Art and Handcraft in the Woman's Building
of the World's Columbian Exposition

PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE. The World’s Columbian Exposition has afforded woman an unpre- cedented opportunity to present to the world a justification of her claim to be placed on complete equality with man. The broad fact that able and earnest women from all quarters of the globe organized for the purpose of gathering evidence and demand- ing a hearing by the court of assembled nations is generally known. The following pages—written by women eminent as pleaders in the cause—tell eloquently of the detail of their procedure and of the results so far attained. That their labors will immediately eventuate in the full realization of their hopes can not with reason be expected, but that their efforts have revealed the possession of unsuspected powers, and will disperse the mists of ignorant prejudice that at present cloud the question, can not be doubted. The publishers hail with pleasure the opportunity that the issuance of this volume affords them of adding to the light, and perhaps of hastening the coming of the day when woman will be emancipated from restraints imposed upon her by a worn-out conventionalism absurdly unsuited to our times and conditions.