Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1898)
THE COURIER. rcv 13 tMtk scorn for bis task are always tragically apparent, and with what deadly mean ing he hurls those Shaksperian thun derbolts at the heads of the stolid Philistines about him! Again and again throughout the piece that sen sitive pride for a despised profession, that bitter scorn of the riiilistine flashes up. A player's life could not have been an easy one in the respecta ble, burgeoise England of that period, when the most solemn and dignified arts were held in charitable contempt. Yes, this Garrick is a player and a player of the eighteenth cen tury; he wore the motley at what a cost he alone knew, and he was not ashamed. The strange impersonality with whicli Willard treats his parts recalls to me something which is difficult to say. Personality is the menace of the drama today. We read in the old diaries and autobiographies of how people went to see "Romeo and Juliet" and ''The Rivals'' and the naughty plays of Wych erly and Congreve, the actors are sel dom mentioned. Today wo go to see not plays but players, and too often we see them because they are notori ous rather than notable. We are more interested in their personality than in their work. As long as this continues, farewell to the drama as a part of serious literature and as an honest art. The poorest play now running in New York is the most popular simply because dearMaudie Adams plays in it and because she is a sweet young thing, and the public is more interested in the way she wears her hair than in the canons of dramatic art. The public sees only the central figure, the play as sucli is not considered. While such a state of things exists, our plays will be oniy pot boilers and careless adaptations. The so-called theatrical gossip of the newspapers is responsible for all this. From the first the press has been the deadliest enemy of the stage Theatrical criticism is a farce. It has never yet helped one actor and it has hindered many. Theatrical in terviews which lay bare a player's personality, real or assumed, take from him the last vestige of his dig nity as an artist. Who knows or cares what Mr. Howells drinks, or what George Meredith reads, or where Henry James has his coats made? Why should an actor's personal tastes be more interesting or elevating? Mrs. Potter is one of the most ardent advocates of newspaper advertise ment. Has it ever helped her? Is there a city in this country which takes her seriously? Abroad, where little is known of her, she is consid ered as an actress, but here she is merely Cora Potter. Pittsburg, Pa. tMlOIMMIIMOIOIMMMMMOOMMMf EOOHOJIltf . . For Shoes that wear and are worth more than they cost you, try us: Our cut prices beat all discounts. WEBSTER n 1043 O St. illllMMHIIMIMIMOMMMMMMIH ; I CLHBS. !sSSS'SS"S'S&S&S&SiSS4&&SS&&S9SSS& iS & J Annie L. Miller, Editor. Officers of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs President, Mrs. B. M. Stoutenborough, Plattsmouth. Vice-president, Mrs. E. M. Cobb, York. Secretary, Mrs. Henrietta Smith, Omaha. Treasurer, Mrs. M. V. Nichols, Beatrice. Auditor, Mrs. Ella S. Larsh, Nebraska City. Librarian, Mrs. G. M. Lambertson, Lincoln. NAME OF CLUB. Lincoln Clubs. president. SECRETARY Athenea Mrs. W A.Green Mrs. J L. Kellogg Book Ret iew Mrs. R. H.Rehlaender Mrs. Eiias Baker Faculty Mrs. Chas. E. Beasey Mrs. T. M. Hodgnian Century Mrs. Henry Hartley Mrs. W. E. Kirker Fortnightly Mrs. W.J. Lamb Mrs. A. W. Field HallinGrovo Mrs. M. H. Garten Mrs. W. A. Lindly Lotos Mrs. J. L. McConnell Mrs. J. S. Dales Matinee Musicals Mrs. A.W. Janeen Mrs.D A Campbell Soros's Mrs. M. D. Welch Mrs. Summers Soros's, Jr Mrs. Hel wig Miss Dena Loomis Wednesday Afternoon The hostess acts as president Mrs. Wente Woman's Club Mrs. A. A. Scott Mrs. H.W. Kelley Y.W. C. A. Magazine Club Miss Palmer WiresofRy Portal Clerks Mrs. C. C. Wilson Mrs. I. M. Heckler The Courier's policy in regard to clubs is to print only those items of news and courses cf study which will be of benefit to the clubs and stimulate the helpful gregarious instinct which led to their establishment. During the absence of Mrs. J. L. Mc Connell in Washington, the Art depart ment will be under the charge of the associate leader, Mrs. S. E. Upton. The XIX Century club of Shelton, Neb., is taking an imaginary tour of Europe, following the programme and itinerary as planted and conducted by Mrs. M. A. Crosley of Brooklyn, N. Y. The officers are: President, Mrs. M. A. Uos'etler; vice-president. Miss Cora White; secretary, Mies Mamie Stock well; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Chas. Lucas; treasurer, Mrs. C. F. Graves. "A curious innovation," says the Bos ton Transcript, "at the coming Omaha exposition will be a bureau of courtesy. Not only is the idea novel, but it is sur prising to learn that nearly all the peo ple of the city will be enrolled in the committee. Every member will wear a badge and visitors will be at liberty to address anyone who wears the badge and ask for information just as much as they like. The member, on the other hand, will be pledged to treat the visitor courteously and answer his questions, or put him him in the way of getting them answered." The Plattsmouth Woman's club after a vacation of two weeks, met in regular session Friday evening. On motion, the regular business was suspended and Mrs. McMurpby of Omaha, proceeded with her lecture on "Human building ma terial." She enlarged on the importance of building up the human body with healthful food and the importance of preparing the same intelligently. Every mother, she averred, should understand the plans and specifications of the hu man body and the kind of building ma. terial that ahould bo used to build the nerves, sustain the brain, etc, and with the house mother largely rests the re sponsibility whether her child shall be come a physical wreck, a business fail ure, a drunkard, criminal or a tramp. Mrs. McMurphy had a dainty kitchen