UNIVERSITY WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 13

UNIVERSITY WOMEN

CONFERENCE AT GENEVA

The international Federation of University Women closed its fiftieth session on 17th August ■ (says the London "Observer"). Of the 500 gathered in Geneva, most have gono their ways to the three and thirty countries that sent them as delegates, members, or officials, out of the grave yet radiant, city by the waters of Lake Leman. They scatter by sea, air, or train to the ends of the earth, Australia, America, European countries, but as surely each of them has her tale to tell of the week. And, although the tales will vary, as truth —unlese it bo scientist— must always vary with temperament, the foundation is the same. For wo were all delighted, and the impression of delight from the singular beauty of ouv surroundings, as from the free and hearty welcome of our Swiss hosts, remains our clearest memory. Differences indeed in the common air of Geneva combined, and grew harmonious, like notes in a chord of music, like colours in a rainbow, like the facets of a crystal. Two other qualities besides this satisfying souse of genuine)' work efficiently done stand out. Above all previous meetings of the kind, tho Geneva Conference showed tho Federation less concerned as a whole with purely feminist interests, and very much more concerned with iiitollectual interests on the one hand, and international on the other. Anyone who had heard tho addresses of tho two sciontiiic research fellows—the French woman, a specialist in organic chemistry, tho German, a brilliant meteorologist, who has been pursuing her studies in Australia—would have guessed that the .main stress of the phrase, '< University women," had shifted from the second word to the first. That guess would have been confirmed had he then watched the rapt audience who attended tho most brilliant lecture of the sessionProfessor Caroline Spurgeon's discussion of "The Imagery of Shakespeare."! In fact,- the International Federation of Women,, as a thinking, working body j of human beings, is a reality. In this tenth year of its life, there was distinctly tho feeling that it was no longer a child. It is growing up. New problems in international organisation are shadowed and are bound to come. So there was a feeling among the officers that the original conventions might, at some near date, need widoning or changing. There was talk of a second contro of organisation besidos that of London —in Honolulu or some place fronting tho Pacific. This need cause no alarm. "The old order changeth." It must. Both of the feot of this child are set truly and sincerely in the right paths. Slio is bound to follow them, however far they take her. And tho paths, like tho paths of Browning's "Grammarian," go up and on toward the

Tall mountain cited to tho top Crowded with cultuve. With him, we can say, "We nro for the morning."