rr rrf
PART III , THE OMAHA DAILY BEE.PAGES 17 TO 24. HMNMM
ESTABLISHED JUNE 10 , 1871. OMAHA , WEDNESDAY MAY 1 , 1895 TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
OMAHA'S ' FIRST LADIES
How They Went to Dinner Parties in the
Fifties.
SOME INTERESTING REMINISCENCES
lloiv Ono Woman Hcecemlcd to .Meet Her
( luc U The I nil Inn Who Were
a lluilga All 11 In Life
time.
Very few of those now living In this city
can have any realization cf thu prlv tloiu , Dot
to say hardships that were endured by the
pioneer ladles who came here at an ( .arly
date. A few "claim shai.lcu' vero scatterel
at distant Intervals over this beautiful
plateau and were eagerly taken by thosn who
were fortunate enough to secure them , li.cre
was seldom more than one room In them , ro
that no servants could be kept , oven If there
were any. Miny an amusing atero couM
have been witnessed If the frUnds who had
been left behind could have peeped In at th
door and have seen the attempts made at
cocking by those who never cooked before.
A description uf cue of the homes might beef
of Interest. A friend ut ours owneJ .1 "claim
shanty" that stood on the hill v.cst of what
Is now Sounders street , and he very kindly
cffcrcd It to us , baying ho would luve It
plastered and fixed ip If wo wished It. We
of courfo accepted It at once , find as soon
as possible It was mil } ready , and we movel
Intb It late one evening , very happy to have
a "home. " I remember saying In a letter tea
a friend that It consisted of "upstairs , down
stairs and cellar , " the upstairs being Just
high enough to stand erect In the center of
the room , provided ono was not very tall.
The stairs were nothing but a ladder , home
made at that , In one corner of the room , held
In place by a trunk. It was some time before
I succeeded In going up and down grace
fully. I happened to be upstairs when our
first callers caino and In my effort to get
down quietly caught riy fcot on ono of the
rungs ( or rather squares ) of the ladder and
landed on the afnre mentioned trunk so sud
denly as to bring every one In the room to
their feet. It took away all the formality
ot the Introduction , however. I wonder If
Mr. and Mrs. Hanscom remember that
episode. They lived about half a mile north
of the "cottage" just described and had what
Ecemcd to others a house that was almost
palatial. It contained three rooms , I believe
besides a kitchen , and had many .comforts
that few had in those days , Including a
craillo that held a rosy-cheeked , curly-heade
baby girl , who Is now grown to womanhood
and has babies ot her own. Another house
standing where Crclghton college now stands
was built by a nephew of the late Ilev.
Ilcuben 'Gaylord , but was afterward occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. W. N. IJycrs , who have
for many years resided In Colorado. A one-
story house stood just In the roar ot the
stprc slnco built and occupied by Sootlo
and Maul , on Farnam street , and was kept
as a boarding house by "Kentucky" Wood
and his wife. ( That" was not his name , but
was given him to distinguish him from
another of the same name. ) It was de
cidedly a "high toned" boarding house , al
though the partitions were made of un
bleached cloth , and the floor of the dining
room was covered with sawdust. Judges
Lockwood and liradlty , two of the territorial
judges , boarded thcro and a dinner was given
In their honor by the landlord and his wife.
Governor and Mrs. L. B. Cumlng , Colonel
and Mrs. C : V. Smith , Dr..George L. Miller
and myself were olnong the Invited guests.
My Invitation was brought to mo by a man
who came to deliver a load nf wood and very
kindly offered , me a "s5nt In his cart , " which
I accepted ; so , while the wood was being re
moved , I dressed myself Tuid was rather
horrified ! on. going'out to find the "cart"
drawn by a pair of oxcn. _ Nothing was said ,
however , and after various attempts to mount
I succeeded and' ' , took my seat on a board
that was dcclam\ bo clean , for ho had
"wiped It with his handkerchief , " which was
a bandanna ot heroic size. The oxen started ;
the seat was rather , mirrov.1 , and In order to
save myself from pitching out head foremost
I was obliged to lay violent hands on my
escort. I reached my destination in safety ,
however , and found dinner nearly over , hut
thcro was still enough turkey , coffee , bread
and butter left to supply all needs. That
vas tht'\flrst dliiiibr party ever given In
Omaha.
Governor and Mrs. , Cumlng boirdcd at the
Douglas house , and their rooirs were often
filled with the "elite" of this young and
grpwlng city. Mrs. Cumlng was then , as
now , very popular , and In the little gatherIngs -
Ings , which were very frequent , considering
the scarcity of room , she was the trading
light. She \ > as always ready and willing to
assist In iny ( good work , and wherever there
waa sickness shb was sure to be found. Mrs.
Thomas Davis was another one who was al
ways doing good. She was the mother ot
the late Mrs. .Herman Kountzo , who at that
time was the only white "Httle girl" here.
Still another ono who was always acting the
part of the Cowl Samaritan was Mrs. C. Es-
tabrook. No one waa ever turned away from
her door who needed help , and sti ? could al
ways bo found at the bedside * ot the sick and
suffering. Mrs. A. I ) . Jones lived at that
time at what was called "Park Wild , " In a
one-story log or frame house that was after
wards occ'ipled''by G. M. Dodge , the distin
guished sofJIer , so well and widely known to
the whole country as the chief engineer of
he Uqlon Pacific tallroad.
