Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1898)
r f T'Pts&:a' THE COURIER. 3 In ' -3T fc ?. f 4 5 r LHB Lzzz: Sft8e'' g- Zll Officers of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs. President, Mrs. B. M. Stoutenborough, Plattsmouth. Vice-president, Mrs. E. M. CJobb, 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. Following are the papers read re garding the Denver Biennial at the gathering of club women at the home of Mrs. A. C Kicketts on Thursday of last week: Mrs. II. M. Bushnell said: I have brought hack with me many leasant memories of the Biennial and anything unpleasant is fast" fading from my memory. I have always felt that a meeting of this kind was not complete until 1 had tolked it all over with my friends; and 1 am sure that after this pleasant morning I will think of it with more satisfaction. Of the consequences of going as visitor or a delegate 1 had given little thought. Kn route to Denver, as the ladies were discussing what offices in the federation Nebraska ought to have: w"hat Lincoln could get and what Omaha wanted, and stood no show of getting, I found myself talk ing a great deal, forgetting that I had no vote in the federation. Then it be gan to dawn upon me that there might he many things in store for a delegate, from which a visitor was de barred, and since Mrs. Kicketts has asked me for my impressions from the standpoint of a visitor I have wonder ed if she intended anything by the word "standpoint." For I assure you that when I presented myself at the Broadway theatre without any Cre dentials to entitle me to a seat, my op portunity for making observations from a standpoint were never better . and as the crowd increased I began to think I would lie in luck if I se cured a point on which to stand. Just then the difference between being a delegate and a visitor became very ap parent. 1 do not think any one can appreciate the situation until she has had the experience of standing where she can see an army of talent that would inspire a stone and heard an en thusiastic audience cheer me wit and wisdom of the speakers and not be able to hear ay word of it all her self. Yet I would not lose this morn ing's experience. All at once there was a sudden transition, I could not believe my senses when I heard the angelic voice of Mrs. II. 11. Wilson, saying, "There are two vacant seats in the Nebraska delegation, w.l you and Mrs. Maule come down and take them?" The invitation to come up higher must be a joyful sound, but I never knew how grateful it was to be asked to come down lower and 'take a seat. I wondered how long this good for tune was going to last and could not Ret over a slight uneasiness for a lit tle while fearing some one might come and claim the seat, but I gave myself as much of a .-hav e-come-to-stay" look as possible, removed my big hat, on request, involuntarily put my hand up to see if my hair was all right and received a nod trom Mrs. Kick etts, which assured me that it looked as well as it ever did, and then was ready for the program. After this everything appeared to me in the superlative degree. The wis dom of the speakers was most pro found. The humor and wit was of the highest order. The chorus seemed all at once to have added a new prima donna. The air was pure, ti.e seats the most comfortable, the decorations artistic, the Hags sang a new song of patriotism, the few gentlemen here and there in the audience were of the meekest kind and the moito, "Unity in Diversity." Came to me with Its full est meaning. Some one has sa ., "There arc those whose destiny it is never to finish; never to have enough; to leave the feast upon the table; to leave all the edges of life ragged." I cannot express the exquisite grati tude when this feeling of my uncer tain tenure of a highly prized place was turned into permanency by a real dele gate's offer of a press badge, speakers ticket or delegate badge. I had the honor of being admitted by one of these evidences of eligibility on many occasions. I assure you that no knight decorated with the Order of the Gar ter appreciated 'the honor more than I did when some delegate beeorated the front of my shirt waist with a badge. There are many acts of kindness that we may do to strengthen friend ship between club women but the delegate who divides her badge with the visitor has secured her greatest affection forever. The visitor is a kinder critic than the delegate. She sees only "the smooth side and does not feel the jars or hear the discords in the business meeting, though I believe the Biennial meetings have been very harmonious. I heard of a lady, who, in her haste to get to the meeting, put on her bonnet wrong side before and when some one said "My dear, I believe your bonnet is on wrong," she said, "I noticed that I was attracting a good deal of atten eion, but I supposed they were only talking of running me for president of the National Federation." Some of my impressions briefly stated are that the fourth Biennial cannot fail to impress visitor or dele gate with the intellectual progress of the club women. In the past she has lived outside the public interests, but she is now rapidly making up for the apathy of her grandmother. The crowds which were in attendance showed what a wonderful influence the club movement has on the puhiic mind, and that through its influence many quiet homekeepers have claimed the inheritance of the agesT One of the best essayists in this country, two of the best story writers, acknowledged leaders in philantrophy and many dis tinguished women made the Biennial profitable to all who attended. Some of my friends have signified their intention of attending the next National Federation of Women's Clubs. Go by all menus "but surround yourself with as many delegates as possible for while they may not be able to se cure your standing in a great intel lectual 1cdy like this, they at least may help you to secure a sitting. Mrs. Field spoke of the inspiring au dience present at the opening of tho federation and the very felicitious ad dress of Governor Adams in welcom ing the ladies. I t was the first time a man had been asked to occupy a place on the program of a Uieuuiul. Mrs. HenrUtinV reply was charming and she received an ovation from the delegates as she rose to respond to the four addresses of welcome. In an informal talk of three minutes it was very difficult to select from the program any special features or do justice to the subject at all, there was so much to delight and