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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1899)
!Wj Wfff IV " '"'"f' 7 THE COURIER. sa Ifc; If- to r general federation, and extracts wore read from letters, showing that the leaders wore about equally divided on the pros and cone of reorganization. Mrs. L. L. Ricketts, of Lincoln, who was a guest of tho club, was called upon for her views of tho case. Mrs. Ricketts spoke with clearness and force from the opposition to reorganization. She bolieved that tho idea had arison from u mistaken opinion that tho general fed edration wbb unwieldy, and cited the National Education Association as proof that the business of the largest organ! zation may be conducted acceptably through committees. She thought there need be uo limit to the growth of the general federation, and that the larger the conventions the greater the inspira tion to be derived from them. Mrs. RickettB understands that tho proposed reorganization would cut off individual club representation, a situation which would curtail their., interest in the na tional work, it it did not destroy it. Mrs. Ricketts remarks received close atten tion and at the conclusion Mrs. McGil ton expressed her entire agreement with them. Mrs. McGilton thought there was danger of over orgarization, and to her mind the value of federation, either state or national, was doubtful. Mrs. Harford explained that it wbb in tended.tbatclubB should not lose their op portunity of Bending their members to the biennial meetings, but that this privilege should bo more widely extend ed. She also showed how a more uni form method of dividing the expense of the general federation would raise a larger revenue, while at the same time it would relieve the present burden upon many clubs. Mrs. Heller stated that delegates to biennial conventions of the federation bad found themselves hereto fore representing their respective states and scarcely willing to represent any thing less. She was in favor of the council as proposed by the committee. It reminded her, in connection with the larger body, of tho two houses of the United States government. Mrs. An drews thought that logic should wait on sympathy. Tho organization might be improved mechanically, but it should be allowed to grow naturally and nothing should be done that would in any way weaken the bonds of the most remote club to the national body. Mrs. Towne emphasized the idea that the ultimate success of reorganization would depend upon the ability or efficacy of the state president or the general federation sec retary. She thought that the clubs, when they found themselves an integral part of the national body, though asso ciated with the state, would grow. Miss Fairbrother declared that organization from local to state and from state to national body was the onlj method that could be recommended by experience. Where economy of power and force of inspiration are desired they muet come that way. An illustration is the well known organization of the party politi cal machinery. As the club desired to meet Mrs. Ricketts socially, the discus sion could not be prolonged and the matter was recommended to be consid ered January 8th. After adjournment, an informal tea drinking was held in the parlors, where Mrs. Rlckotts was the guest of honor. This social half hour was in charge of the house and home committee, Mrs. Harford, chairman. The program was both entertaining and instructive. It consisted of vocal and instrumental music ami papers on "Spain in History," "Spain's Relations to Cuba and tho Filipinos,'' and "Poetry of the Lato War with Spain." Refreshments wero served by Mesdamne Clark and Frawley, and tho club adjourned to meet in two weeks with Miss Julia Anderson. Mns. Maiumrkt MoCune Wilson. The Frances M. Ford club met at tho home of Mrs. J. A. Frawley Monday evening, November 27, for the regular study of "History of the Netherlands." In addition to its regular work the club has effected the organization of a Young People's Literary club, in which the young people prepare their programs and are entertained fortnightly by two of the members of tho woman's club. Tho first meeting was held last Monday night at the home of Mrs, N. S. Clark. The child study department of tho Lincoln woman's club met Saturday. A very interesting meeting was held in spite of the bad weather. The leader gave a very instructive talk on tho de velopment of the will. Mrs. Lucas talked very sensibly about fiction for children. On Friday, December 8th, the wo man's club of Beatrice, met by special invitation with Mrs. Maurice Deutsch, in her beautiful home on North Seventh street, to enjoy the program for the day, and to attend the reception to be given the first vice-president, Mrs. D G. Ev erett, who, to the sincere regret of all, is so soon to leave Beatrice for her home in Chicago. Although the weather was exceedingly unpleasant, there