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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 1899)
THE COURIER. "T tho dongor of conflagration from their UBO. A)ill preeBDlod by Mrs. A. W. Fiold wbb on tho introduction of houBohold ooonomicB and manual training into tho public schools. Ab usual tho " memborB from Douglas county" bitterly opposed it on tho grounds that tho fathers and mothere could teach thoEO things to their children without tho added expense to tho state. Tho author of the bill robo with dignity and said : " I would liko to nek how many fathers in tho state of No braBka are competent to teach their child ren cookery." Another plea against tho bill wub, thnt tho discomforts of tho honejmoon ore Ihe only opportunity af forded tho ordinary man to learn self sacrifice, and without that when would ho learn it. Tho second and third readings of billB brought out bo mo amusing features. A bill relating to pot dogs was referred to tho committee on livo stock and grazing, and one in connection with schools to tho committee on feoblo minded institu tions. The thrilling eloquence of the member from DouglaB, represented by Miss Stull, was expended on a bill to prohibit the ueo of paBBes by all but edi tors and reporters. An amendment was proposod to include lawjers, which wbb waimly endorsed by Mrs. A. V. Field. A fierce and hot discussion closed tho meeting, amid laughter and applause. Tho next meeting will be held in tho university gymnasium, when Miss Ban will give an exhibition and talk. Each member of tho club will bo permitted to take one guest. for tho ensuing year wbb olected at tho first mooting in January. Past export once has taught us that this is the hot ter plan, and wo would recommend it to other clubs, bocauso if all tho work is to bo dono in vacation, it almost pro. eludes any summer outing for the mem bers of this committee. They are now busy arranging tho plan of work for next year. It has been decided to Btudy the history of Germany, with eomo of its music, literature, and art coincident with tho period under consideration. At a recent meeting of ho Woman's club at Denver, it was decided to com bine its seven departments into four, viz: Home and education, art and literature, music and social science, tho last department includes philanthropy, reform, science and philosophy. "At the conclusion of the business proceedings Mrs. Gilbert McClug, chair man of tho committee for the preserva tion and restoration of tho Cliff and Pueblo ruins of Colorado, was intro duced and gave part of hor famous lec ture on "Cliff Dwelling." As tho busi ness meeting took up so much time, Bbe was only able to give the first half of the lcctura, which treated of tho "Peo ple of the PuobloB." She gave a re sume of the life of the people, and show ed forty slides illustrating buildings, mummies and articles of daily life of the Cliff Dwellers. One especially good slide showed two lions cub out of the living rock of tho Portero de las Vacas, and another a lion which was exposed through the explora tion conducted by treasure hunters. She made a very enthusiastic appeal to the women to help in making Colorado club women tho custodians of tho ruins, hav ing tho dwellings Bet aside as a national park. Mrs. Goo. Sumner Bhowed implements pottery, fabrics, decorated walta and mummies which sho had collected while spending soven months in the canons. One very unique specimen was mIIb of Ball in corn husks, and some peculiar old mugs. Mr. Ferril, curator of tho State His torical society, Bpoke on the question of congreBB sotting asido Montezuma valley for u national park tho samo as Yellow stono park. A unique club has sprung into exist ence in clubdom. It ia composed of eight women who, without president, duos, or any red tape, meet for tho avowed purpose of being frivolous. All of tho members are dovoted club women of tho cohvontional sort. But this group of bright little women decided that they were taking themselves too so riouBly that they wore doing every thing from the thoughtful, serious stand point, and while they do not in the least decry tho value of such effort, yot they felt it would bo well to "frivol" occas ionally ; so formed tho little circle of congenial minds. They meet each month in alphabetical order at tho home of a member. Even tho date iu not fixed, that being loft to the convenience of tho hostess. Tho simplest tort of a lunch eon, consisting of threj courses only, and simple courses at that, is SBrved,;and each member is compelled to tell a funny story, or relate a funny experience, or sing a funny song, or contribute in some way to the gaiety of the occasion. Tho club is intended as a protest, not only against the seriouEness of women, but against the extravagant hospitality of the time which