Tttfc COtlRiitfc.
i
and we most continue to merit this
eulogy upon our colonial Mother.
Lit os bear aloft tbe beautiful banner
upon whicn thee words are emblazosed
"Not to demand succiss, bat to deserve
it." until its folds shall min?Ie with
those of ererj state in the Union, thas
r-rifying tbe motto of oar leaders,
"Unity in diversity."
If it is no; in yers, but in dee Is that
we lire, thea our work and sympathy
ehoald extend in all directions wherever
the roici of humanity calls, remember
ing that "Never a mornin? wore to
evening bat some heart did break-"
The eympitbetic heart is quite as
necessary as the educated brain, and one
should not be cultivated to the neglect
of th other. The general trenlof all
higher education i to develop the
ethical and spiritual pirt of our natures,
for without feeling and Eeotiment we
should lose the pleasure of existence.
It is this dep human sympitby that
caue3 our heart throbs to beat in re
sponse to tbe demands which are made
for the protection of women ij the
great manufacturing states where labor
is considered as a part of the vast ma
chinery of productioa, and where the
tender age of childhood should be pro
tested from th? manufacturers' gieed.
Living in this beautiful agricultural
region, we do cot reilizj the extent to
whish women are oppressed, in lees fa
vored localities, and until we can ex
t nd more substantial aid we can at
least send resolutions of sympathy to
such organizations as the Consumers
League, and others that are making
strenuous effort to lessen these evils
and this suffering.
National and international organiza
tions are drawn together by this same
sympathetic- impulse, and as we know
are suggesting the necessity of friendly
arbitration and national disarmanent in
tbe name o! humanity, "to suppress
tbe sufferings of the victims of war, and
tbe tears of mothers and widows."
To this end the call comes to all wo
men to rally round tbe idea of univer
sal peace.
Raskin long ago said "When women
realize the cost of war, the horrors of it,
tbe suffering involved in it, and ths
spiritual deterioration of it, the slaying
of one another will cease to be a recog
nize employment of moo." But while
these evils exist, to ameliorate suffering
is woman's mission and duty. Clara
Barton, that St. Philomena of the R:d
Crocs legion, tells us that today, clubs
of young women are formed io early
every large town of Cuba, two of whom
assist daily in caring for and teaching
tbe fify thousand Cuban orphans.
Who shall say that women's clubs are
detrimental to tbe best interests of
home and society, when their far reach
ing influence is felt wherever suffering
humanity is found.
No organizations of women exist
whose basic principles are not founded
upon the noblest and most self-denying
impulses of their nature and today the
vexed question as to tbe place and
Bphere of woman is answered by her
readiness and ability, not only to dis
cbarge tbe duties of bone, but also to
aid in all that concerns tbe welfare of
our nation and of tbe human race.
We do believe "that there is a future
and a destiny that will transcend all tbe
attainments and acbievments of the
past" for tbe light of a new day is dawn
ing to which we look forward with
hopefulness, trusting to tbe loving, ca
pable and unselfish devotioo o; woman
for a grander and nobler civilization.
"Like tbe many rivers that descend
from one long chain of mountain! and
swollen by tbe rains, and meeting in
one valley, until its strength resists
every obstacle in its onward way to tbe
great sea of commerce," so the club
spirit, from ita many sources of strength
Mod inspiration flows onward in streams
of active usualness until finally united
in the grett oao o! love to all hu
manity, it shall become a resistless
power for good. But all this, my
friends, must b tbi result o! individual
effort, for "no life ca be pure in its
purpose and string in its strife and all
life no: be pnrr and stronger thereby.'"
Let our liv. thea. be sweeter, purer
and noblir, thit the world may be better
foroarhivm; lived, and thea will the
prjphitic vision of ths poet be Mailed
and
A liijr with a lam? aill stand
In tbe grezt history of the land,
A type of good
Heroic woallna4,
Mrs, Ida W. BUir, of Wayae. vice
president of tbe N. F. W. C, presented
at the recent state convention the ques
tion: -How to improve the condition of
the country s;hools; what the woman's
club can do to help this work."
