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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1901)
THE COURIER 3 with tlie leather lungs of grown up people, it is the protest of gossamer Iihhis against the foul, heavy air u which is the ouly available atnios- nhcre lOr UIC luiuuo wuuou sumsu, ignorant mother has brought him into it. No theatre at all is better for chil drcn than any theatre however well arranged for their amusement. But if children mwst go to theatres, and they must, for every theatrical per formance includes among the audi ence a fair proportion of children, a play written for them and in which the cast is composed of children, is least harmful. The manager of the L children's new theatre in Boston, Miss Margaret Eager, has dramatized or arranged Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Behind the Looking-glass." A hall on the (round floor has been fitted with ap propriate decorations especially pleas ing to the eyes of children, a smallish Uge erected and scenery painted pith direct reference to the child's rery different standard. Perform ances are held in this hall on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and the cur tain rises at four o'clock. On Satur day afternoons the curtain rises at half past two. The scenes of "Alice" are very effective. Her support: Twee-dlc-dum and Tsveedle-dee, the talk ing garden of llowers, among whom are the tiger lilies, daisies, roses, vio lets and other royal members of the flowery kingdom; the white rabbit, the white and red knights and all the other immemorial characters to whom Lewis Carroll gave a life that will last as long as children love fairy tales which is to say forever. The whole someness of the plays that will be put on for children alone recommends them to the parents of children. If Miss Eager's venture succeeds, in many of the larger cities a children's theatre will doubtless be established. In London at holiday time the thea tres for a number of years have been exclusively devoted to the amusement uf children. The Christmas panto mimes are as inevitable as plum pud ding or as the presents. A London child of fortune would feel aggrieved and defrauded if he were not taken to the Christmas pantomimes. They are a part of the season. Returning. You see the flags and banners fair, The sabres flashing in the sun, The golden spoil, the smoking gun I only see a vacant chair. Douglas Malloch, in November Lippincott's Magazine. The Army and Its Work. With the new century it has a new and greater task before it. During the last 123 years it has been the instrument Vy which our independence was gained, the Union preserved, our territory ex tended, and this territory made habit able. It is now the instrument b which all resistance to the lawful au thorityof the United States in distant lands is suppressed; and it will hereafter be the strong arm upon which the civil Power will rely for support as it intro duces among alien races which have come under our charge those principles of Belf government, of liberty regulated by law, of honest dealing and fair play, under which we have bo long been hap PJ and prosperous, but the benetits of which our new wards have never known. From Lexington to Pekin the record f the army is one to Le proud of. The Republic has not had and has uot now ln any branch of its public service a ore devoted and faithful body of pub : Bervants, animated by intense loyalty. b? splendid courage, by the highest nse of honor and duty. From "The United States Army," by General P. V. Urcene, in the November Scribner's. CLUB NOTES THE WEEK'S REVIEW The Uncoln Woman's club held its regular meeting on Monday afternoon. Following the parliamentary drill by Mrs. Plummer. two vocal solos were exquisitely rendered by Miss Bessie Turner. Miss Turner is a vocalist whose talents go far beyond the mere possession of a rich vocal equipment. Her voice and temperament are pecu liarly adapted to the interpretation of sweet and tender songs. "I'm "Wearing Awa Jean." was given with a keen perception of its vocal and poetic sides. "Words were made to mean something, and the voice sighed and grieved through the measured phrases until the audience was hushed and moved into sympathy and approbation. An inspiring address was then given by Mrs. Van Vechten. treasurer of the National Federation of Woman's club.