is eliminating cozy so cial intercourse. Nowadays to offar anv kind of hospitality to one's friends, moans, caterers, favors, prizes, and often professional entertainers, which makes hospitality too serious and burdensome with the effect of killing neighborlinessi in the true sense of the word. This cir cle of women declaro, however, that they aro not starting any crusade, or doing anything else in the world except amus ing themselves. Queen Wilhelmina has issued a decree that tho dowager Queen of Holland shall be hereafter styled Queen Emma of the Netherlands. thn heart of every club woman is tho ono organized by Mrs. Booker Washington, wife of tho President of Tuskogoo Nor mnl and Industrial Institute. Sho has always been a warm supporter of hor husband's work, hor enthusiasm and sympathy being a tower of strength in all hiB efforts to benefit his race. Tho Tuskegee Normal is now on a prosper ous basis, with .more than 2,000 of tho colored youth of tho South in attend ance But this work is for tho rising geueration, and grand and practical as it Ib, and delighted hh Mrs. Washington with it, still she could not bo satisfied. Hor heart sorrowed "for tho aged women of hor race who couldjnevor be bonefltcd by her husband's school." Sho is an ar dent beliover in tho benefits to bo du rived from club lifo. Henco sho dncidod that these older women should have a club. So every Saturday afternoon, at her pleasant home, gather a hundred or more colored women, who listen with reverent delight to their inspired leader bb she tries to lead them into broader. fuller lives. Her talks are largely con fined to those things that tend to direct ly improve their homes and lives those things that make tbom better wives and mothers, and bottor citizens trying to teach them tho moral responsibilities that reBt upon homo makers. Also try ing to impress tho importance of indus try and Bolf-helpfulness telling them how to keep growing girls and boys busy and interested and therefore hannv at home carefully explaining to them the laws of health and the needs of cleanli ness and sanitary conditions v.round their homes. Who can estimate tho in fluence of these teachings upon the next generation ? This noble woman, with the Christ love in her heart, haB in augurated a movement which ably sup plements her husband's ambition to see hiB race become thrifty and enterprising, 'lis said that Mrs. Washington haB a wonderful comprehension of the ele ments that go to make up tho women of her race, and tbe women of hor club simply adoro her. To hor thoy go for sympathy and counsel in all thoir trou bloB and hardship?, ever sure of kindly interest and helpful advice. What greater eulogy can we givo of tho char acter of Mrs. Booker Washington than a simple narration of this uneelflish, no ble work she is doing ? art exhibitions to tho city and fostoring an art spirit. Sho has advocatod every plan that has boon suggested and hits advancod many plans tonding to public oducation and advancomont in this direction, Mrs. Cantiold has not confined hor In tercBts wholly to art, but hns boon prominent in litorary work among tho womon's clubs of tho city. It was largo, ly duo to hor influonco that tho City Fodoration of Women's clubs was form od last November, at which tinio bIio wbb cloctcd proBidont. At tho last mooting of tho Ohio Fod oration of Womon's clubesho was elect od vico prosident of tho Stato Fodora tion. Notwithstanding hor many du ties and responsibilities, Mrs. Canflold is over roady to interest horsolf in any now ontorpriso in tho interest of litoraturo or art." Tho Executive Board of tho Now York Stato Fodoration haB decided, says Mar- Cozy club of Tecumsoh mot with Mrs. Frank T. Pool, March 8. Tho lesson : " War of the Spanish Succession ; Ferd inand VII., 1702-1807," was moat inter esting, bringing in many noted charac ters, and covering bb it did a little more than a century, from tho taking of Gib rnltar to tho battle of Trafalgar. Tho memborB of the club aro so inter ested and loyal that only serious obsta. clos prevent them from attending tho meetings, consequently thoir work is "ory thorough. Tho program committee We are pleased to place this interest ing latter from Mrs Booker T. Washing ton before the Club readers of The Courier : Tuskegee, Ala., Feb. 28. 