rst time
having a place side by side with men's can not be overestimated.
It enabled women to see at a glance their own weaknesses, and at
the same time presented to the view of others their strong
points in the most telling manner. The jury of higher education
did not ask on examining an exhibit whether it was men's or
women's work. Each exhibit was judged entirely on its individual
merit as presented. And if the universities and great men's
colleges (and in many cases these included women's work)
received a higher grade of award than did the great women's
colleges, it was because, in the opinion of the jury, the
equipment of the former and the larger showing in the way of
actual work and appliances entitled them to the award, rather
than that it was the respective work of either men or women. But
I may say, to show the absolutely unbiased mind of the jury,
that women's work in many lines came in for even greater
appreciation than did that of the men.

By no means would the results have been better if their work had
been separately exhibited. A far greater importance was assumed
by women's work in the placing of it side by side with men's
work. Thus displayed, it received precisely equal attention and
a more liberal study undoubtedly than it would have done if
placed alone.

At Chicago and various other expositions it was relegated to a
far less desirable position by itself. The very fact of its
isolation in a building designated the Women's Building set it
apart as a different and inferior effort and created a prejudice
against it.

Women's work was far more varied at St. Louis and more
representative of different nations. The so-called strictly
feminine, viz, art and needlework, pottery, decoration,
libraries of books by women authors, attractive parlors,
displaying women's taste, which largely filled the charming
women's buildings at Chicago, at Atlanta, at the Tennessee
Centennial, at Omaha, and at Buffalo, were unquestionably showy
and striking displays. In St. Louis, on the contrary, women's
exhibits mingled with men's work in the serious and practical
enterprises of the day and appealed to the same audiences. Woman
appeared as she really is, the fellow-student, the
fellow-citizen, and partner of man in the affairs of life.

Manufacturers were not a