dvanced
but firm ground secured by the steady and persistent efforts of other
women in their long struggle to obtain intellectual advantages and
recognition.

By reason of the sacrifices and endurance of those pioneers, every
opportunity is now afforded to women not only to acquire any trade or
profession, but also to practice it without hindrance; in many cases the
same money value is placed upon their labor as upon that of men for
similar work, and no longer is the line of demarcation rigidly drawn
between the woman of leisure and the self-supporting woman. It,
therefore, devolved upon the members of the board of lady managers to
advance, to the best of their ability, the conditions under which women
might continue to maintain their social, intellectual, and financial
independence.

At this first formal meeting of the board of lady managers held in St.
Louis the president and board of directors of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition Company tendered to the members a most delightful evening
reception at the Southern Hotel. This was the first official
entertainment given to the board of lady managers.

On Wednesday, October 1, 1902, the election of the following officers
was effected:

Mrs. James L. Blair, president; Mrs. Edward L. Buchwalter, first
vice-president; Mrs. Finis P. Ernest, second vice-president; Mrs. Helen
Boice-Hunsicker, third vice-president; Miss Anna L. Dawes, fourth
vice-president; Mrs. Belle L. Everest, fifth vice-president; Mrs. M.H.
de Young, sixth vice-president; Mrs. Fannie L. Porter, seventh
vice-president; Mrs. Frederick Hanger, secretary; Mrs. William H.
Coleman, treasurer.

Miss Helen M. Gould then offered the following resolution:

_Resolved_, That it is the earnest desire of the board of lady
managers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition that there be no
indecent dances or improper exhibits in the Midway during the
exposition, and that the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company
be urged to use the utmost care in awarding the concessions for
shows, in order that there may be no objectionable features.

The motion was carried unanimously, and its observance by the local
company was largely instrumental in lowering to a minimum the number of
objectionable features on the "Pike."

In a joint conference of the National Commission and President Francis
the latter consented that the Commission should make the number of lady
managers 24 instead of 21, and on October