THE COURIER.
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Following aro tlio ollljurs or tlio Gen
eral Federation ot Women's clubs:
President Mis. Rebecca D. Lovvo,
Atlanta, Ga.
Vico President -Mrs. Sarah S. Piatt,
Denver, Colo.
Recording Secretary Mrs Emma A.
Fox, Detroit, Mich.
Corresponding Secretary- Mre.Gcorgo
W. Kondriek, Philadelphia, Pa.
TreuBiiror, Mrs. Phillip N. Moore, St.
Loui:?, Mo.
Auditor MrB. C. P. Barnes, Louis
villo, Ky.-
State Clm'rinan Mrs. Lnuisa L. Rick
etts, Lincoln, Nebr.
Olllcers of tho Stabs Federation of
Women's clubs;
President MrB. S. 0. Lungwortby,
Seward.
Vico President Mrs. Anna L. Apppr
son, Tecumseh.
Recording Secrolary Mrs F. II. Sack
ott, Weeping Water.
Corroapon Jing Secrotury Mrs D. G.
McKillip, Sowurd.
Trea3iiror Mrs. II. F. Doanc, Crete.
Librarian Mrs. G. M. Lambcrtson,
Lincoln.
Tho club women of tho United States
should rise as a unit to rofuto tho sweep
ing statement made by tho editor of tho
Ladies Homo Journal in tho January
number. Wo had hoped that long oro
this Bomo woman or man who could
speak "with tho tonguo of angelB" might
take tho trouble to show this orudito
young man tho fallibility of his assor
tionB. Still I am not suro but tho con
tempt which silence conveys is tho very
beBt anawor to a wholesalo arraignment
of Eomo of tho noblest and beBt women
of our country. This is what ho says:
"Tho platform woman never has boon a
credit to, but over a b!ot upon. Ameri
can womanhood. I mako this emphatic
statement from a personal knowledgo ot
tho homes which these women leave bo
hind when they go to their meetings.
I have Been tho rooms of their homes
left in wild disorder; 1 havo soon their
sorvnnts sit in idleness with work on
overy hand to do; I havo seen tho child
ren neglected and loft to their own do
vicps; I havo hoard huBbands speak in
derision of tho motives of their wives.
Fortunately tho platform woman's in
tluenco is steadily on the wane. Sho
never was a power. Sho uover was pic
turesque.'' I leuvo it to tho intelligent
conservative reader if that is not as
"frantic" and "historical" a statement
us could possibly ominato from this so
called hysterical platfovm woman? Tho
oditor must havo boon unfortunato in
tho class of women whom ho know in
timately, and Htill moro unfortunato
that hiB "breadth" of vision allowed
him to judge an entiro class by hiB
limited knowledgo. Thoro is an old
saying "The Iobb knowledgo tho moro
emphasis" which is applicable hero. If
by "platform womao" is meant tho Mrs.
Jolliby type then ho Bhould roatrict
himBelf to that qIiibs; but if ho moans
all'tho womou who from n platform,
have advocated unti slavery, temper
aace, improvement of tho legal ond poli
tical status ot womon, and coming on
down to tho club movomont of tho last
decade, those who from tho platform aro
advocating roforma olong Social, Phil
anthropic, Educational and Economic
lines, thor ho simply knowoth not
whereof he Bpoaketh. Admit that ho
knowB such a platform woman, admit
that ho has soon Biich a homo ib ho do
BcriboB one woman does not mako a
typo uny moro tiian ono rain drop makeB
a showor. And tho woman who is ac
countable for a homo such as ho describes,
iea failure ub a homo makor, notbecauso
pho is a
platform woman, but bcuauso
sho beloiiRB to that irreeponBiblo cIhbb
who never make good homes or house
keopors, fortunately this cIiihs is email
and yearly growing Bmallor. Tho story
of tho beautiful homo lives of soino of
tho earlier representative womon ia a
tnattor of history wiich our editorial
friend scorns to havo overlooked. Does
hu insan Lucrotia Mott, tho mother of
platform speakers, who was a woman of
refinement and u homomakor of tho
highest and noblest typo? Dooa ho
mean Elizaboth Cady Stanton, who
reared noblo sons and daughters, who
revoro her name- and carry forward
tho work sho began? Does ho mean
Mary A. Livtrmofe, Julia Ward Howe,
Lucy Stone and Frances Willard, who
not only spoko from tho platform that
tho world might bo bottor, but who rep
resent ideal homoB aud homo life. Tho
distinction betwoon tho platform wom
an and tho club woman iB only ono o'
degree and not of kind. It iB u dif
ference in tho methods of accomplishing
u common end. Tho thruBt is an old
ono undor a now guiBO. It would re
strict woman's iniluonco to tho homo
This can never be. Tho thouHindB of
womon now working for religious, bo-ciotogical.-philanthropic
or economic im
pr ivemont havo become too conscious of
self help and of their ability to holp
others to bo driven fiom tho work they
havo begun. Homo-making is an art
which requires culture, knowledgo, sym
pathy, lovo and executive ability in ad
aition to natural adaptation. Tho ac
quired elements aro strengthened, not
weakened by work outside the homo.
