the elaborate and expensive creche would have ended in financial failure and embarrassments; that the aid given Mrs. Hirschfield had made the Play Ground and Day Nursery so effective that it met all needs in a most acceptable manner and had proven one of the most interesting and satisfactory features of the great exposition.

    Respectfully submitted. 
    EMILY S.G.  HOLCOMBE, Chairman. 
    HELEN M. GOULD. 
    FRANCES M. HANGER.

The committee on woman’s congresses was created by the first president of the board of lady managers in April, 1903, and its aim was to be instrumental in bringing together representative women of this and foreign countries, either as organized bodies or as individuals, in order that by discussion and comparison of all social, educational, charitable, and industrial aspirations, and an interchange of thought on important questions relating to the welfare of women, the higher intellectual, moral, and physical plane that has already been established might not only continue to be maintained, but mutual interests be renewed and encouraged.  They hoped to thus foster a better understanding of the aims of women of the different countries, and, by strengthening their common cause and making possible uniformity of action, promote the advancement of women everywhere.

It was further desired by thus bringing together distinguished women from all parts of the world interested in mental development and philanthropic and reformatory work, to review not only the old, but add the new record of the historical progress of women to date, to learn not only the various achievements now being accomplished by the women of the world in all phases of life at the present time, but ascertain the objective height now sought or thought to be attainable for them in each country.

The committee felt that this exposition would afford an opportunity to carefully consider humanitarian interests, and record the close connection of women to the most important issues, their struggles, and their possibilities.  The encouraging stimulus that would be given to them by the mutual expression of their hopes of the ultimate success of each earnest endeavor for their advancement, must inevitably result in aiding the elevation of women and the improvement of the conditions under which they live, and upon which not only their own welfare, but that of the nation, largely depends.

It was, therefore, a source of great regret to the members of the committee that their desire to carry out these commendable plans were doomed, in great measure not to be realized because, while the “suggestion” was again approved by the Exposition Company, no means were provided for the carrying out of the work, and their own appropriation was not received by the board in time to be made available.

The following is the final report of the committee on women’s congresses: