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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1899)
THE COURIER 8 hour a week allowed for racro play. 1b it worth while? I wish it woro two houra a weok, ne I think of the ploaauro and profit derived from our playtimo. To ask IPtlo children to como from their natural joyous play life into an atmos phere of rigidity and strained propriety is to ask thorn to live in darkness in stead of daylight, and thon wo blamo them booauso thoy do not liko it." Anothor sayB: " I And tho child who haB Bpont two years in a good kindor garton ib ready for tho work of tho pri mary Buhool. Tho muscles of his fingers have boon so trained that he is ready to uso tho pen or pencil for writing or drawing; and this training of tho hand haB a corresponding develop ment in tho brain. Tho mind is ready to intelligently guide tho hand and to graep now ideas. Tho oyo has boon bo trained that ho is ready for tho color, form, and observation work. The oar has been so trained that ho is ready to listen. His number experien ces have been many and varied. In fact the body, mind and soul of tho nor mal child has been so aroused that the teaching of langunge, nature, numbers, and music becomes a delight alike to the child and the teacher," After this testimony I can find only one paragraph in tho articlo under dis cussion with which I can fully agree. "Wo believe that our attainments might have fitted us to shine in many spheres, but not as Freddies' teacher." Alas, Marian Carter Hamilton, I feur that is true. The time is como when a teacher who is unablo to adapt herself to the best of new methods, who is not enthusiastic enough in her teaching to strive to interest little mindB, who ib compelled to stand aaido and watch children coldly in their joyous, natural play, the time is come when she must admit to herself that her forte is no teaching, and pray let her bewaro of rushing into print. On tho other hand this does not moan tnat kindergartens nor elementary schools nor high schools nor colleges are abnvo sincere and in telligent criticism. Our teachers in every department of education need better preparation for their work, not only along the lines of podagogy but in the way of a broad education. We must stop thinking that a kindergarlnor needs to know Iosb than a high school teacher. Every teacher needB a broad, thorough education, then he needs pro. feseional training as much as a doctor or a clergyman. He needB to break away from conventional methods and to adapt bin work to the class, using com mon sense. When every kiudergartner begins to work out her own methods from baBic principles, with an nye to the individual needs of her children, such articles as this will have absolutely no excuse. Helen Grkooky. A SPRING POEM. (The first of the year.) Glad ab I that sprig has cub; Sood the little bees will hub, Add therobids id the tree Will be siggig soggs to be. Sood the blossobs will appear Od the libbs both far add dear, Add the daddyliods gold Sood will cover all the wold. Sood the huckster id the street Will be heard id accedts sweet Tellig you, add tellig be, Of the ripe red strawberrie. Add the truckbed with their vads, Filled with chairs add f ryigg-pads, Abble up add dowd the way All the dight and all the day. Gedtle sprig, O gedtle sprig! Let the gladsobe church-bells rig; Let the whole glad earth rejoice Id wud high up' if ted voice, Welcobig you back agald With your warbth add gedtle raid. 'Tis a tibe of perfect bliss Whed wud cad live od verse like this, Ado, as id the days of yore, Work this sabe old gag wudce bore. Harper's Baar. 1 $$&$ (SLHB8- LOUIBA I, MCKKTT8. WOOfr OCO00MMMftaa Following aro tho olllcors of tho Gen oral Federation ot Womon's clubs: President MrB. Robocca D. Lowo, Atlanta, Ga, Vico President MrB. Sarah S. Piatt, Donvor, Colo. Recording Secretary Mrs. Emma A. Fox, Dotroit, Mich. Corresponding Socrotary MrB.Georgo W. Kondrick, Philadelphia, Pa. Treasurer, Mrs. Phillip N. Mooro, St. Louie), Mo. Auditor Mrs. C. P. Barnes, Louis villo, Ky. Stato Chairman Mrs. LouiBa L. Rick etts, Lincoln, Nobr. Ofllcore of tho Stato Federation of Women's clubs; President Mrs. S. C. Langworthy, Seward. Vico Presidont Mrs. Anna L. Appnr son, Tecumsoh. Recording Socrotary MrB F. II. Sack ott, Weoping Wator. Corresponding Socrotary Mrs D. G. McKillip, Seward. Treasurer Mrs. II. F. Doano, Crete, Librarian Mrs. G. M. LambortBon, Lincoln. Mrs. A. B. Fuller, Auditor, Ashland. Tho following notice from Mrs. G. M. Lambortaon, stuto librarian N. F. W. C. is printed for tho benefit of all clubs de siring to obtain d loan of books: Emtok Couhikk: No requirements are neceBBary to ob tain books except membership in the Federation. Books may too retained for tho club year and it is customary for tho club to prepay tho express on returning tho books to tho librarian. The now year book of the N. F. W. C. contains tho catalogue of books in the library and may bo obtjinod by Bonding ton cents to tho president of tho Federation, Mrs. Langworthy of Soward. Very truly, Makv S. Lamijkrtson. (Mrs. G, M. Lambertson, Lincoln.) The Lincoln Fortnightly club mot with Miss Harris on Friday, April 21. Mrs. Lambortaon spoke on Nihilism, Communism and Socialism. The sub ject is in itself an extremely interesting one and Mrs. Lambertson's treatm nt and presentation was graphic and forci ble. The outline is herewith presented: Socialism. Communism. Anarchism. Nihilism, Origin of term. Origin of movement. a. Philosophical or literary. b. Fight against religion, art, mar riage c. Propaganda? d. Development into political hibi lism, torrroism. 1. Propogandists. 2. Paris commune. 3. Polish insurrection, o, Character of Nihilists, f. Plots. g. Woman in Nihilism. h: Turgonieff. The Threshold! i. Effect upon state. 1. Destructive, not constructive. 2. Lack of inflammable ma terial. 3. Enervating. ' Tho interest in, and tho discussion of, tho relation of state and general feder ation has boen greatly augmented by tho action taken by the Worcester Womens' Club one of the largest clubs in Massachusetts. A letter formulated by a commiitoo appointed for thiB pur pose by that club, and sent to the state committoo of correspondonco, contains tho following suggestions: First, That tho etato committoo of correBpondonco find out tho opinions of tho other clubs in Massachusetts on tho quoBtion of reorganization of tin Gon oral Fodoration, and ascertain thoir willingness to withdraw from member ship in tho present organization if such action seems necossary. Second, That tho stato committoo of correspondonco Unci out tho opinions of othor clubB in other states in regard to tho matter. Third, That thocommittoo recommend to thn Gonoral Fodoration represent ation by Stato Fodoration only. Tho concluding clauso declares that tho Worcostor Women's Club stands ready to relinquish membership in tho Gonoral Fodoration whonovor BUch ac tion sooriiB necessary to facilitate the reorganisation so as to include only Stato Federations. A meeting of tho Massachusetts stato committoo of correspondonco was called for March 17, to consider this lottor from tho Worcester club, and tho prompt and energetic way in which thoy dis posed of tho matter contains tho reproof deserved for proviouBness, or being out of order, and nlso rollouts tho Hontimont of Nebraska's fodoration in regard to tho best interests of tho gonoral federation. Tho consideration of tho state committee of correspondonco resulted in tho follow ing lotter: Mrs. Carrio S. Ward, Socrotary of the Worcester Woman's Club: Dear Madam The resolutions sub mitted by tho Worcester Women's Club have been carefully considered by this committee, and we would say in reply that while wo recognize your right to advocate a reform which you believe will strengthen the General Federation, and be helpful in conducting its affaire, yet the change you propose is a constitu tional one, and can only be acted on at the Biennial of 1000. An oppor tunity for you to bring theso resolutions before the ofllcerB and presidents of clubs for discussion will bo given at the Council meeting to be held in Phila delphia, June 1, 2 and 3 next. Would it not eoem more loyal to the General Fed eration to present these resolutions at this meeting, especially appointed for counsel and co-operation, and thero ascertain the wishes of the majority? The members of this committee have the interest of the General Federation bo much at heart that tboy deprecate tho last paragraph of your resolutions, and they can but feel that any reform you desire to inaugurate can be more easily brought about by remaining a member of the organization than by re linquishing your membership, and there by losing your ballot, which is the me dium through