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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1897)
. -..,. --- T-V ' ' rt ' ' VS srvscs-"; ,r 2 THE60URIBR, fiiV-. l r l &v I. t & i r 4 F" i r,o & fKr 35 5. Sty1 fe I .&- v - presence of the people, where noble chorus and orchestra can roll out Wagnerian musk in unconrined vol ume, where even auuual meeting of societies like the Christian Endeavor ran le held, is a worthy object to strive for. The projected atiditoriiim may bring the citizens together to work for a common object. Com pacted it will Ik: of great ue to us. Building it, we may lie taught again our reliance ujkui each other.our com mon Interests. J A notice from the Javid City news liapcrs to look out for pick-pockets and burglars who accompany lliugling's show made Lincoln houc keepers and storekeepers more than usually care ful not to leave house or store un watched while the circus was here. The usual procedure of the chief of the thieves that circus owners license, as they do the side shows, is, to isit thechier of police the tirst thing in the morning. With him the pirate captain makes an arrangement which enriches the chief, to a larger or smaller extent. Under the conditions the pick-pockets are to Iks allowed to run their business without indict "in terference." These arrangements are not confined to any city. The bead thief is in the habit of making them with the chief of police of every city in which the show appears. Notwith standing his opportunities lie does not make much more than an honest living, because he has to divide with the proprietors of the show and with the police, who, of course, must each receive in turn, a trifle from the chief to pay them for silence and looking the other way when anything is going on. The revelations made in the inves tigation of Policeman Dill show that the guardians of property should beex ciuded from the rooms they are sup posed to protect. The naivete of the policeman's explanation that he had a pass key to many of the business houses of his beat and that he had been in the habit of turning in to Holm and Reed's to sleep during the hours of the night he is paid to keep awake, is striking. It has been a matter of regret that the police were too few in number to protect the city. In the light of recent; developments it is just as well that there are no more. The citizens are awakening to the fact that the city government, from humblest officer to highest (always excepting members of the council, which is legislative rather than ex ecutive) is for sale. They took the office for revenue only. The idea that public office is a public trust" is the uncomprehended and Quixotic phrase of an Hnpopularjiresident. The city cersare the'whatarewe here for"' kind,. The ring that has run the city for so long is in full and unquestioned control-. The Coubikk isthe only uiijKirtizan paper in Lincoln. 'It dares to make. these, charges against the city ad mi nisi ration because it is out- of politics. It addresses the lcst and the most intelligent people of the city and thestatc and as many as read its pages are going to know the character and conduct of the city officer-!. Taxes would be paid with greater readiness if the taxpayers were sure that they were assessed to pay the salaries of devoted and able city officers, to pay for durable paving, pure water and adequate .tire and police protection. But the people pay their taxesashel-)-less travellers, detained by Iiaudits. pay their ransoms, because they must. Tile city treasurer's office is the place where a lot of sulky,- suspicious but helpleas people pay the tribute of citi seaahlp. To remedy this state of tk4as there are the primaries from which the plain, preoccupied citizens stay, and afterwards grumble impot entlyatthe nominees. Tiik CouitiKii s hoping that, there will be a citi zen's ticket this fall that will give honest men an opportunity, to rebuke the ring that offer the city for sale every day. The Great Blue Heron. t 2 5S''SSSSe''vS5S.S w ( ) LBBg- e4 i ' Within a fen: miles of Lincoln, on Oak creek, there may be founa at almost any time during spring, summer and early autumn, a large bird of a dull ashy blue color with white eyes, stand ing motionless in the shallow water near the shore of the strea-n. In the uncartain light caused by the shadows of the overhanging trees he might be taken for an old decaying stump of a tree. Knowing the habits of thu stately bird whom we have been seeking, we have approached his haunts cautiously. Not close enough for a good view of him, we carefully divide the dense, sweet perfumed wild ciicumber vines and mere a little neaiei. Now we have our first good view of. the great blue heron. Not a motion, not a ound does he make. A ripple on the surface of the shallow wt r marks the courss of an unsuspecting tjb. A gleam of the bright golden eye, and quick as a (lash his head has disappeared in the water and out comes the tish for Mr. Heron's mexl, then raisin-; his head and stretching out his long neck and guip'ng, down it go;s Now raising one of his long legs he carefully draws one toe through his lance shaped bill just as if he was picking his teeth. An unguard. ed step, and the snapping of a dry twig, he ia off with a hoarse croak. The greet blue heron is a very shy bird, making it difficult to approach him. His food consists entirely of tish, frogs and mice found in marshes. Herons strike their prey just back of the head and when it is large they kill it by striking it against a stone or stump. Early in May they begin to mate, and build a large coarse looking nest of dry sticks. The eggs, sever more than three in number and usually only two, are of a dull pale blue color, and are about the size of a email hen's egg. During the incubating period male and female share the nesting cares alternate ly, and receive food from each other, the total length of an old bird from bill to toe is 63 inches and hen the wings are spread they measure 72 inches from tip to tip. They usually fly in a straight line, the flight 13 strong, even and graceful. Xike most large birds they do not appear to move very rapidly but their strong wings soon carry them out of view. The male and female in full plumage are much alike, the young birds being of a rusty gray blue color, until they have attained their third year, when