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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1897)
-T"-t i THE COURlEft. ' a '"T'.2-'ff CNsfiawaffcaiff-csfifiSfifffi. ( ( ( ( ( ( LBB S) ? Officers of tlie State Federation of Woman's Clubs. President, Mrs. B. M. Stoutenborough.PJatlsraouth. Vice-president, Mrs. J. E. Ktysor, 2724 Caldwell street, Omaha. Secretary, Mies Vesta Gray. Fremont. Treasurer, Mrs. M. P. Nichols, Beatrice. Auditor, Mrs. D. C. McKillip, Seward. Librarian, Mrs. G. M. Lambertson, Lincoln. Isincoln Clubs. KAME OK CI.UI1. PRESIDENT. SECRETARY. Athenea Mr& Will Green Mrs. Belle Hamilton Book Kevin' Mrs. I.N.Baker. Mrs. Kelley Century Mrs. M. II. Garten Mrs. B. T. Van Brunt Faculty Club MrB. Geo. E. MacLean Mrs. P. B. Burnett Fortnightly - Mrs. 0. H. ImhofF Mrs. C. H. Gere Hhllln Grovo Mrs. H. M. BushnelK Mrs. Walter Davis Lotos Mrs. J. L. McConoell Mrs. Lucy A.Beisey Matineo Musicalo Mrs. D. A. Campbell Mrp. J. W. Winger So rod 3 Mrs. A. J.Sawyer Mrs. J. E. Miller Sorosie, .1 r Mrs. Wm.T. Stevens MrB. Fred Shephard Wednesday Afternoon The hostess acta as president.. Mis. Robert Wilson Woman's Club Mre. A. A. Scott Mrs. J. L. Parsons V.W.C. A. Magazine Club.... Miss Wild OKFI CERS OF THE CITY FEDERATION. President, Mrs. Geo. L. Mei6sner, 152 D street. First vice president, Mrs. Ida Kelley, S3aNorthTwenly-third street. Second vice-president, Mrs. H. II. Wheeler. 1517 II street. Recording secretary. Miss Laura Wild, 141 South Twelfth street Corresponding secretary, Mrs. Milton Scott, 202 So-Lth Thirty-third street. Treasurer, Mrs. C. R. RichardF,C2l North Sixteenth street. Probably one-third of the letters I receive are from women who wish to start a woman's club, and the first question is always. How shall we do it? Or, How shall I do it, for the Idea ?eems to oriRinate with one woman ineach communityll No question could be more difficult to answer than this one. as the organization of any club de pends largely on the vomo who is its first lrader. If she fails to interest, or to Inspire, then the clul is usually a failure from beginning" to end. Now. the ideal orpanlzer of a club is very difficult to find. Many women who are quite capable of planrVnp a good programme fail utterly when it is a question of leadership, and do not put into'the club that spirit of co-operation without which any such organization is destined to a speedy dissolution. There Cs probably no line of work in which in dividuality counts for so much as that of organizing clubs. I know a club wo nnan in one of the eastern states who has been Instrumental In organizing clubs, and vt she has never assumed the personal leadership "because she knows her limitations. She Interests some woman of the locality who is a natural born leader. She arouses the interest of such a woman In the club movement, gives her a plan of work, encourages her. helps her with the first meeting, and by her co-operation and advice whenever it is needed and leavei the woman and the locality to work out their own salvation. At least fif teen clubs owe their inspiration to this woman. Strange to say, each club would be surprised beyond measure w-re they to be told tha't this is the case. There are few people they are the rare and delightful exception who un derstand their specialty, and fewer and rar.r are these who comprehend their limitation.. Now the success of my frlerd in her. work of club extension was .hat she understood her limitation. It Is rot ever" woman who conceives ths Cdta of organizing a club who is capable of lelng the president of a club, and often the instigator of an Idei Is the very last person to be a president. She may be made of too fine stun to tnakj. a good president. There are ruch. She may be incapable of what Carlyle calls the "executive brutality." which, under a. softer name, is an essential ele ment in the qualities which go toward the make-up of a good leader. The wo- man who feels that she cannot lead should never attempt to do so. Let her select some born leader and lead her to carry out her plan. I have saen so many clubs fall and fall into a condition cf "innocuous desuetude," because the wo man who originated the idea was elect ed the first president. So, from my ex perience. I will say, that the first presi dent Is the keynote to the success of a club. Having decided, therefore, what Is wantfd, and on the woman to be the first president, call a meeting of a small number of women and call