VOL. XVI.. NO. XIV
established in im
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x B M iM jfcrfitPSluTBc$ eeeeB " B be J bV
LINCOLN. NEBR., SATURDAY. APRIL G. 1901.
THE COURIER,
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o OBSERVATIONS.
Nebraska club departments and
club work is increasing to such an extent-
that it is at first thought unsea
sonable to beg for a new department
and to divert even a small amount of
attention from those departments
now in existence and at vigorous
work. Second thought of the subject,
however, does not present the same
foreboding aspect: hence the plea for
an Audubon or bird-study depart
ment. The name is not all-important.
The New York and the Iowa club
curriculurns offer either an Audubon
or bird study department; other feder
ations presumably presents similar
courses. In Nebraska there are many
birds and the number of species is
constantly increasing. Nevertheless
if the results from such a department
were purely instructive and scientific
the reasons for organizing such a
course of study would be at the pres
ent time neither sufficient nor con
vincing. The benefits derived from
keen observation and intimate ac
quaintance with birds are numerous
and intricate and offer a whole field
of new experiences that are worth
while to every woman.
The study of birds, whether during
freshman or graduate work, necessi
tates many both short and long out-of-door
excursions; thus establishing a
fresh air bureau in the family, which
not infrequently acts as a wonderful
health restorer. To those interested
in child study the subject offers an
other phase. There are few children
who do not possess a lively interest in
birds. A mother who is intelligently
informed upon this theme is held in
added respect by her offspring, espec
ially male, and often by this means
she can discard the continual don't,
don't, and substitute the prevalent
theory of do, that is do something
else. Birds, their language, their
moral and social customs, offer a Held
of activity wide enough even to cm
ploy many of the proverbial small
boy's hours of wide awake energy.
Bird-study also gives to the mind a
certainjgrace and beauty just as spec
ial physical movements give added
grace and suppleness to the body. A
woman whose name is on the list of
speakers for the coming Iowa State
Federation with the subject of
"birds." is one of the most charming
companions imaginable. Some months
agoshe happened to be in a region that
was strange to her, but she knew the
note and call of many of the native
birds and could gossip of their life
and habits in the most interesting
manner to her friends. She felt the
harmony of the out-of-door world and
each breath of the pine, each bird,
each Mower that lifted its head quick
ened her joy in life. Doubtless she
had always taken joy in nature, but
much of it began with the organiz
ing of a club of women for the pur
pose of bird-study. Soon the bus
bands and children were interested
and shortly this small club become one
of the main factors in the family life
and hence in the town life.
A.humanizing inlluence must nat
erally result from this close observa
tion of a life that is so much more
fragile and dependent than our own.
This increased appreciation of birds
will make itself felt and the altruistic
day will come, when on Easter morn
ing,;.women in the spirit of contrition
and worship will not go into the
house of the Lord, wearing chapeau
confections, adorned with gaj birds,
whose glassyeyes and stiff throats
mock the Easter anthem that is their
birthright.
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
We accept with gratitude the timely
and generous invitation of the Courier
to "send a message to the club women
of Nebraska." Always a pleasant task,
at thisEaster time it is a doubly agree
able one. The tides of being rise high
er when the spring winds blow. We
feel the ecstacy of a world returning
but not yet here. The first bursting
bud, the greening blade of grass, the
crocus, the blue-bird's song, or even
the chirp of the sparrow, each have a
special message filling us with the sub
tle elation of spring. So with energies
renewed and fresh thoughts in our
hearts, we rededicate ourselves to the
work that lies before us.
The hearty responses to the leaflet
so recently sent out, and the commen
datory words of the course pursued
are most encouraging. This enthus
iasm and eagerness to help on the
work are notes which ring true and
augur well for the future of the feder
ation. Several clubs having already
named a "State Federation Day" and
appointed a club extension committee.
At the annual meeting in October we
confidently expect every club report to
include these two items, as well as the
appointment of an "Education Day"
of which the educational committee
will speak.
It has been stated that the policy of
the present administration is club ex-p
tension. If a woman's organization
can carry two policies, the statement
is correct. If not, club extension is an
important part, but not the whole pol
icy. The strongest desire of this ad
ministration is to establish closer and
more helpful relations between the
federation and the clubs that now ex
ist; to create in clubs a more active
interest in state work; and to encour
age co-operation between our clubs
and the various standing committees.