For every home neglected by a "plat
form" woman, a hundred equally neg
lected homes can bo shown where no
work is assumed beyond the threshold.
Tho model homes ot tho country are
prcsidod over by women who aro active,
intelligent workers and talkers, descend
ants and- inheritors of tho noblo gen
oration of womon who preceded them.
It haB boon claimed that tbo host talk
ers mako tho beBt wives and' mothers;
not because they are "platform womon,"
but because tho intelligence, the earnest
ness, tho sincerity, the sympathy, tho
personality which mako them good
talkers, are the very attributep which
mako good wives and mothers. 'lis
passing Btrungo that tbo editor of a
woman's journal should mako such a
sweeping statement. Me thinks if Mrs.
Low Wallace tilled that editorial chair
more frequently, sho would educate a
class of womon who would resent being
fed upon such pabulum.
Tbo Hull IIoubb Woman's club cele
brated its eighth anniversary last week.
This c'ub was organized by Mary Mc
Dowell, now of tho University of Chi
cago, and Miss Jane Addams. Tho
club's birthday cake and tho seven can
dles upoa it wero blown out by seven
womon who have takon an active inter
est in tho work of this organization:
Miss Addams, Miss McDowell, Mrs.
Emma Androe, MrB. Julia Lathrop, Mrs.
R. B. Farson, Mrs. Charles Henrotin
and Mtb. A. P. Stovons. Tho eighth
candle was lighted by Mrs. Alpha Ful
ler, ono of tho charter members, who
has acted as corresponding secretary
sinco tho beginning of tho club. Tho
Droxol club presented the comedy
"Proposal Under Diilicultios'' in tho
Hull Houbo gymnasium. After that
thero was dancing aud music. Tho
club is accomplishing a good work
among those for whom it was chiefly
organized,
Tho Zototic club met Saturday, Feb
ruary 11, with Mrs. Raco. Ton mem
bora responded to roll call, the other
memborB being kept away on account of
the extreme cold weatbor, but all was
warm and pleasant within and we for
got tho cold weuther without, Mos-
dameB Dunham, Edward Saekett and
Donclan woro selected as dologatos to
visit tho srhoo's. Tho reciprocity re
port was accepted and Mrs. Ilaco'B
papor on Music, and Mrs. Woodford's
paper on Tho Womon of Mrs. Hum
phrey Ward will bo sent to tho reciproc
ity bureau. Mrs. Monroo road a papor
on tho HoroeB of tho Rovolution, which
phowed much timoand thought. Tho
mooting wob then loft in tho handa of
MrB. Konnedy, whoionduotcd a drill ou
tho Amoricun rovolution and its loadors,
tiioBo taking part weio Mosdamoa Frank
Sackott, Ingorsoll, Hungato, Girardot
and Donelan, tho drill was a very inter
esting ono. Mrs. Girardot gavo a ro
viow "In tho Valley," which was ono of
thn moBt interesting book reviews wo
bavo had. Mrs. lngorsoll rend a com
munication from Mrs. Moiso, a former
member, who sent each mombcr a beau
tiful calendar, hoping thus to remind us
of her each day.
Tho North Bond Woman's club mot
Saturday, Fob. 4. Litornturo day. Roll
call was responded to by quotations
from ThomaB Mooro. Miss Laura Mil
lar favored the club with instrumental
music admirably executed. Preceding
tho paper on Irish literaturo Mrs. Dossio
Roberts Eang "Tho Threo Loaves of
Shamrock." Mrs. Kelly's papor was re
ploto in interesting knowledge of Irish
literaturo. Parts of the biography of
Sir Walter Scott and selections from
hiB writings by Miss Osborno. Pictures
from his lifo and death wero passed
around. A Scottish song by MrB. Min
nie Fowler; very sweet and pretty. "The
Lifo and Land of Burns," was a roost
excellent paper by Mrs. Eigler. The
Lust Rose of Summer was then sung by
Mrs. Bebsio Roberts. Short sketches of
other writers by Miss Fowler, our leader
on this day. She also gave us such a
nice description of her visit to Scotland
and England, had many pictures and
Bouvenirs from all these historical places,
bad taken tea in Burn's own original
cottage. "Irish and Scottish Melodies"
was the namo of instrumental music Ly
Miss Ella Johnson. It was truly very
melodious.