Among others who were here and whoso
daughters , Mrs. Edwin Patrick and Mrs.
.5- AH n Hoot , with their chlllren and grand
children , are still with us , was Mrs * L. G.
.5h Goodwill , who lived In the "Kentucky" Wocd
house that I have already mentioned , located
h near the corner of Thirteenth and Farnam
streets. She afterwards built the brick house
that still stands on the corner of Fifteenth
and Davenport streets.
One ot the most prominent women of the
white settlement cf Omaha at that day was
Mrs. John M. Thaycr , whose homo at that
time nvay bo said to have been the first
civilized appearing home. It was actually
plastered , clapboirded and sh'ng'.ed. The en
tire community cnvleAirs. . Thayer her some
what Imros ng residence ; It wai In ery ttrjng
contrast , however , with the beautiful brick
house which General Thaycr afterward built
and occupied for several years on the corner
h of Sixteenth and Davenport streets.
Mrs. Samuel Hogers , Mrs. F. Davidson ,
Mrs. Thomas O'Connor , Mrs. Wllllarj
Snowden , Mrs. O. 11. Seldcn , Mrs.
lladl y Johnson and Mrs. Harrison John
son were among the first women who lived
In Omaha. Mrs. A. J. Popplcton may be
classed among the number , although at that
time she waa living in our sister city , and
waa one of the trailing young ladles there.
Of course It will be seen tli.it I am only
writing of the wives und mothers who lived
In Omaha in the yea's ct ISSt and 1S55. An
I have tald before , almost every lady was
obliged to do her own work , but for nil that
h ; had plenty of time for enjoyment , ami
many pleasant gatherings were had at tW
different homes , besides the dances held al
the Douglas house.
The Indians at that time were very numer
ous , and we were ol'un called upon to dispense
hcspltallty to them , Among the Omalias was
a chief bearing the ouphomtous name ol
"White Cow. " lie was very friendly , and
whenever holshed would * tay over nlghl
at our house. A simple blanket \yas all he
required for a bed , and after smoking his
pipe he would "wrap the drapery ot his coucli
about him and II ? down to pleasiut dreams. "
He waa tall , erect and a splendid specimen cl
physlc.il manhood , more than six feet Ir
height , and In all respects a com mm Jin 8
flE' ro Ho was ( he orator cf hli people an-J
never lost an opportunity to write a tpeccti ;
In this mpfct not very widely different from
some of hl white brethren. His features
were peculiar to his race , but were much
marred by a badge of what he called dis
honor , In the form of a black rag that he
were tied over his upper Up and fastened en
the top oC his head. In his younger days he
had had an encounter with his ancient enemy ,
a Sioux Indian , from whom he received a
wound , and his upper Up carried a scar which
his badge was Intended to conceal. It Is a
part of the tradition at the time that White
Cow made a vow that ho would always wear
It until he had met a Sioux and killed him.
Suffice It to say he were the badge to his
grave. It may be added that the Indians
paid our people frequent visits , accompanied
by their squaws. The men would enter the
housts without waiting for an Invitation ,
oftentimes the first hnowledg ? of their pres
ence lielng a rather dirty hand extended
toward one , and a call for food for their
pappooses , but their squaws would content
themselves with remaining outside and flat
tening their noses against the windows.
Our llttlo city at that time was entirely
cvold nf sidewalks or fences , and though
he streets were all named , no one paid the
east attention to them , the only mark bing
n occasional wagon track. When any of
> ur people became rich enough to own a cow
ho usually pastured them where the New
fork Life building now stands , and the few
lorsss that were here had their speed tested
n running races from Farnam street north-
yard on Sixteenth street.
There are many other Interesting Incidents
hat occur to me , but I have already taken
co much tlmo and space. I have written
his article that the present mothers , wives
.ml daughters of our large and prosperous
Ity may know of the women who left friends ,
linmes and comforts In the east to come with
> rave and ambitious young msn to share their
lot and labors In laying the foundations and
> ulldlng up the Institutions of a great city
nd state. HARRIET E. MILLER.
Tin ; < WLi > KX nun.
Inll noble flowcrl Thy peerless golden
glory
s now emblazoned on Nebraska's crest.
. ' "It herald to proclaim her wondrous story ,
\nd like her , monarch of the mighty West.
No mortal hand assisted at thy sowing.
The stars wept tears upon the barren cnrth ;
Thu dewy clouds , knelt down to kiss them ,
flowing ,
When lol The travail of thy glorious birth.
And leaons since , each glowing constella
tion
las shared Its splendors with thee , Golden
Uod , ,
Has taught thy golden heart , hymns of
oblation
That Heaven's stars breathe to the Triune
God.
.n vain , Aeolus and his wind gods revel
And scatter devastation through each
bower ,
The violets wither , roses proud dishevel ;
Thy scepter Btlll defies his blighting power.
The pioneer beheld thy pristine beauty ,
Where for his dwelling thou bedtcked the
sod.
Thy very life went out In love nml duty
Upon Penates' niter Golden Hod.
When through old Nature's heart cacli
warm pulsation
Grows feebler , as the dying year grows
old.