fitted up on the stage and proceeded with her practical demonstration! in the deftest manner. Those present had an opportunity of tasting cheese souffle, curried eggs, celery salad and fig pie prepared and served most appetizingly, the recipes of which were given and voted by most of the ladies present. An animated discussion of various health foods in use, was carried on until the lateness of the hour, made the movement to adjourn necessary. A delightful meeting of the Woman's club of University Place, wbb held Sat urday afternoon, February Y2, at the home of Mrs. Castle, where the members enjoyed the luxury of a pink luncheon due to the kinr.nesa of the kensington department.. It was a novel affair. Everything was pink, including carna tions, portieres and lace curtains. Even the sandwiches could not escape the in fection, being securely bound in pink ribbons but we anticipate. The rooms were darkened and artificial lights pro duced a very pleasing effect. The ladies entered a contest of hem stitching a cor ner. The first prize, a bunch of pink La France roses, was won by Mrs. Barnett, while Mrs. Catlin triumphantly bore off the booby prize, a blooming pink ger anium. After a short business session, the ladies were seated at lunch tables where they partook of dainty refresh ments served by two young ladies. As favors each lady received a carnation. At a late hour the guests departed ex pressing themselves as highly pleased with the afternoon. The club will met in two veeks with-Mrs. Dey, when the Shakspere department will have charge of the program. The American revolution itself promis es to pale beside the conflict to be waged by the daughters of the same revolu tion at their coming convention, to be held in the city of Washington at the end of the present month. It h likely that no fiercer fight will have ever been fought, either by seditious subjects or by contentious club women, and that is saying a great deal. New York is vitally and personally interested in this pros pective fray from the fact that it sup plies the chief cause of it all. As one spirited daughter put it the other day: 'We are going to have a high old time, but it is all on account of New York. Without our own Empire state to inspire us so nobly, things might be aa serene as a peace congress." Surplus serenity is just what there won't be at the con vention, however, although it is safe to say, that there will be a good many other things. Every effort is making to keep the old time revolutionary spirit live. In this, Mrs. Donald McLean regent of the New York city chapter of th daughters, is most active. Mrs. Mc Lean haB aspirations. "Excelsior,", is her motto, and she proposes to scale the electioneering heights and become re gent of all she surveys in other words, become president general of the national family of daughters. Most of the other New York daughters flatly and frankly declare that they will not support Mrs. McLean, but as by bo doing they are keeping alive the old time spirit of bel ligerency, so loyal a daughter as Mrs. McLean can find no public cause for complaint, however shs may fsel per sonally. Mrs. Daniel Manning of Al bany, is Mrs. McLean's rival and accord ing to the latest manifestoes, all the New York state and city chapters, with few exceptions, are pledged to her If 'Mrs. McLean wins, therefore, she must pin her faith to those who know her least. Meanwhile each side is sharpening its weapons and laying in much extra am munition. Making motions has given way to the practice of military tactics. Congress has as yet made no announce ment as to whether or not it will adjoura during the occupation of tho capital city by the daughters, but tho chances are that it will. Tho instinct of self pre servation certainly points in that direc tion aside from the self-evident truth that it is well nigh impossible to con duct the affairs of peaco in times of war. Generations hence it is not unlikely that there may be another sort of daughters of the revolution women who will boast their descent not from those meek and mild ancestors participating in a certain namby-pamby eighteenth cen tury conflict against Great Britian, but from those doughty dames who a few weeks henca in the city of Washington will wage the fiercest of fights against each other. New York Evening Sun. The Woman's Republican club of Fre mont, will meet the first and third Tues days of each month at the home of Mrs. Harry Kemp for the next three months at 2 p. m. The club has taken up the study of United States history, and the lessons have proved to be of great interest, bringing out many lively, in teresting and instructive discussions. Friends of the club are cordially invited to attend these meetings. The Woman's club of Fremont, gave the following program Saturday after noon, February 19: Parliamentary Practice, Motions and Amendments, conducted by Mrs. H. G. Wolcott. Instrumental number, Mrs. J. H. Kog ers. Table Etiquette at Home, and Home Courtesies, Mrs. L. D. Whelpley. General discussion. Vocal duet, Miss Marie Baas and Mr. Baldwin. Beds, Miss Bertha Shepherd. Tables, Miss Ethel McGiverin. Candlesticks, Mrs. Warren Vance. Vocal solo, Prof. N. W. Preston. The Household Economics depart ment met with Mrs. W. P. Phillips, 1613 M street on Monday afternoon. The president, Mrs. Milton Scott, with Mrs. Guy Brown, the delegate, at tended the meeting called by Mrs. Pugh in Omaha, last Thursday, to organize a state federation of household economics. Seven ladies assembled at the Wo man's Exchange, the place of meeting. Each of the following towns sent one delegate. Norfolk, Plattsmouth, Iowa, Malvern and Stanton. There were two delegates from Lincoln, and Mrs. Pugh represented Omaha. In June the National Household Economic Association, of which Mrs. Pugh is vice-president, will meet in Oma ha. In order to properly welcome it, the state organization is needed. The result of the balloting was as follows: State president, Mrs. Milton Scott, Lin-