commend. Mrs. Field spoke in high terms of the Nebraska women, Mrs. Heller and Mrs. Stoutenborough, who occupied places on the evening programs. Their talks were not only delightful in themselves but they were beard by the audience, praise which Could not be bestowed upon a good many papers given before the convention, and the speaker suggested that lwfore the next federation 'here be a voice or de delivery committee whose duty it should be to examine proposed speak ers and allow none to appear upon the program who could .iot make them selves heard. The department meetings of civic clubs and village improvement asso ciations, presided over by Mrs. Cor nelius Stevenson of Pennsylvania, and that of education, 'Miss Margaret Evans of Minnesota, chairman, were mentioned as being especially enjoy able, and also the art meeting, where Miss Kate Stoddart presented the work of placing pictures in the school rooms. . Mrs. Kicketts read a paper on history clubs before the literature department ami great interest was shown by the delegates present. Mrs. Kicketts had a nnmlwr of history outlines with her prepared by university professors, which were given to those especially interested in the subject and many who could not obtain copies gave their names to Mrs. Kicketts and outlines were afterwards mailed them from the university. At the educational meeting Mrs. Wil son presented the subject of univer sity extension in the cIuj work and spoke of what we hope to do in Ne braska this year along this line. Two universally enjoyed meetings were those of Thursday and Saturday evenings. Mrs. Barnes of Louisville presided Thursday and the program was made up chiefly of readings by Miss Agnes Kipplier and Ruth Mc Knery Stuart. Mrs. Philip N. Moore was chairman Saturday night and the program was Folk Songs of America, Miss White and Miss Muldoon illus trating them by s ort descriptions as well as by singing many of them. The federation meetings convinced one that all are not fitted to preside but these two meetings owed some oi their charm to the grace and ease of their chairmen. Miss .lane Addanis of Hull House, Giieago, was as interesting a speaker as any and perhaps the most interest ing personality at the federation. Mrs. Held closed her remarks by re ferring to the Monday morning meet ing when the new officers were chosen and expressed her satisfaction, over the result. Mrs. L. C. Richards reported the ex cursion to Clear Creek Canyon: Much was said while we were in Denver and more has been .said since by reporters in regard to Massachusetts withdraw ing her invitation to entertain the next Biennial. The reason first given was that the delegates and friends were disappointed and disgusted over failing to elect Mrs. Breed of Massa chusetts as president. Further inves tigation proved that nothing so petty and small had influenced them, they were simply discouraged, that was nil. After enjoying luncheons, teas, recep tions, garden parties, trolley rides and finally as a grand climax the compli mentary excursion around the Loop, they felt, that they Could not follow in the wake of Colorado. Not that Massa chusetts could not surpass Colorado if .she ehosi n no questined that, but a Massachusetts vvmnn explained the it nation by aying. "the eastern vvumnn .si all right when she works in small groujw, but you cannot get large num bers together that will work enthusi astically and as a unit, as do the women of Colorado," and was it any wonder they were discouraged? Why, the Denver women told 11s that two hundred of them had thought and talked of nothing else for ft year and that the last six months had held al most daily committee meetings plan ning for the entertainment of the con gress and that they had made up their minds to give soiuetiuug finer than had ever been given and that it should he on such a grand scale that nothing could surpass it in the future!. Al though this sounded a little vain when we first heard the boast, not a woman but agreed that it was the solemn truth by the time they had accepted and enjoyed the hospitality so lavish ly provided and our sympathy will go out to whatever state has the temerity to undertake to en'terain the next Bi ennial. And so now as to that won derful trip around the Loop that jo disheartened our eastern friends those of you who participated ami thote who have read the glowing de scriptions in the last two issues of the Courier, will acknowledge there is lit tle left for me but to recapitulate, but although one has made the trip many times it seems ever new and beautiful One never tires of the Lord's prayer and it seems to me the same spirit pervades both. On that eventful Sat urday morning the more enthusiastic members of our delegation decided to take the earliest train, tLat we might have a good long day of pleasure, but while waiting for friends w ioiii we had promised to meet, we found that instead of taking the first of seven trains out we would be obliged to take the last. Our remarks of regret were overheard by a gentleman, who look ed like an ex-governor, but as we learned later a real estate agent, who was paid for showing off the country, and he assured us we were most for tunate in taking this division as it was to carry the speakers and would be the first dined at Idaho Springs. This proved true and when we went aboard we found many of the lovefy' people, with whom we had grown familiar during the week. Mrs. Breed and her two .lapane.se friends, Mrs. Heurotin, Miss Helen M. .ttnslow. the editor of the Boston Woman's Club paper, and dozens of others, besides many lovely Denver and Idaho Springs men and women who treated us as guests and explained all points of In terest on the way. When we reached the Springs we were reminded of what Mrs. Piatt had said in her speech of welcome at Denver: "We have sent our children to the country and effaced our husbands that the dele gates may have the freedom of the city." And we decided that the women of Idaho Springs may have sent their children to the country for there were none of them in evidence but surely the husbands had not been disposed of for they were at the station in goodly numbers to receive us, escort us to the opera hou.-e where lunch was served, wait upon us most graciously at table, accompany us to the park near by and help make the sjccches, furnish carry alls for those who wished to see the village and guides for those who wished to visit a silver mill near by. One incident occurred here that has 4 ik a,- - - &aiL.