TM courier.
inspiration of a common hope, give us
work enough and incentive enough for
the time which lies before us.
Henrietta I Smith.
FOREWORD.
The seventh annual announcement
of the N. F. W. C. contains a "Fore
word" from Mrs. Draper-Smith, presi
dent of the N. F. W. C, and gives the
officers of the federation, members of
committees, the books added to the
library since October, 1900, and iiie
manuscripts received by the reciproc
ity bureau since October, 1900. Tin
following "Foreword" defines the pol
icy of the present administration and
puts tersely the existing conditions of
club life In Nebraska, besides sending
friendly greeting.
Relieving that the work of our fed
eration needs only to be better under
stood to be appreciated by more wom
en in our state, the executive board ap
pointed a club extension committee
and voted it a working fund, thereby
necessitating economy in our printing
bill. Wc appear before you in no spirit
of apology, but ask your co-operation
in sending forth this leaflet in lieu of
the very complete manuals you have
been wont to receive, and led to expect
you might receive .- s year. Each
club has in its possession two copies of
last year's Manual which are replete
with information, containing as they
do, strong letters from the president
and chairman of each standing com
mittee: Art, Education, Household
Economics and Industrial, respective
ly: a list of books In library; of pa
pers and lectures in reciprocity bu
reau; of art portfolios, and a directory
of the clubs in membership, their size,
'course of study, etc
I would most earnestly urge you to
set apart a day to be known as "State
Federation Day," for the careful peru
sal and discussion of these reports, to
gether with what is set forth in this
leaflet, especially the changes in the
reciprocity bureau, new books in li
brary, proposed changes in the con
stitution and by-laws, and any other
item of federation work that may in
terest you. If further Information, on
any of the subjects, is desired do not
hesitate to write the chairman of com
mittee, whose pleasure it will be to
promptly advise with you. In the ap
pointment of committees this year we
feel we have maintained the usual
high standard endeavoring to bestow
impartially the opportunity to assist
in promulgating the work by enlist
ing women in the various sections.
The reciprocity bureau is being used
as never before, and more demands
are being maue upon the library than
can be met.
It is the policy of this administra
tion to come into still closer touch
with individual clubs, is possible to
make each club feel how necessary is
its active co-operation before the fed
eration can attain its highest useful
ness. To this end suggestions and
criticisms are invited. Each club can
assist in dictating plans and methods
of the body. It can indicate its wishes
regarding the fall program, subjects
for discussion, number of sessions or
any other feature for its improvement
Nebraska has as progressive clubs
as any state in the general federation.
Bring your aims and enthusiasm to
bear upon the federation, and thus
place it in the front ranks. Make the
experiment once that we may put into
actual practice reciprocity which is
the key note of club life. As each in
dividual has something peculiarly
characteristic to contribute to her club,
so each club has something to contri
bute to the state federation.
1 would call your attention to the
necessity of a larger income to credit
ably conduct the affairs of the state.
(See proposed change in Article VIII.
of constitution.) There is another way
in which much better results may be
obtained Club Extension. While the
most significant outcome of extending
club work Into new localities would
essays and papers on various subjects,
written by women of the different
clubs, book reviews of many of the
latest works of fiction, numbering in
all about 125 manuscripts. It also con
tains a list of lecturers, with their
be the broadening and uplifting in- subjects suitable for club entertain
fluence, and enthusiasm of the greater
number, incidentally it would solve
the question of finance, for it requires
no greater-expense to transact the bus
iness and furnish the program for two
hundred than for one hundred clubs,
ment. Any of these may be ODtaineu
by applying to the chairman, Mrs. A.
A. 'Scott, 1834 G st, Lincoln, Neb.
There are about 260 books in the
travelling library, Mrs. B. M. Stouten
borough, librarian, Piattsmouth, Neb.
vet the income would be twice as large. There are 300 pictures arranged in 15
As you believe in the club movement circulating art portfolios, Mrs. Jennie
never really grow until they have
learned the practical lesson of service
to others. Join the federation, make
use of its departments, practice its
principles of reciprocity by contribut
ing to its bureau, extend club cour
tesies to other clubs, send as many
members as possible to the annual
meeting, and you will never ask again,
what are the benefits to be derived.
Mrs. Winnie Durland, Norfolk, Neb.,
chairman.
Mrs. Emma Page, Syracuse; Mrs.
Julia C. Hoobler, Omaha, club exten
sion committee.
and receive the benefit of organization,
can you not make a missionary effort
to propagate your faith, in near by
communities?
Will not each club In the federation
appoint an extension committee, and
endeavor to present the name of one
or more organized clubs to the execu
tive board for federation before June,
that they may be admitted and notified
In time to send delegates to the annual
meeting. It has occurred to you all,
but it is well worth bearing in mind
In this connection, the more one gives
away of his money possessions the
poorer he is, while the more one gives
away, or shares, his intellectual pos
session, the richer he is.
The next annual meeting will be
held in Wayne, October 8 to 11, by
invitation of the Wayne Town federa
tion for which preparations are al
ready being made. It is the desire at
this meeting that delegates be seated
apart from visitors, and in order that
we may locate, and the more readily
recognize the delegates, will not each
club send its own banner on a stand
ard ready for use? We hope to record
the faithfulness of even the most 'dis
tant clubs in sending representatives,
as a report taken back to each club
widens the influence of the session, be
sides the acquaintanceship formed at
these meetings is productive of good
feeling among the women of our state,
which is most desirable from any
point of view.
Come prepared with your club re
port, come prepared to take part in the
discussions, come prepared to have a
good time.
Proposed Amendments
Article 7 Elections
'me election of officers shall take
place at the annual meeting. The pres
idents of clubs belonging to the state
federation shall constitute a nominat
ing committee who shall present to
this meeting two names for each office
required by the constitution.