which all the reforms muBt come. Your resolutions aro here with returned. Auna D. West, chair man; Mrs. May Alden Ward, Mrs. Ella L. T. Baldwin, Mrs. Harriot A. Bean. This is a matter of great interest to club women, and we truBt it will bo pos sible for Mrs. Langworthy, our presi dent, to meet with the Council at Philadelphia in Juno. of tho United States havo boen. Thirty four years ago theso women began lifo without homos and without legal hus bands. Today thoro aro 2,000,000 homes of thin race in our country. Wo should surely bo roady to accord gonorous credit for tho advance mado in tho third of a century. Thoy aro giving special atten tion to ddmostic scienco and oncourag ing their sistors to learn trades, such as dross making and tho milliner's craft, claiming that tho nponing of such estab lishments will bo patronized by thoir own peoplo and furnish employment for thoir girls and young women, as Bales womon, Boumstressos, bookkeepers and typewriters aro nooded in thoee occupations. In view of tho fact that at tho next logielaturo, two years honco, thero will bo anothor effort mado to socuro free travoling libraries, it has been suggested that tho fodorated clubs of Nebraska devote eomo timo during tbo regular club year to tho study of this important question. To this end the following program adopted by tho executivo board of tho Federation of Womon's Clubs ot Western Now York is submitted as a suggestion. Last winter was library legislation yoar in New York as well as in Nebraska. Tho following topics wero arranged for fivo minute discussions in all federatod clubs: Topic I. Somo Groat Libraries of the World. Topic II. History of Establishment of Public Libraries in America. Topic III. Library Work. Helps to readers; use and abuso of aids to read ers. Topic IV. Library Groups. (Origin; methods; use of.) 1, Circulating or reference. (Largo libraries, small libra ries, club libraries, college libraries, technical libraries, scientific libraries.) 2. Traveling Libraries. Topic V. Libraries in Small Towns. (Importance, character, maintenance, educational vulue. Topic VI.-Library Legislation. His tory of nation; history of New York state; basis of distribution of state monies among libraries. Topic VII. The Club and Library. Relation of library to club and through club to the homo. Mrs. Lowe, president, and Mrs. PJatt, vice preeident of the General Federa tion of Women's Clubs, will meet the last week in May in Milwaukee to adviie with the local committee on arrange ments for the next bienrial which will Le held in that city in June, 1900. An executive board meeting will also be held at this time to transact certain im portant business. Before proceeding to tho council meeting, which will be held in Philadelphia June 1, 2,3, Mrs. Lowe and Mrs. Piatt will visit several state federations which have invited them to come in the interests of the general federation. A little paper devoted to tho interests of the colored women's clubs published at TuBkegee, Ala., haB been sent to The Courier. It is published monthly and is tho official organ of tho National Association of Colored Womon. Mrs. Booker T. Washington is its managing editor, which is a guarantee of quality. It is full of interesting and helpful sug gestions for their work. Its motto, "Lifting as We Climb," is suggestive of the work that the educated colored women are doing for their less fortunate sisters. Perhaps so tremendous a work never before confronted tho women of any' race, for the women of no other race were ever surrounded by such demor alizing influences as the colored women An American poet once said: "It is easy enough to be pleasant when life flows along like a song; But the man worth while Is the man who will smile When everything goes dead wrong." The admission of women to the work ingmen's dollar dinner in New York last week indicates that the question ot suffrage will enter into tbo campaign of 1000. A large per centage of those who sat down to the festive board were women and Mrs. Charlotte Perkim Stetson, one of the ablest women of the country, made an eloquent address. Some of tho beet speakers among women have clear ideas upon the questions at issue and a bright little woman suggests that thoy could give a pleasing variety to the Chicago platform dinner, that even those ten-dollar-a-plate aaistocrata might make a bigger mistake than to
