As a member of the committee on awards in sculpture at the recent exposition at St. Louis, I wish to say that in the sculptural exhibit 60 out of 350 pieces, or 17-1/2 per cent, were by women.  Four of these pieces were by women of foreign birth and residing in foreign countries.  Of this number there were a few portrait busts, and the remainder were ideal and symbolic works.

The first impression one received in viewing the work in this department was that there was a number of women sculptors in this country of more than ordinary ability, and this impression grew the more you examined their work with that of men.  It is true that by far the greater number of pieces sent by women were small, but even they showed a capacity for conception, construction, technique, and individuality that will ere long make them fully the equals of men in this important branch of the arts.  And there were large pieces there, too, that spoke of a daring that will soon develop into a confidence that promises well for future work, and this element was what the women sculptors of the country lacked more than any other.

The placing of their work alongside that of men will do much to increase confidence in their own powers; and while it would not be exact to say that the work of the two sexes was equal in merit, the difference was not great.  For this reason I think the managers did an extremely wise thing in not segregating the work of the two sexes, and to have placed them side by side, so that the weak points could be discovered and remedied and the points of excellence improved.  All were delighted to see the advancement women have made in sculptural art in the past few years, and this advancement is attested by the fact that they received 1 gold, 3 silver, and 16 bronze medals in this department alone.

The progress they have made in the past ten years has been most gratifying, and they are certainly progressing more rapidly along certain lines than men.  The deficiencies and points of weakness brought out by this exhibition will soon be overcome, and as women have become convinced that natural endowment does not fit men for greater work than women, they will evolve grander themes than heretofore.  And by firmness with which woman in art is already treading this upward path, she is convincing others that another road exists than that which their feet knew.

It is positive that the encouragement given to man on account of his physical prowess, by both men and women, has had a psychological effect in helping him to evolve ideas and to carry them out in tangible form.  Women will be helped to a large extent only by women; they must not wait for that help that has been given man.  They must do the work that comes to their consciousness, or that which is given them to do, without question or hesitation.  There should not be any doubt or