. .ast of thy race ! o'er all the desolation ,
Shines out undlmmed thy diadem of gold.
Ifnll , matchless flower ! Long may thy
golden glory
Ulaze out upon Nebraska's giant breast.
Her fair escutcheon glittering with thy
And with her , rule fore'er the mighty
WCSt'
CLIO.
Mrs. A. II. Stuckey , Broken Bow , Neb. ,
March C , 1803.
W.1V J > .I1"/
A. Day of Joy , Especially for the Country
I'fMlplC.
"In the beautiful month of May. "
It Is not BO very long since the celebration
of May day has assumed any Importance li
this country. If many other customs brough
from foreign countries to ours have galnet
here their full citizenship this cannot bo said
as far as the celebration of the May day Is
concerned.
The American Is It may perhaps not sound
very pollto and courteous , but nevertheless
It Is a fact more for the practical than the
Ideal side of life- and to Induce him to make
one ot his business days a holy day there
must bo either , religious or patriotic motlveb ,
or both ot them. With the celebration of the
May day neither of these motives can enter
Into the consideration. Therefore It is the
"crown , of creation , " the woman wno cele
brates the May day In our land as far as one
can speak ot any celebration here at all.
As It happens In Omaha this year , the la
dles arc coming before the public on this day
with the edition of a leading dally paper ,
written and managed entirely by ladles , surely
a May day celebration and a concession to the
Ideal , to which men perhaps never could nor
would rise.
Quite otherwise are things In Europe. In
most of the countries of the continent the
May day celebration Is an ancient custom , a
custom known and observed by the people
for many centuries and In the fullest sense
of the word a public feast. It Is the same
In the north , near the eternal Ice ; It Is the
sameIn Sweden and Norway , In Denmark
and even In some parts of far Russia. It Is
the same throughout all Germany , In Switzer
land and away down in Italy , In France and
Spain. It Is the same In the vast empire of
Austria-Hungary , with Its many-tongued na
tions. Everywhere the 1st of May Is cele
brated ao a day ot feasting and Joy , especially
among the country people. For those the
1st of May is a day of cheerfulness , a day
watted for anxiously by young and old , be
cause then they enjoy music and song , all
sorts of popular plays and last , but not least ,
a grand ball on the public squares , where
often even tha "grandpa" risks a little dance
with "grandma. " It Is a day of joy and
amusement , not disturbed by any lack ot
harmony.
Ot course It Is quite natural that every
country , even different parts of each coun
try , have their own peculiarities connected
with this day. But one thing Is true every
where the living generation having received
the tradition of this feast from their an
cestors so as to make It a real and Innocent
arnuscmcnt for all people without distinction ,
will leave It to their offspring just the same ,
pure and harmonious.
Who ever has had an opportunity to study
the feasts and customs of the country people
In Germany will have- noticed the fact that
while both sexes take part together In those
amusements , they always keep themselves
strictly within the limits ot decency and
morality.
What Is the origin of the May day celebra
tion' '
It was already well known to the old
Romans , and from their time to the present
this day has been observed. By the Romans
the month of May , the fifth month of the
year , was-named after the goddess , Mala
Malus. Mala was the oldest of the Pleiades
and by Jupiter the mother of Mercury , the
messenger and Interpreter of the gods.
The Romans adored her. with Flora , god
dess of spring , and the blossom month wae
devoted to her. At that tlmo the people cel
ebrated the arrival of the long-awaited guest
by joyful amusements In which all the people
ple , rleh and poor , old and young , took part ,
t In titusc ancient times the poets already
made their odes and eongs to the "beautiful
month of May , " and those , who followed
them , from the writers ot the church songs
who dedicated their poems to the "Queen ol
the May , " the blessed Vjrgln Mary , dowr. .
to the Mlnnc fingers of the middle ages , and
from them to thj } poets of the present time
did not mlt-3 the chance to pay their tribute
to the May. In thu German poetry of oui
times we yearly find some new tongs Ir
this , a llttlo over-worked direction. The
family joi'rnnls. of the Fatherland , whlcr
bring Germany's young poets to the front
will. In their May edition also this year , as
sure , as there are stars In the sky , publish i
whole lot of new poetry , In which wo are ln <
formed "the May has come , "
The Joy brought by the well received facl
that , the blossom month Is here again , thai
spring , with all the glory attributed to her
ias won the fight over the harsh fellow win-
er , Is at the bottom of all May day celebra-
Ions and makes the first of May a heartily
velcomed and general observed day of festl-
al In most of the European countries.
In most of the principal cities "over the
; reat lake" May day Is observed In ono way
or the other. In Vienna , the capital of Aus-
rla , commencing at high noon , a cavalcade
ot hundreds and hundreds ot vehicles Is
ormeil in line , and , headed by the Imperial
coaches and those ot the high aris
tocracy , turns out to the Prater , the world
renowned public park , which covers many
nlles and Is one of the greatest of Its kind.
? or moro than a hundred years It has been
a place of public resort , dear to the heart
of every true Viennese , and there the day
IH spent In joy and amusements of various
kinds peculiar to the Prater. Whoever owns
a carriage or can afford to hire one partici
pates In the Praterfahrt ( Prater parade. )
In Paris all who are In society , In fact' ' , "tout
io Paris , " as the Frenchman says , takes a
rldo on May day to the Bols cle Boulogne ,
another beautiful park of world wide fame ,
and to Auteull , where on this day the great
spring races begin.
