THE , OMAHA DAILY JJEE.nWEDNESDAY , MAY 1 , 1895.
. ! Bl - * '
EJited by wna. FIUNCES M. rene
nita-T will po down to the beach
the hovcla nncflirlng nil the poor , neclcctea
children home with me ; all the .mischievous
boys , I will take them to my heart. *
They nlmll lie ns If they were mine , In our
little Kyolf's place. They shall live In
Kyolfa rooms , ana rend Ills books , nnd
Play with his toys. They Bhall tnke It In
turns to nit In his chair at the table.
Allmers-Thls Is sheer madness In you.
There Is not a creature In the world less
fitted for anything ot that fort thnn you.
llltn Then I hnvo to educate myself for
It , to train myrclf. to discipline my Mf. „
"Little Lyolf.
llenrlk Ibsen , In
In all times there have been great souls
who , out of love to their fellow men , have
given their lives In ministry to them , but
these latter days have witnessed tha Intro
duction of new motives Into such service.
\Vlthln a few years great numbers of culti
vated young men and women have gone from
our colleges Into the slums of our cities to
make of themselves a constituent part ol
"tho masses. " They have thrown themselves
Into one unfamiliar environment that Its con
ditions might become a matter not of theory ,
but of accurate knowledge. They want to
know humanity. Democracy to them Is not
a sentiment to be carefully preserved for the
use of the stump speaRer , but a social Ideal
which they believe to be practical , and which
they desire to help to carry out. They are
nlraosl dissatisfied at least unsatisfied with
congenial associations. They long to lay their
lives alongside these other strange lives that
they know only In books. They long to
set In fuller motion In the social world that
old process of giving and getting which
nature has Illustrated in earth and sky ,
river and mountain , plant and soil. Miss
Jane Addams of Hull house speaks of "a
great number of cultivated young people who
have no outlet for their activities" and
whose "usclessncss hangs about them hcav-
llyV She says "this young life , sincere In
Its emotion onJ gcod phases , and yet so mis
directed , seems to me as pitiful as the other
great mass of destitute lives. One Is cer
tainty supplemental to the other and some
method of communication can surely bo de
vised. " Now , the Impulses which give Im
petus to the College Settlement Idea are
present In Individual life everywhere. In
deed , ho who Is not ntlrrcd by some of them
Is but half alive. We have small patience
with the man who sits In his llbray and
avoids contact with his fellow men and wo
care even less for the woman who never
moves out of her set. Social power Is
greatly coveted In these days. It rests upon
a knowledge of human nature and a varied
experience In dealing with It , both of which
elements como out of philanthropic work.
Social prcstlgo may rightly belong to a Van-
dcrbllt or an Astor , but social power Is em
bodied In Jane Addams and Maude Dalltng-
ton Booth.
True culture must have In It acquaintance
with life , not that of one-half the race , but
of both halves. "How provincial our culture
Is ! " eays Mr. Robert A. Woods. "How It
generalizes about men and calls the result
knowledge of them. How It salsifies Itself
with a distant echo of feeling for them.
How often It develops effeminacy Instead of
the strong , chastened refinement of the citi
zen of the world. There are more things In
llfo than are dreamed of In our history , our
political economy , or even our philosophy. "
Yes , ani the man of broad culture must con
ceive of these things from the standpoint of
acquaintance with all sorts and conditions of
men.
men.Again , philosophy adds to power , and
knowledge , faith. One who loves his fellow
man has a rare opportunity to know their
hearts. Ho Is the recipient of their confi
dences. He knows their trials. Ho strug
gles with their temptations. Ha carries
their sorrows and ho turns again and again
from the unspeakable burden of It all to ex
claim with Urovsnlng :
"God , Thou art love. I build my faith on
that !
80 doth thy right hand guide as though the
world wherein wo stumble. "
Ho Is also a man of strong faith In hu
manity. No man has better knowledge of
its frailty and no man more confidence In
Its possibilities. The Imago of GoJ In every
man Is clear to him , and the sight Inspires
him with courage.
There IB again , an Insight , a clearness of
Judgment , which Is a part of the self-de
velopment of the philanthropic worker. There
I'- , Is a sensitiveness , an alertness of mind
which Is cultivated In his kind of service.
There Is an energy , a force , born out of the
necessity for It which Is characteristic of
him whoso business always requires haste.
And when these elements of character are
united they constitute a culture , In the man
of love worthy to be compared with that of
the man of letters. >
HO MK KXTHISS1ON.
Collvco Settlements and the IlonrlHs De
rived from Thorn bj- the ltonlilciitx.
There Is no question about the philanthropy
ot the present ago. It Is progressive Is
aggresulvo , It Is Insistent.
In running through the gamut of human
experience , It has turned Its restless , prying ,
crooked llttlo question mark Into the hitherto
sacred precincts of the home , and has de
manded that It , too , should fall In line.