-'. Her subject was one of intense interest to Lincoln club women, and contained valuable suggestions for the solution of the domestic problem which so Im peratively demands attention just now. From statements of vague theories by sociologists, the subject of home eco nomics is rapidly becoming personalized and placed on a practical basic. From this intelligent analysis of conditions and causes, conclusions similar to those of MrS: Van Vechten have been drawn by club women throughout the country. Extravagance and wastefulness are di rect results of ignorance, declared Mrs. Van Vechten, and are the enemies to home-making which should first be avoided and counteracted. To this end the systematic teaching of household economics in the public schools de serves serious consideration. That this idea Is not a new one to members of the Lincoln club was shown conclu sively by the spirited discussion which followed the address. The other wo man's clubs in the city will be asked to co-operate at the time of the next school board election, when a change In the public school curriculum will doubtless be the point in contest. Work in the different departments of the Lincoln Woman's club is starting with a rush. With the advantage of excellent leaders, unlimited enthusiasm and an evident intention to derive pro fit as well as pleasure from the sea son's work, the prospects are unusually promising. The history department held an enjoyable meeting on Thursday af ternoon. On Friday afternoon the litiat.;r department met for the first time under the leadership of Mis.; Msy Whiting, whose services have been secured to take the place of Mis.i Towne. who was obliged to resign on account of other duties. Next week Tuesday the French department will meet from 9 to 11 a. m.: the home department will meet on Wednesday from 10 to 11: the art department on Wednesday at 2:30 p. m.: the current topics department on Thursday at 2:30; the literature on Friday from 2 to 3:30. AH department meetings will be held iu Walsh hall. The year book has been sent to press. All members wishing their names to appear in this year book are requested to report to Mrs. H. V. Karnes, the treasurer, not later than Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Henrotin. former national presi dent of the G. F. W. C. dealt the time honored custom of perennial ofilce holding a death blow in her address before the Illinois state federation this year. She said the advantages of the federation are educational, but there is a tendency to accord those advan tages to the saune person time after time. When a woman has had them once or twice, if she is capable of edu cation, she ought to have got all there i out of them. Give to me ne . the advantages of these meetings new women give the assembly much that Is new. After she has been there two or three times she has given about all there is In her. The biennial needs new leaven and gets it In the new wo men. The assembly listened quietly to the simple words. It was the silence of understanding, nnd no handclap came until Mrs. Henrotin had taken her scat. Then the approval of the en tire body found expression a storm of applause that suggested the Joy of de liverance. This idea of Mrs. Henro tin's Is most commendable, because it is for the good of the many rather than of the few. thus embodying a funda mental principle of club organization. A large number of women gathered at Walsh hall Monday to listen to an address by Mrs. Van Vechten, the treasurer of the national federation of women's clubs on "Home Economics." Mrs. Van Vechten has made a special study of this subject which so deeply concerns all and her talk was helpful and suggestive. She named as the es sentials of a home order, cleanliness, the preparation of wholesome food and continual cheerfulness. She closed with an appeal that household economics be taught to both boys and girls in the public schools. The dis cussion was animated and was partici pated in by a large number of mem lers, many saying that something else in the curriculum should be dispensed with and household economics taught in the schools, if there was not time for loth. Mrs. II. II. Wheeler proposed that an effort be made by the club women of the city to elect the next school board on that issue. Before the address ilrs. Plummer gave a short parliamentary drill, and Miss Bessie Turner sang "I'm Wearing Awa Jean," by Arthur Foote. and "Recitative and Siriliana" from L'Allc gro, arranged by Robert Franz. In addition to her numerous public duties, Mrs. Rebecca Douglas Love, president of the National Federation of Women's clubs, enjoys the distinction of lelng one of the best housekeepers In the south. With a vital Interest In everything relating to woman's pro gress. Mrs. Love's club life began in earnest about six years ago, when the Atlanta Woman's club was formed and became the nucleus of a state federa tion which now includes forty-five clubs. After serving as president of the state organization, she was elected president or the national federation at the Denver biennial in 1S98. To this exalted position she brings marked ex ecutive ability, tact, social prestige and a thorough knowledge of parliamentary law which, with a familiarity with re cent developments in club movements and methods, render her services espe cially valuable as