The tumo day over In old England those
people who are or wish to be known as mem
bers of the fashionable world , celebrate May
day at the Epsom races , which give , In the
eyes of all sport lovers , to the victor greater
honors than the premiership of the United
Kingdom.
In Spain , at Scvilla and other places , the
May Is Inaugurated by bull tights and other
national festivities , while down on the Rivi
era , at Monaco and Monte Carlo , the spring
season , commencing May day. finds a good
many representatives of "la monde , " and
I beg your pardon "demi-monde , " the lat
ter , of course , of the highest style , all ascm-
blcd at the notorious green table. Upon those
people the simple and old-fashioned festival ,
which stirs the heart of the rustics In the
valleys of Germany , or upon the high moun
tains In the Tyrol , would hardly make any
Impression ; to make life worth living to
them It needs a little more than old songs
and a concert , given by a band consisting of
homo talent. Therefore they go and seek
their pleasure In the excitement of "rouge et
nolr" and other plays , where one can become
Croesus or beggar , Just as his lot falls , within
a moment.
Of course still much more could bo said
about May day celebration In Europe. But
there Is a saying , come to us from times
past , that a woman never finds the end when
she once begins talking. Therefore , In order
to contradict that saying , I shall close.
To the reader who followed me : Good
bye and "Au revolr ! ' *
FANNY ADLEIt.
Till : JIllOll'MHS JX OMAHA.
When duty calls , the Brownie band
Will always lend a helping hand.
Nor shirk , when called some work to do ,
Hut of It take a cheerful view.
So when the leader of the throng
Of willing llrownles , brave nnd strong ,
Called to his band , with eager ear
All come their leader's words to hear.
Said he , "The ladles of this town
Have , it is rumored , broken down
The ancient prejudice that men
Alone can wield the public pen ;
So they have taken for a day
The paper from the men away ,
And will together run The Bee
And do the work themselves , you see.
So let us , as a courteous band ,
To these good ladles lend a hand ;
For to the Blck. who need It FO ,
The profits of the paper go.
They even now have net the day-
It U , I think , the ttr t of May.
We must be quick. If we would make
Much headway ere that morning break. "
When night In shadows forth did creep
The Brnwnles from their caves dlel peep ,
As quiet streets they gladly see.
They quickly hurry to The Bee.
Said one , "The work we'll do real spry.
And now I'll go and llx the pi. "
So to their tasks the Brownies flew ,
Some cut , some wiote , some marked with
blue.
But all were careful that they should
Da just the finest that they could ,
So that the world might justly say ,
The paper on the llrst of May
Was really belter than -when
Edited and published by the men.
They worked with zeal , they worked with
will ,
And , better still , they worked with skill ;
And when the sun on first of May
Chased all the mists and shades away ,
The Brownies , with their task well done ,
Declared It had been real good fun ;
Then ere the sun had climbed the * ky"
The Brownies to their homes did hie.
BELLA E. HOWELL.
We understand the more progressive of our
highly educated people are agitating the fol
lowing questions , with a view to taking action
upon them ; "Shall men enter the profes
sions ? Shall they ride wheels ? Shall they
wear sweater * outside ot gymnasiums ? Shall
they belong to clubs ? Theie questions should
receive the thoughtful consideration ol all.
Gleanings from the Eipariohco of an Omaha
Woman Th.ro.
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO . UO IT
Mm. Cleveland' * Grnelotiincftg to n Wnlf
Some Interfiling Feature * of I ho
Now llcglino In Washington
Society.
In consenting to write an article on the
topic selected for me "Twelve Years' Ex
perience In Washington Society" for the
Issue of The Bee of May 1 , to bo edited ex
clusively by women , I did so thoughtlessly ,
scarcely realizing I was entering upon a new
role , never before having ; written a line for
publication. My efforts Will naturally be
crude and I fear uninteresting on a subject
which should and could bo most entertaining
under proper treatment. Washington , the
scat ot government of our great republic ,
with Its magnificent public buildings , broad
and well paved avenues , lined on either side
with beautiful shade trees ; Its many and well
kept parks filled with rare , blooming trees
and shrubs and flowering plants a perfect
Joy In the springtime ; Us fine residences ; Its
well groomed men and gaily attired women ;
elegant equipages and spirited horses ,
thronging , at certain hours of the day , the
streets in the fashionable northwest quarter ,
on social matters bent , Is a most attractive
city to the stranger , but to be In and a part
of the social life ot this gay little capital of
ours has a charm that can scarcely be
understood by the uninitiated , especially
those who believe they have no taste for
or Inclination to participate In the doings of
"polite society , " considering It made up of
trifling and purely worldly affairs. It Is In
fact qulto the revcrsi The "Inner circle"
Is composed largely of highly cultivated
people nnd one meets1 therein not only dis
tinguished statesmen and leaders cf thought ,
but persons of reno n of our own country
and from foreign parts ; men and women
who are famous because of the books they
have written , pictures they have painted ,
scientific researches they have mode or good
deeds they have done. To come In contact
nnd have converse with these Is a privilege
to be sought for , not Ignored. True , there
Is a giddy and frivolous 'element Us giddi
ness and frivolity pointing the pen of the
newspaper writer , wha , in hla desire for the
sensational , exaggerates but it Is not so bad
as it Is painted. , ' .