Philanthropists claim that Christian men and
women fall In their duty to mankind when
they voluntarily take the Influence which
their Christian homes would exert In the city
out Into the country ; that no other Chris
tianizing force can compare with that which
such honies exert ; and that our large cities
must have this force working In the midst
ot their hearts , and that It Is the strong
est force that can be brought to bear upon
the Ignorance and vice and filth now coursing
through their arteries.
There Is no question but that the tacit
rights of those dependent upon the horns
for the best possible conditions for physical
mental and moral growth would bo seri
ously Interfered with , If the Ideas of these
rampant reformers wcro carried out. The
problem has been solved how to reconcile
both claims by what might bo called Homo
Extension , that Is , by social settlement. The
idea of these settlements Is an extension of
the home beyond the limits of the family
In order that the masses who cannot come
into direct contact with the home as it Is
moro highly developed , still may reap the
benefit ot such contact were It possible.
It is In short a movement bearing the
lame relation to the homo , that the move
ment known as "University Extension" bears
to our colleges In their effort to dlflluso cul
ture. It Is born of the same wider Intelli
gence and keener perception of man's rela
tion to his brother and both are direct out
growths of higher education In Us best sense.
The movement BtartoJ In England , but
upon crossing the Atlantic , uniting the homo
Idea with that ot education , It appealed very
directly to our college women and found Us
first roots In their hearts , and its first ex
pression In an organization which they
formed In 1S90 called the "College Settle
ments association , " for the purpose of lo
cating homo centers In tenement house dis
tricts. Tha plan pursued Is as follows :
The association first chooses a proper loca
tion , finding a house which will lend Itself
to the purpose. It Is put Into perfect sani
tary order , pretty , Inexpensive furniture Is
obtained , books , pictures , a piano are added
and Into It Is placed a "head worker , " a
woman who Is fitted to take charge through
her power as an organizer and homo-maker.
Around her gather other women who can be
spared for a longer or shorter time from
their uptown homes to this downtown home.
Neighborhood calls are exchange. ] , afternoon
teas are arranged , clubs are established for
the young people and children , moro or legs
Instruction In various lines Is given , a
penury provident bank begun and a frco cir
culating library. These are all means to
one end Intlmato acquaintanceship with
the people about.
The settlement stands tbero first and fore
most for this friendliness ; Its object being tc
close relations the class who , having re-
ttlvea much , are ready and eager to give
of their best to the other class , who In pov
erty , Ignorance and degradation , have yet a
Rlngular readiness to receive.
The settlement also expresses the re-
il > on lbllltr of those who support and are In-
tcrested and working la It toward the soda !
needs ot the time.
Our fathers bad the slavery ot the negro
with which to deal , it was a simple prob-
twa V > tt ilatwr. wfclcb confronts our gcn -
nd MIlS. WEdlA HOPE HALL TIUCY.
ration , crying for redress. Some may ques
tion whether the direct Influence on Its
neTgliborhooI of ft aeliliminl hldyiSot Cfi fl
a glass of pure water thrown Into the turbid
Thames and leave as little Impress , but all
must admit that the settlement affords an
unequalled opportunity to get at facts first
hand.
Life Is hero met and studied without the
handicaps which como from wealth and
culture , position and ambition. Indefinite
knowledge Is definite Ignorance. The settle
ment stands then secondly for definite
knowledge upon which to base needed re
form. Wo all know something Is
wrong with our social fabric.
Hera conditions can be studied
before attempting to apply remedies ; knowl
edge ot the tenements and the laws govern
ing them , how they are carried out , and
what now ones arc needed ; what the Hoard
of Health Is doing and what It ought to do ;
the conditions of the school ; relations between
labor and capital from the labor side ; wages
and wants , etc. , ad Inflnllum. Watson Gilder
claims frankly that the testimony of real
value before the tenement house commission
was furnished by tcttlement workers , and
this was because they knew what they were
talking about through personal experience.
Indeed , It Is not too much to claim , It
the promise of the present be fulfilled In the
future , herein lies the most definite hope
tor the success of that grand movement to
ward social reconstruction , In the midst of
which we live.
And lastly , the settlement mlnltters to the
need of the rich to get away from self , and
of the poor to find expression of self.
The worker In the settlement finds how
narrow Is our so-called culture , and that
the only true culture Is to look at life
through the different eyes of all sorts and
conditions ot men. As Miss Adams of Hull
house wisely urges : "To shut one's self
away from that half ot the rnc ? life , Is to
shut one's self away from the most vital
part of It ; It Is to live out but halt the hu
manity which we have been born heir to ,
and to uec but half our faculties. "
The settlement Is not a charity , but a step
toward social reform. The movement Is not
based on the patronage ot the rich , but It
does claim the rich who desire a share In
bringing about that new Eoclal order , "that
order where the labor of the world being
more equally distributed may be changed for
very man Into healthful work. "
ADALINE EMEHSON THOMPSON.
