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a picturesque bit of brilliant color to the scene as
they deeply salaamed。 They arrested the eye of
the Queen； who stopped and spoke a few cordial
words to them。 This gave the rest of us an excellent
opportunity to observe her closely； and I admit that
my English blood stirred in me suddenly and loyally
as I studied the plump little figure。 She was dressed
entirely and very simply in black； with a quaint
flat black hat and a black cape。 The only bit
of color about her was a black…and…white parasol
with a gold handle。 It was； however； her face which
held me； for it gave me a wholly different impression
of the Queen from those I had received from her
photographs。 Her pictured eyes were always rather
cold； and her pictured face rather haughty； but there
was a very sweet and winning softness in the eyes
she turned upon the Indian women； and her whole
expression was unexpectedly gentle and benignant。
Behind her； as a personal attendant； strode an
enormous East…Indian in full native costume； and
closely surrounding her were gentlemen of her house…
hold； each in uniform。
By this time my thoughts were on my courtesy；
which I desired to make conventional if not grace…
ful； but nature has not made it easy for me to
double to the earth as Lady Aberdeen and the In…
dian women were doing； and I fear I accomplished
little save an exhibition of good intentions。 The
Queen； however； was getting into the spirit of the
occasion。 She stopped to speak to a Canadian
representative； and she would； I think； have ended
by talking to many others； but； just at the psycho…
logical moment； a woman rushed out of the line；
seized Her Majesty's hand and kissed itand Vic…
toria； startled and possibly fearing a general on…
slaught； hurriedly passed on。
Another picture I recall was made by the Duchess
of Sutherland； the Countess of Aberdeen； and the
Countess of Warwick standing together to receive
us at the foot of the marble stairway in Sutherland
House。 All of them literally blazed with jewels； and
the Countess of Aberdeen wore the famous Aber…
deen emerald。 At Lady Battersea's reception I had
my first memorial meeting with Mary Anderson
Navarro； and was able to thank her for the pleasure
she had given me in Boston so long ago。 Then I
reproached her mildly for taking herself away from
us； pointing out that a great gift had been given
her which she should have continued to share with
the world。
‘‘Come and see my baby；'' laughed Madame
Navarro。 ‘‘That's the best argument I can offer
to refute yours。''
At the same reception I had an interesting talk
with James Bryce。 He had recently written his
American Commonwealth； and I had just read it。
It was； therefore； the first subject I introduced in
our conversation。 Mr。 Bryce's comment amused
me。 He told me he had quite changed his opinion
toward the suffrage aspirations of women； because
so many women had read his book that he really
believed they were intelligent； and he had come to
feel much more kindly toward them。 These were
not his exact words； but his meaning was unmistak…
able and his mental attitude artlessly sincere。 And；
on reflection； I agree with him that the American
Commonwealth is something of an intellectual hurdle
for the average human mind。
In 1908 the International Council was held in
Geneva； and here； for the first time； we were shown；
as entertainment； the dances of a countrythe
scene being an especially brilliant one； as all the
dancers wore their native costumes。 Also； for the
first time in the history of Geneva； the buildings of
Parliament were opened to women and a woman's
organization was given the key to the city。 At
that time the Swiss women were making their fight
for a vote in church matters； and we helped their
cause as much as we could。 To…day many Swiss
women are permitted to exercise this rightthe
first political privilege free Switzerland has given
them。
The International Alliance meeting in Amster…
dam in 1909 was the largest held up to that time；
and much of its success was due to Dr。 Aletta Jacobs；
the president of the National Suffrage Association
of Holland。 Dr。 Jacobs had some wonderful helpers
among the women of her country； and she herself
was an ideal leaderpatient； enthusiastic； and tire…
less。 That year the governments of Australia； Nor…
way； and Finland paid the expenses of the delegates
from those countriesa heartening innovation。 One
of the interesting features of the meeting was a
cantata composed for the occasion and given by
the Queen's Royal Band； under the direction of a
womanCatharine van Rennes； one of the most
distinguished composers and teachers in Holland。
She wrote both words and music of her cantata and
directed it admirably； and the musicians of the
Queen's Band entered fully into its spirit and played
like men inspired。 That night we had more music；
as well as a never…to…be…forgotten exhibition of folk…
dancing。
The same year； in June； we held the meeting of
the International Council in Toronto； and； as Canada
has never been eagerly interested in suffrage； an un…
successful effort was made to exclude this subject
from the programme。 I was asked to preside at the
suffrage meetings on the artless and obvious theory
that I would thus be kept too busy to say much。
I had hoped that the Countess of Aberdeen； who was
the president of the International Council； would take
the chair； but she declined to do this； or even to
speak； as the Earl of Aberdeen had recently been
appointed Viceroy of Ireland； and she desired to
spare him any embarrassment which might be
caused by her public activities。 We recognized the
wisdom of her decision； but； of course； regretted
it； and I was therefore especially pleased when； on
suffrage night； the countess； accompanied by her
aides in their brilliant uniforms； entered the hall。
We had not been sure that she would be with us；
but she entered in her usual charming and gra…
cious manner； took a seat beside me on the platform；
and showed a deep interest in the programme and
the great gathering before us。
As the meeting went on I saw that she was grow…
ing more and more enthusiastic； and toward the
end of the evening I quietly asked her if she did
not wish to say a few words。 She said she would
say a very few。 I had put myself at the end of the
programme； intending to talk about twenty minutes；
but before beginning my speech I introduced the
countess； and by this time she was so enthusiastic
that； to my great delight； she used up my twenty
minutes in a capital speech in which she came out
vigorously for woman suffrage。 It gave us the best
and timeliest help we could have had； and was a
great impetus to the movement。
In London； at the Alliance Council of 1911； we
were entertained for the first time by a suffrage
organization of men； and by the organized