The observance off prescribed forms of
social etlquet Is more strictly adhered to In
Washington than elsewhere ; in this country.
Representatives from foreign courts are
there In official capacity , and among diplo
mats the established court etiquet Is followed
most punctiliously. vThe little convention
alities mean much'and , to disregard them
would lead to awkward' , and even grave
blunders. Their "breach means more than
a display of Ignorance , and would sometimes
Import insult when none Is Intended. The
diplomat longest In place Is known as the
dean ot the diplomatic service , and as such
Is the highest In honor of his grade of the
corps , now divided into ambassadors and
ministers. With their showy dress they add
largely to the spectacular , features ot Wash
ington , as they ornament It by their varied
attainments and world wisdom.
In the exchange of cards there Is much
meaning , and while there Is not the necessity
elsewhere of adhering to' the strict forms
that govern the Capio ( ) CJty it might be well
to adopt some ot It9 methods In card dis
tributing. The etlquet ot other cities of
making calls Is reversed In Washington.
The newcomer makes the first call upon
those of higher or equal rank. At the openIng -
Ing of the season which la co-Incident with the
convening of congress , It Is the duty of all
In official life to call promptly on the family
of the president and vice president , chief
Justice and associate juitlccs of the supreme
court , the president pro tem. of the senate
and the speaker pt the house. Senators take
precedence over cabinet officers , and members
of both houses ot congress call upon seniors
In service In their respective houses. The
caller leaves one card ot her own , and twofer
for each man ot her household. If there be
more than one woman la the family called
upon It Is not customary to leave extra cards ,
the turning down of the right end of the
cards Indicating that the call Is intended
for all members of the family. In making
calls of condolence or congratulation an ex
pression of "deep sympathy" or "hearty con
gratulations" Is written on the card. Every
woman , In official lite at least , has her day
"at home. " Mrs. Cleveland receives such
of her friends as have had an Invitation
from her that they will bo welcome , on
Mondays , between 5 and G o'clock , and on
Saturdays , between 3 and 4 , she receives the
general public. This Is not the Invariable
custom of every mistress of the whtto house ,
each one following her own Inclination. Mrs.
Cleveland's "Mondays" are disappointing to
those who wish and hope not only to see ,
but to have a friendly and Informal chat
with her. Hut she Is so charming and much
beloved that her host of friends crowd the
small red room In which she receives , and
ono can have but llttlo attention from her
other than the hearty shake of the hand ,
which Is her characteristic. Mrs. Cleveland
Is noted for the cordial greeting she extends
to every one , high or low , old or young ,
who calls upon her. An occurrence on ono
of her "Saturday afternoons" shows how
her kindly manner endears her to all.
A little unkempt girl was In line and as flic
made her modest courtesy Mrs. Cleveland
bent over and warmly grasped her hand as
she spoke a pleasant word to her , which
made the child's face beam with happiness.
After being "passed on" she turned and
backed herself out , keeping her eyes on the ?
"sweet lady , " utterly oblivious to her sur
roundings. In passing cut through the main
corridor , from which a door leads Into the
receiving room , with a low open-work brass
gate , to prevent people entering that way ,
the child stopped and climbed upon the gate ,
leaning over and craning her neck to get
another look at Mrs. Cleveland. As an
officer , whose duty It was to keep the crowd
moving , attempted to lift her down she
clung to the gate , crying : "Oh ; don't take
me away , don't take mo away. I never
saw her before and I'll never see her again
the sweet lady. "
Monday Is justice's day , Tuesday reprc-
sentalve's , Wednesday the wife of the vice
president receives and It Is also "cabinet
day , " and on Thursday the wives of senators
are "at home. " The houses of officials ore
open to everybody desiring to call , and
thronged with people , 'Borne of whom one
never meets at any other time , the number
reaching Into the hundreds , and In some
Instances between 2,000 and 3,000 have paid
their respects during an afternoon. Usually
a dainty tea table Is late and a cup of
TIII3 SPIIllT OP THE AGE POINTS WITH TUIDE TO OMAHA TODAY.
tea , with a wafer or thin sandwich , Is
served , although ot late date refreshments
have been dispensed with by some , because o
the abuse ot this hospitality. Tea Is such a
favored beverage In Washington that It Is
always served with refreshments of any
kind and at all times. At some houses a cui
of tea Is served every day at 5 o'clock an
hour when one's friends drop In Informally
on days other than days "at home , " after
the English fashion , and so fond are eome
of their cup of tea at this hour that It be
comes almost a dissipation. With the ex
ception of the wife of the president , who
makes no calls , these first calls are returned
ai promptly as possible. To return all calls
In person Is a physical Impossibility , ant
much of one's Indebtedness must necessarily
be cancelled by sending cards , To keep an
account of all these visits is no small matter
For this purpose a book Is kept , In which Is
entered the name , address , reception day
and date , when made and when returned , o
every call. With the booking of engage
ments , replying to Invitations and numerous
other communications , which como to the
wives of officials of prominence , together
with their private correspondence for the
rest of the day , the life of a Washington
woman In society Is a busy one. Many
keep a secretary , but those who do no
have few leisure moments.
