Pa., made a good practical display of hats, and in their line the finished product was equal to any in the world, and showed great progress since the Columbian Exposition, when the writer had the pleasure of judging their exhibit.  The average of woman’s work is about equal.

In this group the advancement in special industries has been in the processes of women’s work in the knit goods and corsets, which show greatest improvement.  The creditable work shown in the arrangement and display of exhibits by suggestions and carrying out of detail by women leads one to think that women are more remarkable along these lines of work and have accomplished much in the last eleven years, since the time of the Chicago Exposition, or at any time in the past.

Their work was more individualized in former expositions, while in the latter it was impossible to draw comparisons in the advancement or success of women’s work, the work not being placed in such a way as to enable one to judge whether it was solely that of women or men.  All work was exhibited as the work of mankind in general, and could not be classified under the head of either women’s or men’s work.

    Where manufacturers were questioned relative to the percentage
    of women working in their establishments, they gladly answered
    the questions.

    No woman received an award in this group.

    Among the useful and distinctive inventions shown were the
    garter supporters, well known to be the invention of a woman.

    The underwear in general, corsets, and accessories are more
    useful and more healthful from a physical standpoint, especially
    the corsets of to-day.  This is an advancement.

There was more ingenuity displayed in the installation and taste in artistic arrangement of the exhibits, making them of greater value as exposition attractions; whereas in former expositions Philadelphia was experimental, the World’s Columbian Exposition educational, and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition exploitive.

There is no reason why women should not have a large representation, if not equal with men, in all expositions.  While they may not be the real inventors of the machines, devices, etc., they many times are the suggestors.  Being the spenders and buyers for the home and family makes them more competent as judges of merchandise of all kinds and quicker to note improvements.

In the work of the world, especially in anything pertaining to the home, educational matters, arts, and professions, women hold such a prominent place to-day, almost exclusively doing the work in the manufacture of articles and habiliments for creature comforts, that it is impossible to ignore them.

    Summary of groups 53 and 61 (jury composed of 19 persons).—­In
    previous world’s fairs they were called judges, but at this one
    they were “jurors.”