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Fraulein Marie Calm then spoke of the weight of prejudice which had still to be overcome even among the friends of the women's movement. Since the foundation of the Association in 1865, women were accustomed to meet together to discuss the most important interests of their sex, which are identical with the best interests of the race. It was now generally admitted that women might take part in literature, but their right to speak in public still aroused much prejudice; it was considered unfeminine, though women might take part in public concerts, or amateur theatricals, withont giving offence. She also combated the popular opinion that it was unnecessary for wcmen to be trained for other than home duties. Before the last Prussian war there were 1,827,441 unmarried women, and more than 700,000 widows, and this number was now much increased. It ,vas necessary for these women to find some profession, anel opportunities for attaining it should be given them. She believed that the time was fast coming wheu no occupation would be thought so disgraceful to a woman as idleness.