These , exacting duties may eecm unneces
sary to the outsider , but a clever woman
will not neglect them , tor she can do much
to advance her husband's Interests and those
of his people , not only by a gracious manne
In her own house , but by strictly observing
these established courtesies tor to bo pollt
is to bo kind , and kindness engenders friend
ships , and friends are better than enemies
In matters not only personal , but legislative
These women , busy as they are , find tlm
however , for other pursuits , A few year
ago the "Washington Club" was organized
by and exclusively for women. It began U
modest fashion , but with good buslnet
ability It has been enabled 'to purchase , and
now occupies a fine building In a most do
slrable portion of the city. It Is handsome !
furnished , with cozy reading rooms , tea
rooms , a largo music room , and In fact ha
everything to make It attractive , even t
card rooms , where a harmless but hlghl
scientific gameof whist U occasionally In
dulged In. A most delightful feature ot th
club IB the largely attended meetings , hel
In the music room ; on Tuesday mornings to
discussing current events , and for hook reviews
views on Friday mornlgs. Clover papers ar
read , and witty discussions ensue. Tberc
re upwards of 300 members , many of them
ithlonablo society women , Thcro U also
ho Literary society , of long standing , hav-
ng among Us members some ot the brightest
nd most scholarly men and women of this
ountry. The Geographical and Scientific so-
letlcs , composed of erudlto men , many with
vorld-wldo reputations , add largely to the
iharm of Washington life , nnd show that
hero are other purtults than the fashionable
rlvollties.
The 5 o'clock tens , which are much In
ogue , are very different affairs from the
ailing-day receptions. Invitations are ox-
ended to men as well as women , nnd clab-
rate refreshments are served , Flowers and
alms nnd soft-colored lights are distributed
ivcr the table and through the house. Of
ate years It has been the popular thing
o launch the young debutante on the social
vave at these teas. To leave cards at these
ntertalnmcnts Is considered bad form. They
hould bo acknowledged by n call , as much n
dinner , and who would ever think of leav-
ng a card at a dinner ?
Washington social entertainment reaches
ts culmination In the dinner. In no other
Ity In this country has dinner giving at-
allied the proportions of a fine art. They
ice as frequent as they are charming , nnd It
s not unusual for ono "In the whirl" to have
cvcral Invitations for the same evening.
The plain engraved card , Issued usually In
ho name of the hostess only , Is sent out
rom ono to four weeks before the dinner ,
\hlch is commonly served at S o'clock.
Each gentleman on arrival receives a small
envelope containing the name of the lady he
s to escort. Particular care Is given to en-
ranee to the dining room In duo form of
) rccedenco and the placing of these highest
n honor In appropriate order. The hostess
s frequently much perturbed In deciding
vho among the guests shall be placed In the
milling positions at table. When mistakes
occur that nro such , and not Intentional
lights , no sensible person takes offense , but
hero are queer stories told at times of In-
llgnant foreigners who have become enraged
t being below their position at tablf , rind not
n accord with their Idea of their rank. The
[ Inner table Is In the best form when It has
ho least ostentatious show and glitter. Fine
Inen , dainty china , sparkling glass and
) rlght silver joined to beautiful but not over-
bundant flowers , without other display , maku
ho most attractive table. It Is tht > effort cf
iccompllshcd dinner-givers not to keep their
guests over an hour at the table. This Is not
IlllleuUlth well trained service and simple
menu , which are much moro popular than the
old-tlmo dinners with their many courses ;
vhen it was not uncommon to sit at table
hreo hours. The conversation Is general ,
ind brilliant talkers , who are also good
Isteners and not disposed to monopolize all
ubjects , are sought after. Dinners to men
are frequent and rumor has It that many
and Important executive and legislative mat
ers have received solution and settlement
mong statesmen seated "around the ma-
logany. "
If I were to be asked the chief charm of
he social life , of our capital I woruld say It
vas Us kindly courtesy. Among the well
ircd and highly cultivated the saying of
larsh and unpleasant things Is seldom heard
'ho language of compliment nnd appreciation
alls upon the ear In pollto circles.
These are but glimpses of Washington life.
Vhllo there Is much to enjoy , Us pleasures
re not unalloyed. To these In public llfo
hero Is Interference with domesticity and
constant disturbance to the home life. Most
llsappolntlng also Is the constant change- ,
'leasant acquaintanceship ripens Into close
rlendshlp and this Is ssvered by the trans-
ormatlon ot American political life. The
severest disappointment In this regard Is to
hose who remain In Washington rather thane
o those who leave It , for to leave It Is to
return to the homo and meet again the old
ime-lrled and true friends with whom there
8 a common Interest and a single purpose.
RCBBKAH S. MANDBRSON.
A. S1KKXO1S THAT
Wlint Has Horn Done to Urine the World
to Tlmfto Vllia Ilo Not llciir ,
In the age of miracles the deaf were made
to hear , and the dumb to speak. An evil
dumb spirit was cast out of a man and ho
was free and happy. In books of fiction we
read of deaf and dumb servants , who could
iiear no secrets and tell no tales.
In ages past , no education , no training
was thought possible for the deaf and dumb.
They were as evil spirits , to be avoided and
mprlsoned. Aristotle declared that deaf
mutes could not be educated , and It was Im
possible to reach them by any method.
