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