East Orange , N. J.
THE SINFUL WOMAN.
"O for the Itarlty ot Clirlntlan Charity. "
Up and down the streets of the city wan-
ered Uio Sinful Woman , heedless of the
lassers by , sensing only the beauty and glad
less of the bright Spring sunshine. Not as
mo whose Ufa Is pure , and to whom the sun
Ight Is only a counterpart of the brightness
n her heart , but as one whoso sin has come
lit Into the light of day , seeming all the
moro dark because of the great contrast with
he bright sun.
Such thoughts as these always came to her
it this time of the year , for It was May , her
name month , but never with such force as
now. Was Is because the world was brighter ?
Or was It because her life was darker than
t had ever been before ? She could not tell
She only knew that they troubled her sucl
noughts and she walked on and on , as It
by so doing she would get away frojp them
Ah ! these thoughts ot ours ! How they cling
.o us ! Following us when \vo would get
away from them , and troubling us when we
ivould have them not.
At last she reached the public square ,
weary nnd soft-iiearled she sank upon one
of the benches. How she hated It all this
llfo of sin which she was living. How she
longed to get away and begin a new life ;
Just as the grass and the flowers were brcak-
: ng away from their dark earth
prison and starting forth In the brightness
and beauty of the sunshine. IJut could she
ilo so ? Had she the strength to fight the
battle ? Would there be any help ? She had
no place to go ; no friends , only those who
wcro her companions In sin. So was an
outcast In the great , cold world. There were
none to even pity her , except with that pity
which comes of scorn. Oh , bitter , bitter
thought ! She stood with the whole world
against her. Where , then , could she go
Hack to her life of sin ? Never ! She- would
die before she would take up that hated life
again. She leaned her head on the back OL
the seat , while hot , bitter tears coursed
down her pale face.
Harkl Out on the soft spring air fall
the notes of the deep-toned organ In the
church across the street. Sunday ! She hoc
forgotten that It was the day of rest. Hest
There was no rest for such as she. All day :
were the same dull , dreary round.
So still , so quiet was the day that she
could hear the low monotone of the priest as
ho read ; then the congregation Is Its re-
ponses chanting : "Lord , have mercy upon us
and Incline our hearts. " Then her thoughts
turned backward to the happy days of her
childhood , days when she , too , knelt and re
peated these words , and was as pureas
those wto were chanting In the church
across the way. How long ago It teemed
to her , and yet It was not many years , but
oh , the years had been a lifetime ! Would
she dare to ask the Lord of the Universe to
have mercy upon her now ? Her mother had
taught her that Ho was ever merciful per
haps would He not have mercy upon her
and help her ? Herecelved the Magdalene
and
Dowtng her head and with clasped
hands , the sinful woman offered up the
prayer of the sinner In the synagague of old :
"Lord , be merciful to me , a sinner. " Would
not Ho who Is ever merciful hear and an
swer her prayer ? He never turns away
those who call upon him In truth.
The service had ended and the congrega
tion was slowly leaving the church. Down
the steps came ono who was well known as
a prominent Christian. Many there were who
sung of her goodness ; none were there so
devout as she. Many who saw her face
during the responses of the service had
thought : "Surely the Christ spirit dwells In
ber. " Hut even as she had chanted the re
sponse ! the words of her heart had been'
"Lord , I thank Thee that I am not as other
people are , " O , self-righteous woman ,
knowest thou not that thy self-righteousness
Is as great a sin In the eyes of the Lord ;
yes , even greater than that of thy sister
who outsldo calleth upon Him for mercy ;
she hath confessed her sin , but thou , thou
thlnkeat thou are without sin.
It was.to this Slnles Woman that the Sin
ful Woman came. Not to the woman , but to
tlvo Christ In the w.oman did she tall down
and pour out her bitter story of sin and
misery , But she , whom the world said was
without sin , she drew back from the contam
inating touch of the Sinful Woman and said :
"Go ! What are you or your life to mo ? If
I but speak with you the world will say that
I am such as you. "
"The world , " cried the Sinful Woman , "al
ways the world ! It was the world which
made me what I am. My first step In the
path of sin was not a sin Itself , but because
ct a flight misstep the world pointed Its
linger ot scorn at mo , and who can outlive
the scorn of the world ? Then you , too , be
long to the world , and not to the Christ.
Yes , I will go. You could have helped me to
honest womanhood , but you send me back
to my life of bin. May the Lord have mercy
upon you , for you will need It when you
come before the Great Judge , as I will my
self , but you , you who are dishonoring Ills
name , what then will he say ot that ? "
The next morning the police found the
body ot an unknown woman In tha lake.