During the great intellectual revival of the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries , the
deaf , as a class , remained Ignorant and un
taught. It was In the latter part of the
seventeenth century that the great hearted
Abbo de I'Epeo founded a school for the
deaf In Paris , which became famous through
out Europe. The success of this school led
to the opening of others , and at the begin
ning of the present century the first school
for the deaf was founded at Hartford by
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudot. In the United
States fifty years ago , there were six schools
for the deaf. Now there are seventy-nine ,
with an attendance of over 8,000 children.
The pupils In these schools are as bright ,
as happy , as much given to good and evil , as
difficult to govern , as affectionate and thank
ful as any other children would be gathered
In from average homes. Devoid of bearing
and possibly keener of sight and suspicion , U
requires teachers of peculiar tact and talent
to develop their Intellects. Teaching the
deaf Is a profession In Itself , unlike public
school work , to often made a stepping stone
to something else. A teacher must have
Inexhaustible resources , superior force of
character , a kindly heart , a graceful bearing ,
and the grace of God In his heart. He
must go Into the work to stay and to work
while he stays. It takes several years before
ho Is at his best. There Is no calling In
which a person need bo so original or think
out so many ways and means ot getting nt
the minds and hearts of the llttlo one ; , as In
the schools for the deaf. Give us fine teach
ers , capable matron , flrst-clasa supervisors , a
good cook , and let each one attend to his
own special feature of the work and nobody's
else , and the superintendent will smile as
he Elts In his ofllce and works up scheme *
and devices for the further education and
development of his school.
All ot our deaf children can talk In the
sign language. Years ago when schools were
new , all were taught by signs. A dally
lesson from the superintendent to the teach
ers , handed down to the children , kept a
uniform system throughout the hchools. The
children read In lgiis , talked In signs , re
cited In signs. But It was found laTer on ,
that this sign method was a hindrance to the
development of language. Spelling out the
words and sentences became moro popular ,
and the general use ot signs In the school
rooms has been dlscontlnucd-fn the advanced
schools. A constant use ot the English
language by spelling , writing , or speaking It ,
has been found to be the only way to teach
the children language , and language teach
ing Is the thing found moil difficult to teach
to our deaf people.
The sign language In itself la expressive
and beautiful. Children understand It , and
many who are dull , or uneducated , or too
slow to master the use of the English
language , can bo i cached through the me
dium of elgns.
Speech and lip reading arc taught In many
schools. This Is the most difficult , but most
popular method , among the patrons of the
deaf schools. What would a parent not give
to hear his child who ban never uttered a
sound , say "Papa. "
In Nebraska much has been done In this
line , and also to develop dormant hearing ,
Fifty young children out of 1DO , are now-
being trained and taught speech and hear
ing , Flno teachers are employed and won
derful results are obtained. Those who have
the least vestige ot hearing find It growing
stronger and better as they listen to catch
the faintest sound. Literally , we arc * teach
ing the deaf to hear .and the dumb to speak.
These who have followed this historical
sketch of the progress of deaf mute educa
tion , may with some time to spend a day
at the school for the deaf and see the work
ings ot the Institution. AU such will be
heartily welcomed at any time.
HELEN Z. GILLESPIR
OUR NEW YORK LETTER
Wlint a Visitor on Manhattan Island
Notioas.
EASTER BONNETS AND FLOWERS
Some NIMT rpnturr * of tlm Mrtro | > nUi Com *
indited Upon l > y tin Oiualm Young
Woman New Unit orally of
No\r Vorki
It Is a new thing for the country's mctropo *
Us to ( ccl poor , but In the past winter thcro
lias been something In the nlr ttuit bespoke )
hard times even here , niul although the
clubs nuil hotels have been well patronized
nnil the streets ami shops thronged with welt
dressed pleasure-seekers , the way of the
wage-earner has been hard , the nrtlstlc nnil
the charitable llclds have had a drouth , and
the east sides 'other halt' has suffered In
tensely. Hut times arc better now , the pros
pect begins to brighten , and with the com
ing of the spring and Darmim's circus , with
Its swimming pool tcvcn feet deep. Into
which a man dives from the top of the Madi
son Square Garden building ) , the people have
fresh courage , the tones of the handorgnn
take on a more hopeful strain , and with that
old Dutch pluck , New York's best Inher
itance , the city blossoms forth as a rose ,
and Is unusually brilliant In Us Easter dross
and bonnet. There are perfect ( lower gar
dens about the up-town llorlsts ( and on the
ladles heads ) , while almost every street cor
ner and parlor window on Fifth avenue , par
ticularly those of the elegant Hotel Waldorf ,
exhibit some lovely floral displays.
Speaking of Fifth avenue , It Is a notable
fact , especially to foreigners , that whcro all
other great cities have a number of show
streets , drives and boulevards , whcrs beauty
and fashion congregate , In Now York thcro
has been but the ono short avenue , begin
ning at Waverly Place , and terminating In
Central park. That charming casts In a desert
of brown stone fronts will EOOII merit Ita
name , for In Harlem and beyond building
Is going on rapidly now , and the old familiar
goatvlllo lanes will exist only In past history.
The new Columbia college , and St. John's
Cathedral , that will take ten years In.build *
Ing , arc well under way.