was a large attendance, and the occasion'will long be remembered by thoeo present. Mrs. Everett had charge of tho program, The Government and Religions of China." The topics wero well chosen and full of interest from beginning to end. After the program, Mrs. Deutsch, in behalf of the club, presented Mrs. Everett with a most beautiful gift of American beauty roses, saying that, as the rose was red, so was it symbolical of our love for her. Mrs. Everett gracefully acknowledged the gift and expressed her appreciation of the kind regard which the club had ever manifested to wards her. Our first vice president has endeared herself to each and every'jncm ber of the woman's club. Her careful, painstaking work haB won the approval o! all, and the earnestness of her en deavor has been an inspiration to the entire club. At 4 o'clock the electric lights were turned on, delicate refresh ments served and a happy hour was Boon fleeting away in merry conversation and pleasant recognition. It was long aftsr 5 o'clock when "good-byes" were said to Mrs. Everett, and many thanks were expressed to Mrs. Deutsch for the pleasant halt day which her hospitality had afforded the woman's club. There should be more clubs for his torical and literary work among the young ladies of our state. We have the Finde Steele club at Seward studying the history of America in a systematic course of the men and women who made and are making the history and lit -erature of our country. The PanBy club of Tecumseh, composed of young Bchool misses, is studying American literature in the same way, viz.: by studying American authors and their works. There may be other clubs among our young ladies. If 6o, I should be pleased to received some report or account of their work. At Lincoln most of the young ladies avail themselves of the ad vantages offered by tbe university, where they can have tbe benefit of special in structors. Still, while there are many benefits in the lectures of a specialist, we must not forget that the sympathy which is developed by club associations is very important. The Sapho club of Ottawa, Kas., is composed of forty young ladies ranging from sixteen to nineteen years of age, who are devoting the season to histori cal subjects. In some respects this club is unique, and embodies ideal that may be of benefit, to similar clubs, which wish to learn to talk readily. Hence no written papers are read before the club. To become more familiar with Shakespere, each member commits to memory some quotation for each meet ing. Tho history of tbo United States is their subject in chief for the year. The men Bnd literature connected with each epoch is considered in sequential order. A leader outlines tho subject for the day; then it is discussed by all the members of the club, and each member is expected to contribute her mite to the discussion. Another leader an nounces the current topics for general discussion. Opportunity is bIbo offered to any who may wish to contribute orig inal work in tho form of a poem, story story or play. At the recent convention of the Illi nois federation of women's clubs the following impottant amendments to the constitution was effected: Officers shall bo elected bi-ennially, and are not eli gible to successive re-election, and all vice presidents shall bo elected bien nially, those from even-numbered con gressional districts in even calendar years and those from odd-numbered congressional districte in odd calendar ypara. Interest in the university of Illi nois was expressed in the following res olution: "That tho Illinois federation o women's clubB continue the work in behalf of women students at tbo state university until a building or buildings are provided for their care and protec t'on and the arts and sciences pertain ing to woman's life and duties are made part of tho university curriculum." Pauperism was deplored and the con vention voted to discourage almB-giving and child-begging, hoping thus to awaken public sentiment and decrease the number of paupers. Tbe following resolution expressed the feeling of the convention toward the home for the feeble minded at Litrcotn, III.: "That the Illinois federation of woman's clubs, now in eeBsion, expresses is deep disap pointment that nothing haB yet been done toward the building of additional cottages at Lincoln for feeble-minded children. Further, that this federation hopes that the appropriation of 8200,000 by the last legislature for new cottageB will be put by the trustees to as immedi ate use as possible, since it has been brought to our notice that more than 1,000 applications for admission to this institution are now on fllo and that many of the children for whom those ap plications have been made are now of necessity inmates of poorhouBes and asylumB for insane." It was voted to ask President McKin ley to send Mrs. Potter Palmer as com missioner to tbe Paris exposition. Two new departments