She hiul been dead several hours when she
was found , and the jury rendered a verdict
of suicide. On the records of the police sta
tion they wrote ; "An Unknown Woman ,
Suicide , aged , about 20. "
And the Sinful Woman bad gone to re
ceive mercy from , the Giver of Mercy.
IIUTH DICK HALL.
Chicago , 111.
o '
Walter Scott made an aggregate of $1,500-
000 by his pen. Tom Moore got $15,750 for
"Lalla llooke , " and his "Irish M'Mles"
brought him $15,000. Tennyson had for a
number of year * an Income of $40,000 from
his writings , whilst our own Longfellow died
worth $350,000. Whlttler managed to accumu
late $200,000 and the estate of Robert Louts
Stevenson Is scheduled at $150,000.
If you want Brtt clati horss-shoelng tee
B , Shields , 1723 Cumin * . , .
Ill WOMRK-FOU WOMEN.
llrlef Sketch of the I'hllanthroplo limita
tion * Maintained Itjr Onialm Women.
To devote an Usuo of The Dee to the In
terests of Omaha women and omit therefrom
the record of their philanthropic and chari
table work would bo like leaving Miss O'Fer-
rall out of "Trilby. " Just when , In the pro
gress ot the ages , the fence was built be
tween women and men , with philanthropy
on the on | side nnd " politics on tj o otjisr , no
one k'nows. It fa , "however , an almost Iron
clad rule that church work Is In the hands
of the sisters and the management thereof
In the stronger , If more clumsy hands of the
brothers. To visit the sick and to care for
the widow and the fatherless Is naturally the
woman's part , but In this brief summary we
mnnot , iiven glance' at what 'might be
termed the lioness' share ot the work done
by and through the various church organiza
tions of the city ,
CITY MISSIONS.
The oldest existing charitable organization
In Omaha Is the City Mission , whose two
decades of existence inako It comparatively
venerable. Started In a small way as a
noonday prayer meeting , It has gene steadily
forward , doing untold good In a quiet , un
ostentatious manner. Us first Institution
was the sewing school , still carried on In
the rooms of the Tenth Street Mission ,
whcra manyl a girl has learned the use of a
needle under the Instruction ot some of
Omaha's best known women , and today the
neat appearance of many a woman and her
family Is due to the skill there acquired.
Two years ago a mother's meeting was
opened under the direction of Mrs. Jardlne ,
whose llfo has been devoted to the uplifting
of humanity In such practical ways. LasC
winter a laundry was started for the pur
pose ot furnishing employment to needy
women.
W. C. T. U.
In 1878 Mrs. Slaughter , for years matron
of the Home for the Friendless , organized a
branch of the Women's Christian Temper
ance union In this city. The old Ducking-
ham theater was used as headquarters and
from that the union took Its name. Very
earnest and enthusiastic have been the wo
men of this society and much good has been
accomplished by their labors. Up to a year
ago there were flvo unions In the city ; all
but one were then consolidated as the Omaha
Women's Christian Temperance union. The
Watson D. Smith union Is located on Walnut
Hill. For some time the Woman's Christian
Temperance union has been devoting Itself to
preventive and educational work. Its pres
ent activities comprise a coffee room at Cass
and Eleventh streets , a share In the work at
the Twelfth street "Ilcst , " the management
of automatic drinking fountains , lectures' ,
mothers' meetings , Uemorest contests , etc.
U Is aggressively , uncompromisingly opposed
to evil In all forms , and as such Is a power
ful Influence In the city.
ST. JAMES ORPHANAGE.
One of the greatest needs of Omaha prior
to 1879 was a home for orphans , and It was
, o supply this nosd that the Sisters of Mercy
ipened/he St. James Orphanage at St. Mary's
convent. Bishop O'Connor built a. home for
hem In 1881. In 1888 the orphans were
ransferred to the new convent aZ. Fifteenth
and Castellar streets , where they remained
until 1891 , when the building at Denson now
.coupled was opened for use. The Institutions
of Omaha are not as a rule well equipped
but the Orphansge Is an exception to the
rule. It Is a brick building with stone fac-
ngs , three stories high , well arranged and
ntttd for its purpose , with a capacity for
caring for 400. It Is heated by steam and
cost $60,000. There 120 waifs of various
sizes and ages , from babies to thole In their
teens , find a home. Mother Michael , wltli
ourteen sisters , Is In charge , and the chll
: lren have all the comforts and advantages
possible In such a home. The Orphanage Is
non-sec'arlan , so far as admission Is con
cerned to bo an orphan Is the only passport ,
W. C. A.
The next general philanthropic organlza
tlon In the city was that of the Women's
Christian association , which dates from 18S3
and has been actively engaged In the work
of helping women and children ever since
The Durt Street Home for Old Ladles and
the adjoining cottage where children may b
cared for are two of Its most importan
branches of work , while down town the board
Ing homo for young women has long been a
prominent feature. A temporary lodging
hou&o Is one of the most practical things
inder Its charge and has been of untold
blessing to many out of work and out ol
money. Last year the association took up
the work of the Traveler's Aid , but owing to
the hard times was obliged to suspend It
At present about twelve old ladles and sev
era ! children have permanent homes at the
Durt street home and as many more find
temporary shelter at the lodging house on
Douglas street.