Article 8 Dues
The annual dues, payable In advance
of the annual meeting, shall be three
dollars for each club of fifty or less
members and one dollar additional for
each fifty members or major fraction
thereof, after the first fifty members-
REPORTS OF STANDING
COMMITTEES N.F.W.C
Club Extension.
Believing that a more general
knowledge of the work of the Nebras
ka federation of women's clubs, will
result in a mutual helpfulness to the
women of our state, the executive
board has appointed a standing com
mittee on club extension, as a medium
of information. The state federation
now consists of about one hundred
clubs, with approximately thirty-three
hundred members. It has standing
committees as follows: Art, Educa
tion, Household Economics, Industrial
and Music It is the duty of these com
mittees to furnish suggestions and out
line of study to any club in the federa
tion desiring information on any of
these subjects.
The bureau of reciprocity contains
E. Keysor, chairman, 31st and Wool-
worth ave., Omaha, Neb. As soon as a
club applies for membership it is al
lowed all of these privileges.
Six years of united effort have done
much to broaden and enrich the intel
lectual life of many of the women of
Nebraska; that much more can be
done is equally certain. In the vil
lages and agricultural districts are
many capable women, fully alive to
the great questions of the day, but
without organized centers for intellec
tual and social advancement. These
forces need only to be called Into ac
tion and organized into clubs, in order
to be productive of great good.
With this in view wc submit a plan
of organization and most cordially in
vite your careful consideration. First,
secure the interest of one or two
thoughtful women; decide what kind
of a club is desirable; whether for gen
eral study or scientific work; settle
upon the plan and the constitution,
even a name, if possible. Commit the
same to writing. Then invite a frw
friends, present the club Idea, and risk
them to help in. the new organization.
Select a chairman and proceed to elect
officers as follows: president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer. At
this meeting a constitution may be
adopted. (Enclosed find copy of model
constitution.) A careful record of all
meetings should be kept from the first.
Conditions vary so greatly, both in
character and needs of clubs tb.2ir
size, possibilities and limitations in
different localities, that any attempt
to outline a course of study would de
feat its own end. If in doubt, we would
recommend child study, household
economics and current events as being
tonics of general interest. But exper
ience shows that it is well in the be
ginning to limit the number of sub
jects. Any woman's club in Nebraska
which is regularly organized with a
constitution or by-laws, with objects
unsectarian and non-partisan, Is elig
ible to membership in this federation.
No individual can be a member. Clubs
desiring to join the federation shall
make application for membership, ac
companied by their constitution, dues,
names of president and secretary and
number of members, to the recording
secretary. A majority vote of the ex
ecutive board present at any meeting
shall be necessary to admit to mem
bership. The annual dues payable in
advance of the annual meeting shall
be $2, for each club of fifty or less
members, and l additional for each
fifty members or major fraction there
of after the first fifty members. The
president of the federation, the nearest
member of the executive board, or an
officer from the nearest club, as well
as the extension committee, stand
ready to assist in any way possible.
We believe, therefore, that it is not
necessary to say that the benefits to be
derived by clubs in joining the federa
tion, are many and real, and do not
hinder nor limit the work of any club
nor do clubs pledge themselves to take
up any line of work. The federation
simply offers sympathy and co-operation
and brings to them a larger and
fuller life. Clubs, like Individuals,
Traveling Libraries.
To Mr. Melville Dewey of New Yoi !:
belongs the honor o inau?tiaiinR .i
state system of travelli g lib'-aries.
The headquarters for this new move
ment is Albluiy and out from 1'iat city
Mr. Dewey sent libraries of 100 vol
umes each to country neighborhoods
and small hamlets, thus affording to
the people good, wholesome reading
without money and without price.
This work began in 1893, and today
the state of New York makes an an
nual appropriation of $25,000 to sup
port these libraries.
These libraries are sent not only to
the people In farming communities,
but to study clubs, summer hotels and
to student clubs. He also sends pic
tures and lantern slides to aid those
who are taking up special lines of
work.
The plan proved so popular that
other states caught the library spirit
and in 1895 and 1896 Iowa, Michigan
and Ohio secured aid from their re
spective states, not only fostering the
establishment of local libraries, but
providing for travelling libraries as
well.
To one who has watched the growtn
of this movement, Wisconsin has per
haps won first place, especially in the
amount of work" accomplished. Mr.
Frank A. Hutchins, secretary of the
Wisconsin free library commission,
says: "No recent movement for the
public weal in our state has won such
quick and ready sympathy as the effort
to put the best of books and current
literature where country people may
read them freely."
Today there are travelling libraries
in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Ind
iana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachus
etts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hamp
shire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio.
Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin,
indeed, thirty-three states have some
form of travelling libraries. Seven
teen of these states are doing most ef
fective work through library commis
sions. It is with no small satisfaction that
the writer of this article adds the
name Nebraska to the list of states
whicn favors this new method of pop
ular education.
The enactment of this law is largely
due to the efforts of the state federa
tion and individual clubs, together
with the Nebraska library association,
each strengthening the other by united
efforts. When the governor's signa
ture is atached to this bill, the citi
zens of our state will begin to realize
that the travelling library is not Un
dream of a theorist, but a high privil
ege, a recognized duty, whose value
and importance cannot be overesti
mated. In casting about for the right per
son to introduce the library bill in the
house, the committee decided upon Mr.
David Brown of Nebraska City. It was
a wise choice. Mr. Brown was a lover
of books, a lover of humanity, a man
who recognized that the state has no
material resource at all comparable
to its citizens and no hope of per
petuity except in the intelligence ami
Integrity of its people.
V