Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/863

 THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE 847 not least the presence of the woman all of us had long known and loved before we saw her, Selma Lagerlof, made us feel at home in Sweden at once. This feeling deepened as time went on and Wed- nesday evening at Skansen a new note was added. All we saw of Swedish nature and Swedish life in that beautiful open air museum, the national dances, the characteristic art of Sven Scholander and his daughter Lisa, gave us a deeper understanding of the people whose guests we were and showed us some of the roots from which it draws its strength. Another aspect also, the refined culture of modern Sweden, was the dominant note of the dinner at Hassel- backen with the heartfelt speech of the venerable Bishop Scheele of Visby. On a background of lovely scenery this week will stand out in our memory as one long summer day with a long, long evening full of silver light. . . . During the carriage drive generously provided by Miss Lotten von Kraemer our hearts were gladdened by the many expressions of sympathy we met on our way, from the dear old women, who waved their handkerchiefs and their aprons, down nail girls by the side of their mothers. . . . Especially the day at Upsala, by invitation of its suffrage society, will not be forgotten. The warm-hearted reception, the gay flags all through the town, at once lifted up the spirit of the whole gathering, which found a charming expression in the improvised festive procession from the botanical garden to the cathedral. The presence and eloquence of the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw gave an added dignity to this as to many others of our social gatherings. Schools, hospitals, museums, exhibitions of all kinds of women's art and women's work, were visited. . . . [The many private invitations were referred to.] The thirty-six delegates, who accepted Mrs. Caroline Benedick-Bruce's invitation to the Island of Visby, have told us that words failed to describe this beautiful day. Looking back on the time that lies behind us, we, the women who have come here from all over the world, thank our Swedish
 * s for the inspiration their kindness and their loving reception

have been to us. We thank Sweden for the splendid women it has produced. We have seen the many elements that have worked to- gether to attain this result; we have learned to admire and respect Swedish history, Swedish culture, Swedish art; and as, besides the many other things this congress has done for us, it has most spe- cially taught us to love the Swedish women, we can express no better wish for our future conventions than that every new country which receives us may in the same way widen our hearts by a new love. SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIANCE. 'Hie International Woman Suffrage Alliance held its Seventh ference and Congress in lUidapcst June 15-21, 1913. As had