THE CRECHE.
The need of a creche or day nursery had
long been apparent when In the fall of 1887
the Omaha Charity association was organized
and steps taken to erect a building fcr this
purpose. This was finished and opened In
February , 1889 , and Is familiar to everybody ,
located as It Is just opposite the new public
library. It has been a wonderful help to the
poor women of the city who were unwilling
to part from their children , yet could not re
main at home all day. It Is also a boarding
house for motherless children. About twenty-
five little ones are cared for every day.
HOME FOR THE AGED.
The Nebraska Home for the Aged was
Incorporated In 1891 , and has at present seven
Inmates , one man and six women , from CD to
91 years ofage. Mrs. E. M. Covell of this
city Is president of the association. Any
aged person may , by the payment of $300 ,
be cared for during the remainder of his life ,
but as far as possible all applicants ro re
ceived. The widow of Chief Justice Gantt
of the Nebraska supreme court died there
not long ago. As for all other charitable or
ganizations In the city 'hero Is much need ot
better support for this Institution to enable
It to carry on Its work. ,
Y. W. C. A.
The year 1893 Is noteworthy ns the date ot
organization of several philanthropic associ
ations in Omaha. The Young Women's Chris
tian association Is undoubtedly the most Im
portant , as It Is certainly the most truly
philanthropic. It Is simply an association of
many for the common good , and It fills a
place which no other society does. It has a
noonday rest , and pleasant rooms In The Dee
building. In which entertainments and recep
tions are held , and where classes In various
branches meet nightly during the winter.
With Its membership of more than COO It Is
the largest woman's society In the city. Ha
various committees are actively engaged In
carrying on the work In different lines , from
devotional meetings to physical culture , from
care of the sick to finding employment and
boarding places for the well. Mrs. George
Tllden Is the president , Miss Nannie Taylor
general secretary. This association Is not
a charitable 'organization ; It Is absolutely
unsectarlan , and Us spirit Is that of the
common sisterhood of women.
HOMES FOR UNFORTUNATE WOMEN-
TUB OPEN DOOR.
The women of Omaha have not besn In
different to the needs of their unfortunate
sisters , as Is evidenced by the fact that there
are four places of refuge for the fallen. The
Open Door , which , under the direction of
Mrs. G. W. Clark , was the first to offer
shelter to the unfortunate , was established
In 1888 , under the auspices of the Women's
Christian Temperance Union. Hundreds of
girls have been saved from a life of shame
during the seven years of Its existence , and
more than 300 little ones have opened their
eyes upon the world under Its roof. The
work has always been supported by voluntary
subscription , due almost wholly to the In
defatigable labors of Mrs. Clark. Two years
ago It was made Independent ot the Women's
Chrusttan Temperance Union , and Is now
managed by a board of men and women.
BANCROFT STREET RESCUE HOME.
A few years ago the Dancroft Street Rescue
Home was opened by the Wcsleyan Metho-
dltts , and about a dozen girls are there
taught something of a better life and en
couraged to take a frenh start. Too much
praise cannot be given to the self-sacrificing
endeavors of the women who carry out this
work.
MISSION OF OUR MERCIFUL SAVIOUR ,
In 1E93 , as a direct result of a million held
In Trinity Cathedral , the Minion ot Our
Merciful Saviour was opened under the au -
lcea ot the Piotwtant Episcopal churcnei. or
the city. This has been In the charge ot
the Sitters ot St. Monica , an order ot widows ,
and although the WoTIFhi been necetvarlljr
limited , much good * ! * * * been done , especially
In the line ot prayenftvo work , to which
especial attention hniggcn given. Owing to
the departure ot the sFslers next month , this
work It to be suspended for a few months.
CONVENT OP THftfaoOD SHEPHERD.
In the fall of 1893 , Mother Haphacl , witty
four sisters ot the .Oooa Shepherd , came to
Omaha to establish iome for the reclama
tion of fallen women. Owlng to the gen
erosity of Mr. John Hush they were Klven
the use of a commodious building , which
will accommodate 75 women and girls , and
which already shelters 60. The Inmates are
Instructed In varloirgjJBiM , and no effort Is
spared to lead them Irito the paths of right
living. Since the opening of these Institutions
the need has been * B clearly demonstrated
that they cannot fall of support ,
SOUTH TWELFTH STREET REST AND
READING ROOM.
