de than that of men; rather was it the
mistaken idea of drawing attention to it, as something better
and apart. By this very means there was often a serious and
hurtful comparison, since many women with undoubted ability
would not thus place their exhibits. It implied that in the
special group, where exhibit was made, woman's mind differed
from that of man's to the extent that there was also a
difference in the result.

We owe sincere thanks to the progressive men in charge of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, that they listened with
intelligent appreciation to the plea from women for equal
representation, wherever their work was found worthy.

There is no mistaking the dignified effect of this edict, and
only the best in various lines gained admission to the exhibit
palaces.

In most exhibits the larger proportion was presented by men; and
in similar proportion the awards were assigned. There was,
however, no distinction made as to sex; and the members of the
various juries, including women, paid as careful attention to
the one exhibit as to the other, without reference to name,
often the only indication of sex.

There were some art, educational, and economic exhibits, placed
entirely by women, showing marvelous adaptability to the
limitations of environment, and also skill in artistic and
practical setting. Looking closely at the work in the several
departments, my opinion is that, while woman has not gained
greatly in inventive or constructive arts, she has gained
breadth in the applied arts and has grown immeasurably in
freedom of execution. This has been obtained partly by the
contact with man's work, extending through many centuries in
advance, and partly by the very fact that she must now stand
only on her own merits.

Women from foreign lands entered into competition in the
departments of art, education, and liberal arts to a very slight
extent, with some investigation in science, but in all a very
small proportion. This was natural, on account of the great
distance, and may be applied equally to the number of exhibitors
from across the water, whether men or women.

American women were found in nearly every field open to
competition, though it was the apparently proud statement of the
director of Mines and Metallurgy that there were no women on