It at a pri vate house. And, above all, make it as Cnformal, as social, and as pleasant as lKXssfble.. Give every one achance to talk, and, above all, allow the woman who Is a cronlc objector to leave the house without being pledged to join the club. Let no false motives of courtesy Induce anyone to urge her to Join at once. Give her the opportunity to at tend the meeting. That is always wis?, but give her a long time to deliberate, and when It is a success, she will join and all her objections will be sllerX The first year of the formation of a club should not be devoted to the study of the history of Greece or Rome, or of Hegel's system of philosophy. The best thing for a young club is the current events, because, on the subject of cur rent events, no one is really well In formed and every one has an opinion. Suppose the club meets every two weeks, aisd that is often. Select, say three of the membsre to tell either in writing or by speaking what has hap pened Sn the world during the past two weeks. One woman can take Europe, one can take American, and the other can take the literary field, the books published, or the scientific movements in Europe and America, The discussion which would allow the presentation of the topic can be confined to any one subject, so that once in six week tlri discussion would cover the polifcal field, economic conditions nnd literary movements, taking them inturn. So ciety in America suffers from the fact that people do not discuss what is going on- around them from any large point of view. Consequently there is very 1 ttle interesting conversation in American social circles, and the reason is that women know comparatively little of American politics, foreign affairs and economic conditions. After all, it is what happens today that is the inter esting part of life, because it is the only part Which affects each and every one. A current eveifts club, conscientiously carrying out such a programme as out lined above, would change the attitude of mind of its club members, and make them more interesting and alert. It would be of incalculable benefit to the leaders of the discussions. They would become accustomed to condensing items of Information, and would be anxious to utilize anything which tends to enlighten them on the subject thJy present to the club. Such a training is a liberal education. A current events club would, naturally, evolve into a de partment club, and would have no diffi culty in finding women able to take the chairmanship of the different depart ments. Where a club is not large, three departments are sufficient home, civics and literature. Where the club is large. six might be added education, philan thropy, and art and science, or a social committee. A little book called "The Womanl Club," by or.ve Thorne Miller, Is an ex cellent guld; both In forming and car rying on a club. It gives -many simple and practical suggestions. Ellen M. Henrotln. President of General Fed eration o Woman's Clubs, In New York Journal. The Fifth Chautauua circle met with Mrs. H. It. Nlssley Thursday morning at her rooms on K street between Twelfth and Thirteenth.. This .club which meets regularly once a week is doing some thorough work. Interest ing articles were given upon" "Grecian Art." with Mrs. Nissley as leader, "History of Grecian Civilization." 'with Mrs. Patrick as leader, and astronomy with Mrs. Gibson as leader. Mirabeau Uefore the Revolution by Mrs. George Fawell. The membership of this club consists of Mesdames II. B. Patrick. George Fawell, Alva Kennard, O. M. Thompson, H. R. Nissley, French, Gib- The program of the Matinee Musical for Monday afternoon, will consist of Scotch, Welsh and Iihh songs. The lest open meeting of the Century club was held Tuesday eening at too home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Winger. Mra. D. A. Campbell sang two solos beautifully at the opening and close of an English program. Ro'l call was responded to by quotations from Thackary. Mrs. J. L. Teeters read an interest" ng paper, "The Lake District and its Associations. She dwellt at length ujon the poets and authors of that district, especially Wordsworth, and the Co!eridc,e institutions. A dainty foIo was sung by Mrs. G. W. Noble, followed by two pleasing readings, one by Mrs J. E. Hill from Coleridge, the other by Mrs. C. G. Waite from Words woith. After refreshments the time was devoted t conversation. The mem bership consists of Mesdames