Last fall the Young Women's Christian as
sociation and the Women's Christian Tem
perance union decided to unite to open a
branch noonday rest In th3 wholesale district ,
and a house was nttcd up at 513 South
Twelfth street. This has been very success
ful. At present mothers' meetings , Rospel
meetings , and much city missionary work In
the vicinity Is done In the Interests of this
work , In addition to the noonday rest.
YOUNO LADIES' HOME.
The latest Institution for or by women Is
the Younjc Ladles' Home on North Seven
teenth street , In charge ot Miss Enrlght. It
Is especially designed as a temporary home
for working girls out of employment , and as
n cheap boarding place for women clerks , etc.
This article does not aim to be complete ,
but It was compiled from such data as. was
received. Sams organizations failed to make
any response , and as this was not Intended
as a fancy sketch , they are necessarily
omitted or cursorily mentioned.
WHAT MOK9 IT MEN ?
IB thn Womnn'A Club it Fitctor In the Indif
ference to riitlnnthroplo KffortB ?
My Dear Mrs. Ford Yesterday I was * In
vited to a meeting of the Woman's club. The
room , with a capacity of 400 , was crowded
with Intelligent and earnest women. They
gave the entire afternoon to the service and
the pleasures of the club , and I am told that
they will each sp nd several hours this week
In committee or department work , and study.
Today I have attended the monthly meeting
of the oldest philanthropic association of
women In the city. There were twelve pres
ent. They were all overworked women , and
so busy that , after a new and Important
branch of the work had been decided upon ,
It was found Impossible to get a committee
o carry It on.
The contrast between these two occasions
was somewhat startling to me. A large share
of the philanthropic , charitable , and church
work of our city must be done by women ,
and the number engaged In these brunches
of work Is far too small already. Is there
not danger that the Woman's club will absorb
serb more than Its share of time and strength
and that , In our warm appreciation of Its
> leatiro and opportunities , we shall fall to
icar our c.iH to a more distinctive ministry
: o others. Sincerely Yours ,
' ' ' ' " OUTSIDER.
The question afcked in this letter was
landed to sjveral tfomefa. The following are
their answers to It.
Wo are aware that ther.e Is constantly , li
the natural worldlla Mist amount of latent
power , and we regard Him who has found a
way to change this Into a sensible power as
a benefactor.
Dos the WomaVs club do this In the
moral world ? - ' }
It It does , and if Ipntfiorbs all the strength
of energy it develops , then It has within It
: he germs of decay , and. will soon cease to be
[ f , on the other hand , It'develops more energy
than It absorbs , and reveals to .the individual
and the club , powder Jvhere Its presence Is
unsuspected , Is not/the / church and the worlc :
the gainer ?
Not long ago , In , atchtirch _ ot this city ,
while a missionary * committee was discussing
ts plan of work , a looker-on said : "This Is
a WomanVyclub.aftijlr.W rM
A smlloSvent round , when It was observe
that each of this committee of nlno was a
member of the Woman's club.
It Is generally conceded that to Insure
success we must have skilled workmen ,
Hence we have schools for training nurses
teachers , soldiers , physicians , etc. Now the
club not only develops power , but trains
the individual In the best UEC of It. When
by contact with Its large membership her
angles have become less acute , and she has
learned , aftsr her pet scheme has failed to
carry , to submit gracefully to the will of
the majority , Is she not more valuable to
the smaller organization to which the may
belong ?
The club strengthens the Idea of unity In
church and philanthropic work , by showing
that the success of each department Is tlio
success of the whole.
It seems Impossible to estimate Its power
to * good In a community , when wo consider
how many , disheartened by failure In some
smaller field , have been inspired to renewed
effort by the helpful words and warm sym
pathy of those who are strong , "to touch life
with an upward Impulse. " S. R. D.
No person who has been actively Interested
In charitable or philanthropic work can deny
the facts stated In the above letter. We have
all felt but too keenly the weakness and
comparative Inefficiency caused by small num
bers and consequent lack of enthusiasm.
It cannot bo denied that a large number
of women follow the fashions In their social
and church afllllatlons , and In their philan
thropies as well. A certain "mission" or
"charity" beco.Ties as truly a fad as a new
cut of sleeve or skirt or a peculiar shade
In silk or velvet.
It must be admitted , too , that despite the
concession that altruism Is a natural and
prime constituent of woman's nature , too
many women bound the sphere of their al
truistic efforts by home or family lines.
Those who ceo further and are Intelligently
convinced that no sphere less than God's
world should satisfy American women must
leave apparently unheeded the most Impera
tive calls , the most , piteous cries for help ,
because they are so few that time and
strength fall to meet the demand.
