INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 623, 28 September 1909, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

V ; : ; ' VICTORIAN; DELEGATE. /''■;'-■ ■/';/ '.The -British"--'Australasian" publishes aninterview with Mrs. D. York-Syme, of ■ Melbourne, a sister of the. Right Hon. G; H. Eeid, who: was/a| delegate from Victoria-to-the In; tornational '■Council of Women .'of Toronto.' " Mrs. Syme, in. speaking of. her recent ex-; fiorience's..- at ■ Toronto, said:. " What, particu-. arly struck me was the sympathy.,and:.in-, terest Tiniversally ehowni The University. authorities granted us ' the whole [University for the meetings, Lady•; Grey, the wife of the Governor-General, and the Lieutenant-Goyer-nor'arid'.Lady./Gibson were more than kind.' The -Government granted the use of the Legislative - r Council Chambers for the' farewell 6veriirig,..and / all prominent citizens, including the Mayor and Mrs. Oliver,'/showed us open', hearted, and generous hospitality /V. ;-.._' ; . -.■ "I'mtist own to isurprise at tho command of English displayed by .nearly all .the delegates'who came ;from all corners of.-'.the world. Froken Gad frbm . Denmark. exhibited a delightful seiiso of humour in the way'sho turned her mistakes in. English to account.. You can perhaps, imagine' ; the wonderful and ■ deafening • jamount of chattering indulged' in by 200 ;wdraen: whori;we were.all '• in the-train en route/ for, Niagara- It was delightful to have.the opportunity of meeting such- interesting womerf'in'isHch a : raannori and to feel that'in addition-to'.oil' questions' of social, reform and the raisirig'of the status of .women .wo ■'were' strengthening the bonds of--'.universal 'sisterhood. ■. Wo'.were gay. enough arid happy enough, but the earnestness'.of those >women iras-rtrik-ing. /Their aims and, ideals; ■were the "up- , liftingof humanity/and one had only to glance through/the programme, a big" yolurne in- itself,' tozsee.in'.'whatwidely, diverse" questions women/, were - Z/interested. . ;-'The--Mother/ .'Problem of tho Unemployed,' ,'.The Poster.' Nuisance;'. .'.Women/as. Physicians l arid:-'Sur-'~. geohs,' ' How' Best to .Deal with , Hbmelea Infonts/i'M/nsic/j 'Women Agriculturists,' and. all ■ these 'came -into : their ! right '■' class; their right. section,','with : hundreds■ of other questions'/in.#hich; 'naturally,■-' the; extension■ of the'.franchise, to 'women was' 'prominent.' .-. ■ ■■%- ■"I was /struck; by /the fact that the cottricil as ;a whole recognised; the impracticability of passing resolutions for abolishing /war and preparations' for war.aniong tho nations, Gercdariy, arid-Great Britain being unanimously against thezm'otipn.' . ;, j.V .'..'■'■.■■■.;. ■. "•• :■■/:., -■■■■■ .-','..'••--Several isolated / points'ajso' '.I;.noted,; for. instance, the : statements that. ' Trained un-paid-work is a-gr%St'assVt?to"» : *dlaK'dn'.''- That iri the /United States and elsewhere' it is recognised .that a ;girl; has; a right', to spe&altrain- - ing, .and her. own; career), even/if her" parents' are wealthy. and able and willing to keep her. Thatrmany-girlij of this class /are. engaged.in social service' in ■■ the States.". ; .. - ..It/was/easy to gather that.there had been eo .much to see: and hear and consider that Mrs; Symo could -give but the /merest outline in "an: interview.- She spoke, :however',- -later,, oh with patriotic pride of the superiority of the -/Australian' rail My system, and says thst though the . Canadians have most, charming hoines,- and are -familiar with' every , , luxury,' railway-travelling-for a distance there iis a penance /and never a pleasure. .'.'. '.'.-•■■;■■■