"The Beauty of Irish Melodies" wai
the subject of an interesting paper by
Mrs. Minnie Fowler and illustrated with
views.
Melody is inseparable from the name
of Moore, he also had the power of
thrilling and captivating hiB hearers.
He could play on the piano and could
sing these melodies.
Altogether this has been one of the
most enjoyable and profltacle days, and
we have had many such.
Miss Helen Winslow voices the con
victon of a large body of club women in
an article in the February Club Wom
an Individual responsibility fo the
uplifting of humanity is in danger of
becoming a fad, and of being carried
with so much seriousness by super
seusitive women as to become a heavy
burden, It is heartening to get a good,
healthy whiff like Miss Vvinslow's aiticle
from which we quote: "Ibe sense of
individual responsibility for the general
welfare n one of the hopeful signs of
tbo times. We are individuals, but tho
force which draws us together and keeps
us eager to work for a common cau6o is
a need that belongs to the later develop
ment of tho human raco. We need each
other and to come together and to work
together just as much as we need a
homo where we can sometimes be alone.
That is ono of the chief reasons why wo
have women's clubB and why wo discuss
methodB of thought and of work. The
women who join clubs because it is the
fashion or because ot restlessness and
emptiness of mind are few; the women
who join because of their need of be
longing to a throng that can stir and
throb and work in unison are legion.
Wo are seeking more or less conecioutly
the higher forms of relation which are
tho strength of modern life. Club lifo is
tho renult of a prolonged thirst among
women for a fuller and truer social lifo
than that provided by tho ordinary
functions of socioty."
Tho following circular letter haB boon
recoived by tho state chairman of corro.
spondonco of Nebraska and it is apropos
as at its last mooting tho executive
board of the N. F. W. C. appointed a
committoo on art:
The art committoo of tho G. F. W. C.
suggests!
I. TothsStato Federations--
a. The election of a committee who
hull foBtor tho study in the clubs
of tho arts and crafts, especially
domestic architecture and deco
ration. Tho state committee tr.
collect books on art and photo
graphs of master piocei, to bo cir
culated among the clubs in towns
rotnote from art galleries and
libraries.
b. The arrangement of an exhibition
at the regulBr moot'ngs, where
moritoriouB work by American
artists and craftsmen may bo dis
played. c. Tho establishment of lecturo
courses on art subjects.
II. ToCityClubH
In cities where exhibitions ofwoiks
by American artists are held.
a. The annual purchase of one or
moro works of ait, to be selected
by a rote of club members.
b. The appointment of committees
to visit studios of local artists
and to report events in the ait
world.
In cities where no regular exhibitions
held.
The co-operation of clubs in establish
ing exhibitions where local artists and
craftsmen may be represented'.
III, To Country Clubs
u. The circulating of all magazines.
b. The encouragement and develop
ment, especially in members liv
ing in isolated places, of embroid
ery, rug and linen weaving, lace
making, metal work and carving:
the circulation among them of
manuals of instruction.
IV. To All Clubs-
a. The study of the history of art
in connection with other matters
of contemporaneous human in
terest. b. The encouragement and eleva
tion ot inherited art industries,
such as the rug and basket weav
ing ot the aborigines.
c. The decoration of school rooms
by works of art.
d. The placing on municipal boards
ofartistind architects, to influ
ence decision on the artistic
merit of plans for proposed pub
lic buildings and monuments.
e. The systematic di-approval of
the defacement of natural scenery
by advertisements, and combined
action against purchasing wares
advertised in this offensive man
ner. f. The urgent necessity ot cultivat
ing the ability to buy correctly,
by a careful and systematic selec
tion of articles which shall be of
good design and harmonious in
color.
The art committee will be pleased to
correspond with any member of the
federation in regard to art work.
Respectfully;
Mrs. Herman J. Hall,
Chairman.
The national council of women in ses
sion in Washington the present week
was the largest and most notable gather
ing of women in the history of women's
conventions. Monday was largely oc
cupied with committee meetings and
preliminary conferences; and the formal
opening took placo Monday evening in