By tbe term country schools I mean
the schools in our villages too. The or
dinary school room is a large barn-like
room. The walls are of an ancient, dull
leaden hue. The windows on three
sides of the room, some if not all of
them curtainlesa. The seats often di
rectly facicg the light. No pictures to
brighten the walls. Not even the
bright face of an interested teacher.
Why should she be interested? The
pupils are probably dull. Why are they
not more bright! Thsre is nothing in
their surroundings to bring out the
brightness within. This is no fancy
sketch, but a memory taken from the
pazes in my own Hfe. How I did wish
there was no such place as school, and I
feel quite sure that the teacher wished
the same. Out?ide, this school building
looked well. A credit to a town of 1500.
and as I take a retrospective glance over
the years I rpent in school in my native
town, I do not wonder that I did not en
joy the work. I do not wonder that
boys ran away from s:hool and became
roughs about tbe town.
The conditions are somewhat chang
ed for the better today, but have they
advanced io the same proportion as the
methods of imparting the higher educa
tion. The early years of childhood are made
up of impressions. Children learn by
imitation. The impressions formed in
childhood last through life. We find to
day occasionally an ideal school-room
and an ideal teacher. There are more
school-rooms where an attempt has ben
made to brighten but without thought
as to the effect upon the child nature,
which will absorb and reflect the im
pressions made upon the different
senses.
Would a pleasing rsstf ul tint upon the
walls cost mora than the customary
white hard finish white only the first
year, then growing darker and darker
as tbe years go by?
The heating of the rooms is very un
satisfactory. The beads of those pitting
near the stove being literally baked while
their feet are freezing. Those fitting
at a distance from tbe stove are chilled
through and through and their health
is jeopardized thereby. Tbe outbuild
ingsare unclean and their walls tooorten
the page upon which aro recorded the
equally unclean thoughts of evil minded
pupils. Theold time drinking cup, ahs,
is tbe source of many a contagious dis
ease. Can these evils be remedied? I an
swer yes, and a lit'Ie later I will tell you
upon whom rests the responsibility.
The ideal school-room has walls of a
delicate, softened color, restful to the
eye. Inner blinds if possible, but if not,
hades that tbe discriminating teacher
will adjust. The seating is so arranged
that tbe light falls from tbe rear and
ides. Upon tbe wall bang pictures of
historic msn and places, pictures of our
finest architectural structures.
An American author who lived for
months in Rome.was talking to Cardinal
Antonellion educational matters and de
plored the ignorance of the common
people and urged the building and
equipment of school;. "They are not ig
norant." said tbe Cardinal, "I will allow
that thousands of them can neither
read nor write bjt they know much and
their educated taste in the matter of
pictures, frescoes, and architecture. In
the main, coincides with that of artists
and cultured people. From childhood
they have been surrounded with what is
beautiful, and they would turn axay
from ignoble pictures or unworthy art
as quickly as those who bad ben stu
dents in art schools. So I do not call
them ignorant." Thus we see the im
portance and advantage of placing be
fore the pupil in the school room art in
its best form.
Where it is possible let us have grow -ing
plants in the school room, window
gardens. Here is an opportunity to
create a love for God s beautiful, grow
ing world.
I wonder if teachers realize the effect
upon their pupils of dressing tastily.
My little girl of nine came running
home tbe other day, "O mamma,' she
said, "my teacher looked so pretty today,
she had on a white drees and a pretty
ribbon just tbe color of her cheeks round
her neck." Tbe surroundings of tbe
school building should be kept scrupul
ously clean. The outbuildings especial,
ly. Neatness and cleanliness are as
much a part of the education as the
three uRs." The children spend two
thirds of their time in school The
child nature, as we have said, will absorb
the effect of its surroundings and reflect
the impressions made upon the different
senses. If the environment of the home
life is one that does not uplift or terd to
develop the better nature, then the
value of our ideal school room is untold,
What can the woman's club do to
help this work?
To what I have said as to the present
condition of our country schools, to
what I have suggested in the way of bet
tering thesj conditions, I hear you say?
Yes, all this is very true. We have
heard all this before and I think some
of our schools are good and some, of
course, are not, but how can we halp it?