However , ono who views the club as an
outsider because other calls have been more
Imperative believes that the cause of this
apparent Indifference Is further to seek than
In the Woman's club. Further , she believes
that the tendency of the club Is In the other
direction , because a woman can hardly have
her horizon enlarged without a broadening
ot hsr sympathies , and a desire to enter In
and possess the new territory , In the way
peculiar to her sex.
I said apparent Indifference advisedly , be
cause I do not bcllev * . It to be real , and as
far as It exists Its cause Is not far to seek.
"In union there 'Is ittrength" always. If
women wcro unlteu for the purpose of phi
lanthropic , charitable1 'and ' church work as
for the self-culture WhTch Is more distinctively
the end of the clutf'bifganlzatlon , their power
would bo Irreslstlb . 'But social and espe
cially denominational ' _ differences separate
them Into a multltilUe''df small and compara
tively weak organizations , expending a Iprge
part of their strength they have to maintain
the struggle for existence , and having com
paratively little to Uoy te to the cause which
they are organized tip promote.
Hut the processea of evolution are at work
as continuously ljiit&e ! social as In the
biological world. Tjiq { inly difference lies In
the fact that in the , former man has a larger
opportunity to help [ ji ' the progress by In
telligent and voluntary , , selection.
It will bo well fiIndividuals ; and organ
izations , who feel th.o.1 ; they are being crowded
under In the great lfo ) struggle , to study
the principles that underlie the success of
their more fortunate neighbors , and Instead
ot Inveighing against them , adopt them.
Will It not bo well when our religious and
philanthropic bodies accept and Incorporate
the principles ot our body politic "Untt&l
wo stand , divided we fall , "
MARY DE VOLL.
Do women's clubs Interfere with philan
thropic or mlislonary work ? In my Judg
ment , No. because club life teaches Inexperi
enced people to think Independently and to
work unitedly. Most women's clubs have
been formed within ten , and nearly all within
twenty years , but philanthropic and mission
ary work has also Increased In that time.
As Belt-reliance In thought and action ha *
advanced there baa been additional Interest
In others. There IB an old argument that II
women were educates ! they would neglect
their famine * . The truth is , they arrange ,
manage , and accomplleb more than In former
Umei. , „ - < . . _ U. G. TOWNfl.
WOMAN'S ' WORK IN ENGLAND
80010 Phases of the Now Philanthropy as
Seen in Great Britain.
ilMP.10V.MENT . IN EDUCATION M-THODS
Chnnccs In the Lniri Concerning Property
Women s Factory Inupcctors and
1'oor Inw Ounrdlnni Itcvlval
ot Homo Industries.
In the good old days ot which some folk
love to speak , the only Idea of helping one's
fellow men was to tlolo out gifts. Even now
In that old country on the cast of the Atlan
tic , where the Anglo Saxon race was cradled ,
there are many strange bequests extant.
In some parishes a weekly dole of loaves
Is given to the widows at the door ot the
church ; In others blankets , coals , soup , etc. ,
arc regularly given from funds left long ago.
There are also foundations of various kinds
alms houses for the aged , free homes for
the orphan , and every parish district has Its
poor house , to which any one born In the dis
trict Is admitted , housed and fed when In
need.
need.But
But leaders of thought and work arc begin
ning to realize that the true way of helping
our fellow men Is to help them to help them
selves. We find all sorts of schemes tried tenable
nable the shiftless , the Ignorant , the needy ,
o become self-helpers.
In the little Island of Britain , as In this
great and glorious republic , "philanthropy"
Is becoming ICES and less a giving by the
ft-callliy to the poor , by tha great to the
liumble , and more and more a raising of the
race , a wiping out of class distinction , an
indeavor to set each Individual on his own
egs and bid him "help himself. "
Two great women's organizations In Britain ,
ho Women's Liberal federation and the Urlt-
sh Women's Temperance association ( aflll-
ated with the Women's Christian Temper
ance union ) are working along these lines ,
especially for women and children. Doth
ecognlze that their first aim should be to
each women to think. Both are teaching
women to understand that there Is a big
world outside their own front doors , a world
; hat needs uplifting and regenerating. Dock
ets , and indeed big stirring novels , are wrlt-
en , telling of the dark blots In our clvlllza-
.Ion , and many a woman , aye , nnd many a
bright young maiden , Is giving herself to
work for her fellows. Hence the college set-
foments , where educated girls and women live
n the slums and spend their lives In the up-
Iftlng of humanity. Hence our girls' clubs ,
where girls who have leisure and education
meet every evening those less gifted and
.each them music , history , etc. Physical
.raining Is also given and Is necessary to
essn the fearful mortality caused by long
lours of confinement In work rooms , stores
or factories.
