THE POWER OF THE ENGLISH WOMAN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 196, 13 May 1908, Page 5

THE POWER OF THE ENGLISH WOMAN.

;The ikcSMS^vlffarifidioiigli, ,whof.has,,-all} , her married life,been object .'of .interest to; her compatriots, 'debut' as 71, fipeakor inV America itho - other day,"and' tlio '"Daily Mail-"..srepqrts:,that her 'speech'was; ; a brilliant succcss. ■ It was at a. dinner given in honour of; Mrs.: Humphry Ward, vat ' the Waldorf ■,A'stpria r Hotel. -f.: . ■ Since NewT Yo^t.'first began to of';the duchess,''.she. has' developed marvel-; ■ lously. She. >'hasgrown- from a shy: little' American girl,' timid, fearful,' and quite un-.' able to realise the; power of : -tho millions', ; she- commanded,' into ,a deeply thoughtful, woman inspired with great and serjous aims. ; "-We looketf 011 her as a'.social' butterfly,: but Ave ,see>.now that shQ.f.has'.minsled'with; Englishwomen' of the. highest her.' own: infinite' advantage." ,' Such was. the.; tenor ofHhe commfents .on. the 'duchess's;'riiaiclon' .. oration, doliy^'red.^efpre.'.lan; 1 (vudjencei pomr prising ..' tcllectual, : ;philantlirbpic, ,and ; '-social life ef •' the American capital. 1 'The object}. of.Stlie 1 banquet, was to pay honour: to -Mrs. '.Ward;' and : the cause : ,with : which, the: name;'ofl'vtHat '/authoress:, is'..pr.dv, eminently asso'ciatpdrfthe' creation ofplaj'— grounds and .opportunities.for recreation for'. the 'teeming .'■children of oiir great ••'cities,.:,. But .though 1 Mr. 1 Ttopsevelt, JMr./ Bryce/.'aiid •' Earl'. Grey"' wrote'; regretting , their 'inability • to be .present,and. expressing profound ad- ". miratinn for • the:'work :'of ,Mrs:- Ward,; tlic; ' duchess wasvfirst'and last .the 'centre of, ob-\ ■'. servation. ;U'.'V A \'''"y ■ Tho Duchess;; 'of .-Marlborough ■ began', her speech', by / urging . her ; sisters'' to take heart 'froiriv.tbo ;noble; esamplo'. set- by the -women 'of .'-Englaindr • '.■"■■ln .England,. as' I know," she. said; "the influence' of the women has J permeated every field of human . endeavour, " political and philanthropic, no . less than social and artistic. From earliest ; childhood . Englishwomen ' are made ~to ; feel their obligations and individual responsibility, 1 and it is thisj sense * of . obligation,, I ' venture to think, we American women'should* foster and develop here."' ."■• ':• ' The peroration of the duchess elicitjd boundless : applause!, and the influence -'of, the speech'.is bound to be widespread. l : Already steps are being taken practically'to realise .the ideas- she- advocated—those of the British methods of helping-- little city children to health and happiness....