1 intimated that I would tell you who is
responsible for the condition of our
school rooms. Are the pupils who fre
quent these places of learning not our
own loved children? Are we not inter
ested in knowing and demanding that
their surroundings there shall be as
truly pure and uplifting as we make for
them in their own homes? We as
mothers are the responsible ones and
our interest should follow the child
wherever he may go. Ojr club are
largely made up of mothers. In con
sidering this question or the improve
ment of the village and country schools
we are but loeking after the interests of
our own children. Our opportunity in
this matter is a grand one and muBt not
be neglected. Why are we banded to
gether? Self improvement mutual
benefit. Yes, but is that all? We are
told we each have a world-wide influ
ence. Let us combine our influence and
exert it not only for our own oeneflt and
improvement, but let us work for the
improvement of others. How can we
And a more worthy object than the bet
terment of our country schools. Do we
visit tbe schools? No. Then let us say
this shall be one of our weekly duties.
Let us become acquainted with the
teachers, with their methods, with the
surroundings.
There are Bchool districts where they
cannot afford many of the appliances
and could not buy pictures for the
adornment of the school room. Let us
use our influence that what money is
expended be wisely used. And now
can we not as club women dema-dfhat
none but cultivated teachers tra Q 0Ur
children? Our cbi dreo will ? the
men and women of tbe coming genera.
tion. Can we not in these closir days
of the 19tb century and in the awnol
the 20;h century demand that con
but thoroughly trained teachers ibtaio
positions in our schools? Ha e
broad minded men on our bo;dq of
education? Men who are above en.
gaging a teacher simp'y because her
father or some relative has a strong
pull politically? Politics should never
guide in tbe selection of our teachers.
We as women cannot all vote as yet"
but I believe in some localities women
vote for school directors and can hold
that effice themselves. I believe the
women are better fitted for this office
than most of the present incumbents.
Take these matters into our hands, elect
members of our own sex upon the school
boards and then earnestly seek to carry
uui iucn reiurms; OlSiers Ot the
federation we know our duty, we fee
our schools need, let us be active let us
earnestly combine our kest efforts to
accomplish these feforms which are so
evidently needed.
An especially ittereeting meeting of
the Current Topics department of the
Omaha Woman's Club was held Tues
day afternoon.
The death of Governor Alvin Saun
ders was especially noted and bis influ
ence in making tbe city and tbe up
building ot its public schools were em
phasized. Tbe unseating ot Roberts and the
Mormon question was tbe subject of a
spirited discussion the women com
mending Miss Gould's decision to speak
publicly on this matter and hr gift of
10,000 to be used in agitating the sub
ject. "Trusts" are to be discussed at the
next meeting, Mrs. Miles and Mrs. Hart
taking the opposite sides of the debate.
Mrs. F.M.Hall, chairman of the art
commutes of the state federation, sends
the following outline of a study course
in art which can be adapted to the
wants of any club. This, in response
to several club women wishing sugges
tions on art lines. An- Hall says: "If
we have a club organ I believe it can be
made an efficient means of communica
tion if every officer or chairman of a
committee will make their announce
ment through it. Club women of the
state will then know where they can get
definite, authentic knowledge upon all
matters pertaining to the state work.
To make it a success it should be the
only source through which such infor
mation can be obtained."
ART HISTORY.
(a) Architecture.
(6j Sculpture,
(c) Painting.
ANCIENT ART-
I. Egyptian. "
II. Babylonian and Assyrian Art. f
III. Persiau, Phoenican, Palestinian
and Art of Asia Minor.
IV. Greek Art.
V. Etruscan Art.
B.
Christian art to the Renaissance.
C.
Modern art from the Renaissance to
tbe present.
I. In Italy. II, In Germany. III. 1
France. IV. Iu Holland. V. Io Bel
gium. VI. In Spain. VII. In England,
Our course is devoted to each of these
headings. Each has a carefully pre
pared outline that will be Bent to toy
club or class wishing to prucuro tbn
course of study.
Apropos to what Mrs. Hall says io t
gard to Tbe Courier as a mean ot J
communication I would say tha be
gyJL.LJUL.i.. !1 JiT