Improved legislation for factories has been
another advanced step. "A factory" In this
sense Includes any place where five women
or children are employed. It Is now Illegal
to employ any children under 14 , and such
only for certain hours. Forty years ago
children of G or 7 worked ten or twelve hours
day. Only four years ago It was stated
by ono of our own leaders that In asking for
women to be appointed as factory Inspectors
women showed their Ignorance ; they might
possibly be appointed as assistants , but the
Insp3ctors' were In many ways unsulted to
i\omen. Today England has women factory
Inspectors employed at the same salary as
men , and our home secretary ( Mr. Asqulth )
has promised to appoint more , because of the
very satisfactory manner In which their
duties have been fulfilled.
Woman now a have a right to money they
earn. Formerly their husbands had control
of It ell. Women sit on our school boards ,
on our parish and district councils and as
guardians of the poor.
The great curse of Britain drink Is at
tacked by both these associations , because It
Is felt that until this evil Is rooted out edu
cation , legislation , good wages and leisure
will avail but little. The B. W. S. A. has
opcndd one Inebriate homo to prove that
drunkenness can be cured. Imprisonments of
seven to fcurte n days have proved futile.
One or two years may eradicate the evils
which fifty or sixty short Imprisonments fall
to touch. Great women's meetings have me
morialized our homo secretary on this ques
tion , urging him to found honies for the
Inebriate , to which persons shalll be com
mitted for terms of at least one year and
there employed In suitable occupations and
treated as diseased persons rather than as
criminals.
As poor law guardians women are saving
many disheartened sisters ; are seeing that llt
tlo children are warmly clad ; that old couples
are allowed to live together ; that the
wretched are separated from the deserving
and honest poor.
Another work of the new philanthropy Is
the opening up of new careers for women ,
The Horticultural college In Swanley , Kent ,
begun but a few years ago In a very humble
manner. Is now turning out women florists ,
market gardeners , tomato growers and mush
room tenders , thus putting a pretty and con
genial trade Into the hands of women. The
revival of the home Industries of weaving
and spinning Is another trade which Is begin
ning to attract attention , while clerkships In
our postal , telegraph and government olllccs
are kept open to women on equal terms with
men , save on the ono question of pay. AVhy
does a women receive less money for work
equally good -and equal In quantity ? Does
the question suggest a further thought ? How
do Eome of the girls In our dry goods stores
and other places live on the wages they re
ceive ?
Lady Dllke , aided by a whole band of
workers , Is trying to remedy this evil strictly
on the lines of the new philanthropy. Britain
Is now covered with a network of women's
trades unions. Strange to say , the women
themselves are the greatest hindrance In
furthering this. Many care to do nothing
but the lowest class of work ; many pay their
subscriptions Irregularly apd are Indifferent.
Still , nearly every trads Is now organized ,
and I believe without exception the men up
hold the women In their endeavor. They
realize how fatal to their Interest Is the
cheap labor of women and children.
The old boarding school , where accom
plishments , carriage , demeanor were the main
subjects taught , has been replaced by hlgl
schools , where a sound education Is given at
about one-fourth the cost ot the old private
establishments. In these schools girls are
prepared for our universities and fitted to
enter life as heads of good businesses , doc
tors , lawyers , etc. The misery of six daugh
ters at home , caviling and carping , prinking
and envying Is fast becoming a thing of the
past. Daughters have their calling as wel
as sons , and are becoming educated accord
ingly. Even In the homes of the aristocracy
girls are demanding a free hand a profes
sion , a life's purpose other than the mere
society life and weary waiting for a suitable
match.
Ancient history tells ot woman-governed
states ; these passed and man ruled. The
new phllanthrophy shall bring In neither
matriarchy nor patriarchy , but a greater
nobler , higher race made possible by a more
perfect motherhood In which man and woman
shall work together In home. In commerce
In the state and in the church.
LOUISA B. BYLES.
"Though I am but n woman ,
Every nerve within Is human ,
Aching , throbbing , overworked , mind am
body sick nnd tore.
I will strike when day Is ended ,
Though , the stockings nre not mended
Though my course can't be defended. Safe
behind the closet door
Goes the basket with the mending , and I'l
haunted be no more ;
In the daylight shall be crowded all the
work that I can see ,
When the evening lamps nre lighted I wll
reud the May Day IJee. "
J. M. Johnson , groceries and provisions
2404 Cumlng street , Omaha , Neb.
HELIN & THOMPSON
TAILORS ,
1612 FARNAM STREET
Invite inspection of their complete line
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spring and eummor wear.
Illga standard of workmanship ,
Suits $25.00 and upward.
Pants 80.00 and upward.
SI' / /
Vcl LR
and CURTAINS
DOUGLAS STS.
The May Day Bee $ "
AND-
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Stale Prudent . Women's Christian Temperance Union of Nebraska ,
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m
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