were provided for, called the "reciprocity" and "industrial" departments. In presenting her subject, "The New Issues," Mrs. Corinne Browne used a large industrial chart showing tbo population and wealth of the United States. A very largo anglo of red rep resented the poor, a much smaller one in green tho middle class, while the rich were represented by a very small portion in black. "It just shows bow much the faw Lavo and how little the much," whispered Mrs, Stevens, bb Mrs. Brown began. It was shown that legislation alone would divide this proporty in a satisructorily economic way. Misa Lynch of the Chicago woman's club Baked, "Would it be possible if wo did as the early Saxons did, meet yearly and divide the property?" when somebody else said: "There is an earlior dispensation, tho earth was the Lord's and didn't be long to any landlord." The convention was very successful with interesting ses sions and a large amount of work accom plished. The announcement of the retirement of Susan B. Anthony from active offic ial work has caused much speculation as to hor probable successor. "The Grand Old Man" wbb no moro appli cable to Gladstone than "The Grand 4V. Old Woman" is to Miss Anthony, who, in her eightieth year, has 9pe'nt her life in endeavors for the uplifting of woman. We rejoice with her that it has been hor privilege to seo so much accomplished for woman. She recently said: The hardships of the last half century are forgotten as I look at the wonderful evolution of womanhood of this nation From an absolute nonetity in the gov ernment of the home, the church, and the state, woman is now the recognized and almost an equal factor in what might be called the social department of each. In philanthropy, in education and culture and in the social world sho takes the lead. With the present economic conditions women are the leisure class, and intelligent men are beginning to recognize the necessity of utilizing their groat abilities in the law making and law-enforcing departments of the gov ernment. When women awake to the ultimate destiny toward which all these changes are tending, they will rise up en masse to take their rightful place in the world as the peers of n.en in the ad ministration of its affairs. If women could only be brought to realize what a revolution this will bring about in so cial and political conditions literally their purification they would not delay nor shirk their responsibility. That the younger workers, into whose hands I commit the sacred trust with the great est confidence, may speedily bring this to pass is my earnest wish. "Though retiring from official work, I shall never give up the ship while life and energy last. The remainder of my life, be it long or short,, will be devoted to raising a permanent fund of 9500,000, the inteieBt of which shall be used by the younger generation to promote the work of woman suffrage. "I regret exceedingly that some friend of mine has forestalled me in making the announcement of my inten tion to accept a renomination sb presi dent of tho National American Woman's Suffrage Association. I had flattered ' myself that I should be able to have at least one new point to make in my an nual address before the thirty-second annual convention of tbe association, but I have confided my secret, it seems, to one too many. "It is and has beon for several years my intention to hold the presidency only until I had rounded out my fourscore years, iu order that the younger women who have been actually doing the work of the association for the last decade might feel that they have on their shoulders the full resposibility before the world. While I can positively say that I will not accept a renomination, neither myself ner anyone else can Btate who will be my successor. She will be nominated and elected by tbe ballots of the three oi four hundred delegates from the forty-tive different states of the Union at the convention to be hold in Waehington, D. 0 commencing Febu ary 8,1000. The announcement that v Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt' is to be my jf succeesor is certainly premature. How- ever capable she is to fill the position, she will have to be elected accordicg to the requirements cf the constitution of the association." The woman's club of Denver has been agitating the question of support ing home industry. In some way to band themselves together with a pledge to ubo only Colorado products. In every household the bulk of the sup plies are purchased by the women of tbe family. The "head of the house" is al lowed to pay the bills, but the woman selects tho goods, and woman's influ ence in this direction is almost without limit. It logically follows that if tbe women of any state decide to use only home products they can give an immense w impetus to its prosperity, and create a T" large demand for home-made ' goods, Denver is soon to have a manufacturer J I s .- -. .4