has been carried on this year at the same time with the others, they had no official character. They differed in this way, and in the enthusiasm with which women who formerly would have been horrified at similar discussions now display in running after them. Let us hope that clubs founded on the model of the International Council of Women in America will soon

exist in all countries, and will achieve quietly, but with persistence, veritable victories in the domain of morals, legislation, pedagogy. It may be said that the Congresses have been the most brilliant evidence of the development attained and the importance acquired by women which we were able to discern in the

Exhibition of 1900.