the supreme officer or the federation. Her re-election after steadfastly refusing to be a candi date for a second term was an ac knowledgment of her wise and success ful administration. The The saying has become trite that this Is an age of specialists, but its truth Is evident in every line of business. To be able to do one thing very well is the secret or success in all commercial en terprises. Especially Is this true in the case of young women dependent upon their own exertions for a liTelihood. and the ones who are quirk to appre ciate a demand growing out of some passing whim or fashion, or a per manent need or society devotees, and who are clever "nough to successfully supply this demand, will not lack em ployment. In a New York department store the special work of several young women is bow making. These em ployes receive much better pay than their associates who are engaged in sellinc the ribbons they so deftly handle. They also are looked upon na important personages In the depart ment, and are seldom idle. Though seemingly a simple thing to fashion a piece of ribbon Into a bow, it Is ln real vices of a specialist If the lest results are to be secured. The Industrial committee of the gen eral federation Is sending out letters to the federated clubs asking each to give at least one program during thu coming season to the consideration of one or more of the problems, "Women as employers and employes ln the home;" "Women and children as em ployes conditions of labor In stores, factories, sweatshops, telegraph, tele phone and messenger service;" "Fac tory laws and school laws affecting women and children;" and "Worklnir women's clubs." The chairman of th committee, Mrs. Florence Kelley, will be glad to receive copies of papers which have boen especially helpful. Mrs. II. II. Wilson of Lincoln gave a parlor talk before the memlers of the History and Art club of Seward last Saturday afternoon. Mr. nnd Mrs. S. C. Langworthy gave a 6 o'clock dinner the same day In honor of Mr. nnd Mrs. Wilson, at which Informal addresses were given by the superintendent of schools. Professor Stoner, Mr. G. Bab son and Mr. Wilson. A humorous reci tation was given by Mrs. D. C. McKIl lip. and piano solos were rendered by Mrs. Will Langworthy nnd Miss Mabel Marsh. The house was elaborately decorated in the club colors, yellow and white. Sorosis met on Tuesday with Mrs. Hlnmnn. The leader, Mrs. A. S. Tib bets, gave an interesting and clever address on the subject of "Specializ ing." In her opinion girls are given a smattering of too many subjects, with the Inevitable tendency toward super ficiality. It would bo better to con centrate time and effort on fewer sub jects, attaining a greater degree of proficiency In each. Throughout the address were witticisms and Hashes of humor, rendering the occasion most enjoyable as well .is Instructive. At the meeting of the Michigan stato federation at Ann Arbor this week, dis tinguishing badges are worn by all tha members. The local woman's league have adopted blue badges with black lettering, the ushers wear yellow ones with black lettering, while those of the delegates are white with blue lettering. Attached to the top of each badge is a narrow pasteboard card on which Is written the name of the wearer, serv ing as an informal introduction among the members who are strangers to each other. In addition to granting two rooms- In the college buildings as permanent headquarters for the women's graduate club. Columbia university has created an office called "Adviser for women stu dents." which is to be held by a mem ber of the graduate club elected by the club members. One of the duties of the adviser is to find suitable positions for graduates, who cannot afford to devote their whole time to work for higher de grees. Mrs. K. F. Bryson. member of the class of '94, has been chosen to fill this position. The New Tork state assembly of mothers, which from a modest begin ning has become a powerful organiza tion, held Us annual meeting in Roch ester last week. The thirty-four mothers' clubs of Rochester had made admirable arrangements for the con vention, which closed a successful and enjoyable meeting with the re-election of Mrs. Mary Grinnell Meers to the office of president. The Century club met Tuesday with Mrs. A. L. Candy. Mrs. S. H. Atwood read an Interest ing paper on "Persecution of the Christians, 191 A. D." Mrs. M. II. Garten gave a delightful talk on Kipling and his works. Mrs. W. C. Phillips was elected a member of the club. The home department of the Lincoln woman's club will meet next Wednes day morning at 10 o'clock in Walsh hall. Miss Kyle will speak of the problems of young women. The New England Woman's club of Boston opened Its season on Monday evening with a reception to its presi dent, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe. m