189!). My Dear Mrs. Rioketts; Your letter has been received, and I am very giad of the opportunity of writ iug you with reference to the work among colored women. The first club among colored women dates back alout five years. This club was organized in the city of Boston. We now have about 135 local cIudb, registering ten thousand women. The majority of our clubs are in the South, and are working along very practical lines. We have a National Association, which meets every other year. This year we expect to meet in Chicago. I wish very much you could see your way to be pres ent. We shall bo glad of any sugges turns you will give us. We are aiming to uplift, encourage, and advance the col. ored woman along all lines which tend to make pure and noble womanhood. We have not and can not do what we wish, because of lack of money with which to carry on our organiz jtion. But I am euro we aro going to come out right in tho end. I enclose you some reading matter which will give you some idea of what we are attempting. Yours sincerely, Mrs. Booker T. Washington. The meeting in Chicago will convene about the 1st of July. A club that must strongly appeal to The following clipped from the Ohio State Journal will be of interest to the many Nebraska friends of Mrs. J. H. Canflold: "To the efforts of Mrs. Flavia Caofinld is due, in a great measure, the marked rtvival of interest in art matters in Columbus the past season. Through her high standing as an artist, her broad knowledge of art in all its branches and her exceptional ex ecutive ability, she has become an ac knowledged leader in literary and art affairs. Mrs. Canflold is the wife of President James H. Cantiold of the Ohio State university. She ia a native of tho state of Wisconsin, although of New England parentage. At an early age she develop ed love of the beautiful and artistic. She spent several years studying art in Chicago and under Wm. Chase at New York; also a year in tho studios of Paris, She is at present making preparation to return to Paris this coming spring, where Bbe expects to remain for some time ana work under che direction of eminent Parisian artists. Shortly after Dr. Canflold took up his work at the university and became a resident of Columbus, Mrs. Canfleld be came interested in the Columbus Art association, which organization, soon recognizing her ability, elected her president. She was also elected to membership in the Woman's Art club and soon became its piesident. In her connection with these organizations she haB been 'instiumental in bringing garot Hamilton Wolch. to mako thn in dustrial school project tho work of tho yoar: "Circular letters have been sont to all federated clubs iu tha state, urg ing co-operation. Investigation by tho committee appointed for the purposo has dovoloped tho fact that thoro is no Btato institution to provont a girl from bo coming degraded, ulthough there aro more than eighty to recoivo hor after Bho has become so. Tho various or phan aaylums and homes for girls keep thoir inmates until thw age of fourteen. With little discretion and Bcant knowl edge of tho world, thoy are started on thoir bread-winning career. Thoro is to be prosonted very soon at Albany a petition for stato aid in this matter, and it is the preliminary work of tho clubs of the state to spread a knowl edge of the existing facts, to form pub lie opinion, and persuade legislators, through husbands, brothers, and all voting friends, to tho wisdom of tho granting of this petition. The letter points out that there has been liberal legislation in support of industrial re formatory echools for boys, while girls , who are Iosb ablo to caro for themselves', nave aeon overlooked. A program for a meeting to present tho matter is in cluded, and every woman in the state who is willing to do so is requested to write to tho senator and assemblyman of hor own district, urging bis efforts when the time shall come, in behalf of this institution, ThiB is a matter whoso importance cannot fail to be at once recognized . It would be a fine achievement of the New York State Federation if it could be directly instrumental in the establish ment of a state industrial training school, a school where young girls be tween the ages of twelve and eighteen could receive orderly and systematic industrial training which would make them self supporting and self-respecting members of the community." Tho rapid growth of the movement proves that the time is ripe for pushing tho plans for' a "George Washington Memorial" in the form of a national uni versity where post graduates from our own universities may be ablo to pursue technical work on broader lines. Out side of the pride and patriotism that should push this movement there is urgent reason for immediate action Heretofore our students have been ad mitted to European schools for ad vanced work, but these schools, on ac count of overcrowded conditions, are compelled to refuse admission to for eigners. Otherwise their own students must suffer. Then reverence for the wishes of Washington should be a pow erful motive for accomplishing the con summation of his idea. Until within the last two or three years it was new to many that Washington had left a be quest in stocks and land, for thn erec tion of a great national university and