The Last Years in Stockholm 141 Society is to see to it that notables visiting Stockholm are brought into contact with the intellectual world of the capital. Ellen Key proposed Dr. Ellen Fries as the first president and was induced to take the vice-presidency herself ; but when Ellen Fries sent in her resig- nation on account of illness, the Society urged Ellen Key to become president, and this office she held for many years. One of the members, writing about her in this capacity, says: "Ellen Key possesses all the qualities which grace a chairman—perfect delivery, dignity, and humour combined, in bom eagerness to bring souls together, impartiality in the most chivalrous manner, broad culture, warm in- terest in everything, a genius for arrangement without being practical in the ordinary sense, and finally a great ability quickly to make a position clear and to decide upon a course. In addition to the annoying persecution, which ensued after the controversy on the woman question, it may be mentioned that intrigues played their part in New Idun in an endeavour to rem.ove Ellen Key from the presidency which she had filled so well. But as this Society had a number of high-minded and upright women among its members, this plot failed entirely, and Ellen Key was retained