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

IN THE WOMAN’S BUILDING. 19 that the governments of these countries would be willing to make admissions which reflect so much upon themselves, or that they would allow these shameful conditions to continue. The oppressive bonds laid upon women, both by religion and custom, are in some cases so strong as to be insurmountable, probably, during the pres- ent generation. A lady eminent for her work on behalf of the women of India, has informed me that the difficulty in doing any- thing for them is their absolute mental inactivity and their lack of desire to change their condition; they are so bound by the prevail- ing laws of caste and the prejudices that exist, that they have no wish for different surroundings; the desire for something better must be created before anything can be done to help them. We have the hopeful fact to record, however, that even where the night has seemed the darkest, we have received letters from native women, to whom the dawn of a brighter day is visible, show- ing a full comprehension of the situation and an awakened intelli- gence. These women are working in their feeble way to send us, unofficially, such an exhibit as they can get together, notwithstand- ing official refusals. It is unfortunate that we can not hope to have women from the Orient present in large numbers at the Exposition, so that they might profit by its civilizing influences. When our building was planned, we thought with some anxiety of the difficulty we would experience in getting creditable objects to fill so vast a space, but now we find that a building four or five times as large would have been inadequate. I now feel sure that notwithstanding the disappointments to exhibitors, this is a benefit to the quality of the collection, for such a vigorous process of elimi- nation has been required in order to bring the exhibits within the bounds assigned, that it has resulted in the exclusion of all but the most desirable and attractive objects. The moment of fruition has arrived. Hopes which for more than two years have gradually been gaining strength and definite- ness have now become realities. The Exposition has opened its gates. On the occasion of the formal opening of the Woman’s Building the Board of Lady Managers was singularly fortunate in having the honor of welcoming distinguished official representa- tives of many of the able foreign committees, and of the State boards which have so effectively cooperated with it in accomplish- ing results now disclosed to the world. We have traveled together a hitherto untrodden path, have been subjected to tedious delays, and overshadowed by dark clouds which threatened disaster to our enterprise. We have been obliged to march with peace offerings