!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