F. E. Campbell, W. H. Garten, Henry Hart ley, R. H. Howell, C. I. Jones. W E. Kirker, J. L. Leese, W. II. McCieery, G. W. Noble. E. H. Polk, W. F. Saylor, M. Scott, J. L. Teeters. R. J. Van Bpjnt. M. E. Van Brunt, C. G. Wait?, J.W.Wirger.J.E.Hill. W. N. Hind man, Miss Anna Miller; some invited guests. At the meeting of the Woman's Faculty club, at Mrs. Bessey's Wednes day afternoon; 40 ladies were present. The program consisted of charming numbers. The first violin solos by Ernst Bessey accompanied by Mrs. Be?sey on tbo piano were well executed. Q hey were 'Romarrza. ' and "Capriciio."' by E. Spies. Mr. John Randolph's selections from the work of the Negio post, Paul Dunbar and Joel Chandler Harris. Mr. Randolph's" intuitive sym pathy which is exhibited in his ac companiments was apparent in these readings. He is an accomplished negro dialectician and the club was very grateful for his efforts. MrB. Ward's solo, "Sing, Smile and Slumber" by Gounod accompanied by Ernst Bessoy. on the violin and by Mis. Bessey on the piano were most acceptablerThe'papers which were prepared, but which were not read, will be read at the next monthly meeting to be held at the home of Mrs. MacLean. V-. BAST LINCOLN ITEMS. The30 East L'ncoln items were crowded out from last week's issue. Presbyterian church gave a very novel social last week at the pleasant home of Mrs. Holben. The entertainment consisted of an observation party which was a test of the live sensep. The tc3ts created much merriment, especially the ono-vh:ch tested the sense of smell. Frrt salad and cake was served in the dicing room at a lito hour and it is safe to infer that each and all entered harte y into this last test of the sense of taste. Mr. and Mrs. J. II. Whitmcro pleasantly entertained a company cf Eist Lincoln young people last Fiiday evening at their home on Twenty-fifth and T streets. Croktnole, domino whist and advertisements suggestive of the title of Looks furnished amusements for the evening. Dainty refreshment were served in courses Those present were: Misses Etta and Jennie Erb, Ea-tmliy. Pike.'Bartlett Minnie and Hattie Mc C'ay, Jpnni and Alico Whitmore: Messrs: Frank and Phil Eastiiday, Erb, Smith.Tik?. John, Frank and Horaca Whitmore. One of the most comphta b'rtbday surprises was given Mrs. Dr. Stevens and Rev. Mr. Nowell on Thursday even ing at the home of Mrs. Stevens on North Twenty sixth streets. There 13 only live dajB dilFerenej in their ages and as birtbdajs are always suspicious events a few of their frlcn.'s decided to throw off any suspicion that .vould be likely to arise by having the surprise b tween the two birthdays. Accordingly about fifty young people gathereel at the bouse while the unsuspecting were at pra3cr meet ng. Previous nrrauze raen's had been made when by Mr. Newell was enticed to the houso also and when tne two appeared they were taken completely unaware, but we-o soon themselves tg-iin. Many novel features were introduced duiing the evening. The fairer sex had chains and padlocks claspcJ about their waists and patiently awaited the sterner sex to come to their deliveiance. In the meanwhile the gentlemen had been furnished wi h the necessary article and had gone fishing; each caught a dainty box filled with tpmpticg delicacies. At tached to each box was a key and the fishermen soon started on a search for their lady pir'ner; having found her, a cozy corner was then sought and every cne knows the rest. This beiog a birth day party every one was presented with a ticket which entitled him to a present uponpie-entation. Mrs. Stevens and Mr. Newe'l were tho holders of ticket No. o0 and upon being presented tbo former was made glad by leceiving a beautiful palm, the latter realized a long felt want when presented with a very pretty combination foot-rest. At a latdhour the guests depbrted wishing the two many nioic blight and happy birthdays. Atoa Pomomhor. n G. H. Frey The Y. P. S. C. E. of the Second 1131 O street Has 1800 Easter lillies for Easter. Watch for his DISPLAY Qni.,1.,,- o ini n ,.i. i. vjutuiuuj in ijji vy liccu. owfr0t we 6 IT MRS. J. C. BELL. massajre. Hah good s, Hairdressing, manicuring1 and cosmetics, hair ointments. i?ancy pins for hair and hat Embroidery silks in holders. Switches made to order. Cut hair and combines bought. 1414 0 STREET. KORSMEYER PLUMBING AND HEATING CO. We will do it right. PLUMBING, STEAM HEATING and LIGHTING. KORSMEYER PLUMBING AND HEATING CO. " 215 so. Eleventh street.