they assume the brighter colors of the old birds. In anrient Greek literature there is a beautiful legend describing the origin of this handsome bird. It says that out of the ashes of a burnt city arose the great blue heron. AUGUST EICHE. Officers of the State Federation of Woman s Clubs, i President, Mrs. B. M. Stoutenborough, Plattsmouth. Vice-president, Mrs. J. E. Keysor, 2721 Caldwell street, Omaha. Secretary, Miss Vesta Gray, Fremont. Treasurer, Mrs. M. F. Nichols, Beatrice. Auditor, Mrs. D. C. McKillip, Seward. Librarian, Mre. G. M. Lambertson, Lincoln. seUkctaky. .Mrs. Belle Hamilton .Mrs. Kelley Lincoln Clubs. if Kilt. OF CLUB. PRESIDENT. Athenea Mrs. Will Green BookReuew Mrs. I. N. Baker. Century Mrs. M. H. Garten MrB. R. T. Van Brunt Faculty Club Mrs. Geo. E. MacLean Mrs. P.B.Burnett Fortnigttly Mrs. C. H. Imhoff Mrs. C.H.Gere Hall in Grove Mrs. H. M. Boshnell Mrs. Walter Davis Lotos Mrs. J. L. McConnell Mrs. Lucv A. Betsey Matinee Musicale Mrs.D. A. Campbell Mrs. J. W. Winger Sorosis Mrs. A. J. Sawyer Mrs. J. E. Miller Sorosis, Jr Mrs. Wm.T. Stevens Mrs. Fred Sbephard Wednesday Afternoon The hostess acts as president.. Mrs.Robert Wilson Woman's Club Mrs. A. A. Scott Mrs. Kelly Y.W.C. A. Magazine Club.... Mias Wild OFFICERS OF THE CITY FEDERATION President, Mrs. Gen. L. Meissner, 1512 D street. First vice-president, Mrs. Ida Kelley, 839 North Twenty-third street. Second vice-president, Mrs. H. H. Wheeler, 1517 H street. The women of Seward are beginning to get ready for the fall and winter in their club work. The summer .ha .been a rest for them and they have put in a little time in planning the programs for the season. The Nineteenth Century club has issued its program, which is very interesting. It is purely American in its score and for that reason is more interesting and more sensible .than others. When the women have learned all they can about America and the Americans then they may with profit turn to the old world and its decay. American authors and American sub jects, with current events, and the daily history of the world's doings, will occupy the time of this vigorous club this winter. The History and Art club will as usual study what the name signifies. It is a cultured club and its meetings in the past have been of absorbing interest. Mrs. Langworthy, who has been its guiding star through these many years, will be assisted this year b Mrs. Dr. Potter. The Fin de Siecle club is also beginning to get ready for work. Taken n all the little town will be well clubbed this season and much pleasure and profit will accrue to the members and friends. Gold wbb tirst discovered in the vitinity of Sitka by Frank Mahoney, Edxard Doyle and William Dunlay in 187.1. The first American traders td engage, in the Yukon irade were members of the Western Union Telegraph expedition. "Aaua often says "My ttaiacaB- a osSereat from any other toad; if aliaect to aaVartJse my itwintw." That remark shews a rrmsmii rw mjin of what aiiiiiyiil's.kkMihiacahiswiwifcaown to these who 9fht tokaow it. This, caa he doac with aay A member o the Zetetic club at Weeping Water sends the following bketch: A brief summary of theZetetics work may not be-amiss, although club news at this date is almost out of season, as most clubs have long since closed their doors, while their members have hied themselves away to cool resorts. Else they have betaken themselves to rest and quiet under their own "vine and tig tree," wnile the summer solslica holds high carnival. .The Zetetics found they had so much before them it seemed almost impossible to find a time to close and did not until July 10 h, when an adjourned meeting wound up the year, to be commenced again Saptember 4th. A short vacation butas its meetings are held at inter vals of three weeks they probably give co more time to their programs than do those clubs who have longer vacations and whose meetings are more frequent. The club year baa been of unusual interest to some. The studies relatiag to Germany have been not only in structive but of an entertaining nature as well. The papers show that more than ordinary interest has been felt in the work. The federation library was found of practical value to many throughout the year. The club ought to feel that some ad vancement has been made along the line of parliamentary drill, as the practice in that direction has been most vigorous. The last in connection with a discussion of the "Scarlet Letter," added not a little to the interest and brought out on both sides (the question being, "Re solved, that the moral tone of the Scar letjjetter is elevating"; very decided opinions. "Two members have left the club by removal one a charter member,, the other of only a year standing one only has been added, which leaves one va cancy yet to be filled. Occe during the year sorrow entered one home, taking from it a little one whose life had passed but little beyond the half jear mark, long enough only to prove the We its coming brought "ere it entered the blessed beyond. The year has witnessed various social events, adding somewhat to the pleasure of those engaged in the work, also making a pleasant diversion from regu lar program work. In summing up it might be said the past has been one o! the best years of the Zetetic only that it is generally conceded that each year is the best. The story of the year cannot -be complete without mentioning the Plattsmouth affair the joint meeting of the Platts mouth, Ashland and Weeping Water clubs at Plattsmouth by invitation of their club; a happy thought, beauti fully carried out, and a most enjoyable affair. The programs arranged by the execu tive committee for the year '97 and "C8 are ready for the printer. It embraces a variety of topics it is hoped enough to satisfy all tha varying tastes and am bitions of those who aid in its develop ment. Get man history and literature will be one of the leading features. Three or four meetings will be given to parliamentary drill in some form, three will be devoted to some special iine of literature under the leadership of some member; three ? child study under the leadership of Mrs. Marley. one af ternoon to be given to the children, a lawn party; in charge of Mrs. Race one Sbakespere.meetiEg; the laws of Ne braska, especially those relating to women, will be in the hands of Mrs. Donelson. 7 &-?