The true New Yorker , who has always
lamented the lack of a first class univer
sity , now rejoices at the sight of the newt
University of Now York , with Its flno dor
mitory , gymnasia and campus , on an Ideal
site , with a view embracing the Hudson , the
1'allsadcs , the Jersey hills , and much of Now
York proper. The new library , that com
bines the Lenox and Aster , will probably ba
built on the original slto of the former , and
will bo a feature of Greater New York.
Meantime the city Is entertaining Itsoll
much after the usual fashion. Although the
theaters have shown a scarcity of anything
really flno or great , and have supported
much that was Inferior , thcro have been a
few good plays , among which nro "iMadamo
Sana-Gone , ( the honors of which being ;
equally divided between Mine , llejano la
the original , and Katherlno KUldor In her
English version ) and Crane's now comedy *
"Ills Wife's Father , " In which humor and ;
pathos arc happily blended. Monologue en
tertainments have been very popular. Ono
day the public amuses Itself with the clover
Imitations of Miss Cissy Loftus , Who mlmlca
all the grpnt lights from Doninardt down
and the next day It Is glad to be Instructed ) '
In Shakespeare and the blblo by Locke.
Richardson , who draws , as usual , apprecia
tive audiences of culture and refinement.
For all true music lovers , the four weeks"
Wagner season has furnished much enjoy
ment , with the rich , free , tin tiling volco ot
Max Aluary , and the dramatic fervor of
I'rau Sucher. Ono uf the most Interesting )
Features of an unusually brilliant opera sea
son has been the production of Verdi's "Fal-
staff , " In which the splendid acting oC
Maurol , and the voices of Scalchl and Emma.
Eaiiics show oft to the best advantage. !
Among the celebrities who have delighted
largo audiences , have been the Imposing- '
Ysaye , whoso violin music Is melody sub
lime , and Adclo Aus der Oho , whoso supplct ,
hands seem to sprinkle music over the piano ,
keys. Them have also been the usual num
ber of musical prodigies. Our own wonder-
child , Miss Augusta Cotlow of Chicago , a.
young planlsto of extraordinary talents and
Intelligence , has just given a concert of lien
own at the Madison Square- Garden Concert
hall , and Is now going to niako a profos-
Blonal tour through Europe to show wha
America can do In that line , without an ;
European Instruction. The church and lee
turo platform have been ably filled by BUC !
men as Parkhurst , the wily Conan Doyli
and women such as Lady Henry Somonot
with her earnest words and charming per
sonality. The woman question , seems , tori
the time being , to have given place to tho.
bliycle , which , wlUlo hardly a now feature , ,
hoa the newness hero of having1 bcerV
adopted by the four hundred. Every dajr.i
but especially on Sunday morning , tho.
boulevard and Riverside drlvo present a , '
fearful and wonderful night with their mov
Ing panorama ot cyclists In every conceive
able color and costume ; In single flic , groups
and couples , In blouses , bloomers , and blaz
ers ; men , women and children , and oven'
babies strapped onto a cradled scat In frond
of the wheel's handles , a whirring , whirling * ,
whizzing crowd , and more dangerous to
cross than Broadway's jerking and defiant
cable cars. It Is so much the thing , th&
fad , now , that another track for Its exclu
sive use , to extend from Yonkcrs to Now *
York , over the old acqueduct , Is being talked
of and enthusiastically hoped for by tho-
wheelmen themselves. Everywhere In Newt
York the people rush and hurry and show
the same progressive spirit as thulr brother *
In the west. ,
ADNEE VAN GIESONV
Pretty Hazel , tupping through.
nosy c'irelcs nml brown evs
In the greenest fit the miming ,
Found a four-lenfed clover growing ,
Plucked urn ! placed It in ntr shoe.
Lucky little tallyman !
Hazel , glancing 'cross .ho Hearing ,
SpHil u tniinly form appearing ;
Itlushed to HCO him slowly riearlng
liy the path her own way ran.
Very sober grew the mnlill
This appeared , upon reflection ,
Like a piece of Fato'a direction ,
Guiding her to a selection
From the hearts at her feet laid.
Gideon , down the grass-lined lane ,
Dreamy fancies Idly linking ,
Found a horse shoe , dropped It clinking
In hit ) spnclouH pockut , thinking ,
Foitune may tome favor deign ,
Sauntered Hlowly round the bend.
It wu then he saw the vision , .
Uuldlng him to quick decision ,
To rely on luck's prevision ,
And his fear and doubting end.
When across their lingering feet
Low the western light was sti earning ;
The red cunset'H golden gleaming :
Paled before two facex , beaming
With love's happiness complete.
80 , I think , 'tis often true ,
Life's coy Joys might be won over ,
If we only could discover ,
Itlght at hand , 11 four-leaf clover ,
Or ( i horse's cast-oft shoe.
ELLEN PKYOn.
_
Relieve that , however little of tanglbli
present good up may have , you have the un
seen good ot heaven , and the promise of ejl
things to come. A. D. T. Whitney.
Purhapi Ho shows us things , sometimes
And puts them away again for us , to slvo us
by and by , when we are bigger ; ai mother *
do with children's playthings that are too
beautiful for them to have right off. A. 1 %
T. Whitney.