In this union of interest only lies the
strength of our federation. To this
end it is most desirable that we have a
larger executive force. In addition to
our present officers, I would advise a
vice president from each congressional
district to represent the interests of
the federation in the clubs of her dis
trict and to represent their interests in
the executive hoard. In our growing
and prosperous condition many chang
es seem advisable, which will be noted
by the constitution committee. AH
ntnt without it. But once federated
committee reports in this issue are
full of Interest, and should receive the
careful consideration they deserve. In
no other way can committees be of as
sistance, nor can clubs become imbued
with the spirit of the federation.
"All great work depends upon or
ganized co-operation systematized,
regulated, mechanically perfect." No
where is it, or will it ever be possible,
to supplant the individual effort and
the individual initiative, but in addi
tion to this for the accomplishment of
any specific purpose, there must be a
union of forces. No one of us can do
everything, but each can do something,
and if we work together the aggregate
of these somethings will he most sat
isfactory. Women suffer too much from isola
tion. Men find diversion in innumera
ble ways that society does not vouch
safe to women. As every one knows,
while American men have been busy
making those industrial and commer
cial improvements that have become
the surprise of the world, women have
been their able assistants, remaining
in the homes, spinning and weaving.
But now that invention and civiliza
tion have taken the trades from the
home we have earned our leisure and
as human beings may certainly come
together on a human basis, and talk
human needs and hopes and aspira
tions. The Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis says:
"The problem of the republic is the
problem of Childhood." Who solves
this problem of childhood? The
mother. Can she, then, be in too close
touch with every force which has for
its aim the betterment of that child,
physically, mentally and morally?
That, today, is the ideal of women's
clubs. They constitute a strong social
force, one that in the past has thrown
its influence toward the betterment of
social conditions, and - believe Its past
a prophecy of the future. The club
movement Is now recognized as a part
of the great educational trend of this
era, and as a factor to be counted in
shaping public opinion. A clever man
has said: "As think the women, so
thinks the nation," and we are not dis
puting this clever man. Membership
Is not limited to any one church or
neighborhood or walk In life, for the
club has fused into good fellowship
the conflicting elements of many a
community as nothing else has ever
done. The fact that great bodies of
women women whose deeper natures
have been roused to activity, who are
interested in the thought and progress
of the age are studying the educa
tional and industrial needs of their
own state, is in itself a sufficient proof
of the use of women's clubs. As Mrs.
Henrotin concisely states, "It will al
ways be to the advantage of any state
to have within Its borders a largo body
of women pledged to the higher inter
ests of education, civics and social
economics, apart from politics."
It is a well accepted rule of conduct
that privilege implies obligation. Ser
vice to others is the great solution to
the problem of life, and women can
well afford to be pioneers in every
movement whose aim Is the elevation
of humanity. All things for every
body, is the new cry. To quote from
Mrs. Croley, "The lesson of the hour
is, help for those who need it, in the
shape in which they need it, and kin
ship with all and everything that ex
ists on the face of God's earth." But
while we are learning this lesson of
how to live for others, let us not for
get that we are living with others, in
an atmosphere where caste is not rec
ognized, where every one is on the
same footing and where the most op
posite ideas find equal claim to respect.
In the club we pool our individual no
tions, and out of this common fund
comes, not your Idea nor mine, but
like a composite picture a well-rounded,
beautiful whole.
Opportunities are commands. And
to be useful according to the measure
of one's opportunity is to live. I could
not close without making an appeal to
every Nebraska club woman on her
personal responsibility in this matter.
Determine henceforth not to wait to
be ministered unto, but to minister, in
order that we may attain our highest
usefulness. To those who have learned
the lesson of organization, pass It on
to those less fortunate. Women's clubs
have come to stay. They should be
accepted and made the most of to the
end that kindliness, helpfulness and
service should enter Into them, and
make them a power for good in the
community. Our energies, as a rule,
can ba employed to much better ad
vantage in uplifting than in pulling
down. This creation of good, preven
tion of evil, education for all, and the
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