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NEBRASKA WOMAN'S CLUB'S WORK IN EIGHT YEARS, TOLD BY MEMBER

By Ella B. Lobingier.

The recent successful meeting of the Nebraska Federation of Women's clubs, held at, Colimbus, has aroused and intensified popular interest in the work fo this organization, and may are questioning what the federation stands for and what it has actually accomplished since its organization in Omaha eight years ago

The Omaha Woman's club was the active agentin the initation of the sate federation. On November 25, through Mrs. Z. T. Lindswy, chairman of state correspondence for the general federatio of women's clubs, the club sent out invitations to a convention to be held in Omaha on December 11 and 12, to organize a state federation There were present at this convention thrity-nine delegates and nineteen visiting club women. An interesting program had been prepared, Mrs. F. F. Ford, Msr Elia Peatie and Augusta Chaplin, D. D, then of Omaha and Mrs Laura Scammon of Kansas City and Mrs Laura Woodford of Weeping Water being the speakers

At the close of the convention ten clubs jouned the federation as oharter memebers, the nineteenth Centuty club, Kearny, woman's club, Lincoln; Junior Sorosis club, Lincoln, Womans club. Omaha: History and Art club, Sweard, Nineteenth Century club, Aurora.

The federation now numbers 100 clubs, with a membership approaching 4000 Its watchwords are co-operation and harmony. All portions of the state have been represented in the choice of officers and committes The presidents thus far have been Mrs. James H. Canfield and Mrs. A. W. Field of Lincoln; Mrs Belle M. Stoutenborough of Plattsmouth. Mrs. S. C. Langworthy of Seward Mrs W. L. Apperson, Techumseh; Mrs Draper Smith, Omaha; Mrs. W. E. Page, Syracuse. The annual meetings have been held in widely different sections Lincoln, Fremont Beatrice, Omaha, York, Wayne and Columbus, each in turn claming the honor. The attendance at these fathering has stradily grown until at the Columbus meeting there were in attendance from outside towns officers, speakers, delegates and visitors to the number of 250.

The work of the federation is in charge of the executive board composed of the officers, the directory composed of club presidents and the following standing committees. Art, civic, educational, household economics, industrial music, and library extension and the reciprocity bureau This bureau furnishes manuscripts on practical subjects contrubuted by the members in the different parts of the sates, and is a lecture bureau as well.

In summing up results one is confronted with the impossibility of reducing to statistics what after all are some of the greatest benefits The unification of interests, widening of horizons and consqyent increase of tolerance and layalty towards one another are among the best. In enumeratin definite tangible results, the law passed through co-operatino with the Nebraska Library and Teachers associatin stand out pre-eminent

Work of Individual Clubs.

During the past year thirty-two clubs have been engaged in library work, the Fremont club raised $3000 and gave the library resulting to the city. The Louisville. Shelton and Syracuse clubs have established and given support ot libraries; the Stanton clubs. Norfolk club, History and Art clubs of Seward and Albion the Gering Library club Beatrice, and Central City Woman's [?] and Zererio club have all contributed to the support of their respective libraries that last club named by the way, is the oldest club in the state having been organized June 14 1884 Other clubs, notably the Omaha Omans club, have given picture for the decoration of dubruaries. The froming of patrons' associations to co-operate with teachers, leacture courses and the appointment of visiting committees are among the educational measures undertaken.

Two clubs of Central City, Sorosis and the Woman's club gave the city a public fountain costing $500 The Plattsmouth and Stromsburg womn's clubs are working towards the same and Valyable work has been done by the Lincoln City Improvement society, the outgrowth of the civic department of the Woman's club, in passing and enfrocing ordinances againt objectionable advertising and bill boards and expeception in the street cars The committes for beautifying the school grounds looking after weeds, sidewalks milk insepction and other needed refroms have done [m?tematic] work The street railway company has been induced to put seats at transfer points The Omaha club, through its city improvamant committee was instrumental in having several hundred cans for refuse placed on the street corners An ordinance regulating bill boards was passed on request by the city council, and during the past summer vacant lot cultivation has been started This work while not extensive, has laid the foundation for future work on broader lines One hundred and fifty-five familes have been assisted, some being supplied with seeds, with seeds only. A tract adjoining the public library, formerly covered with rublish and bill boards, has been converted into a flower garden as an object leson to show what can be done at small expense in beautifying unsightly sports.

Philanthropic Work.

Many clubs are interested in one ofr more forms of philanthropic work The one philanthropy so far undertaken by the dederation has been the raising of fund ot educate a colred kindergartner, Mis Canderzoe of Lincoln to train negro children in the south Something over [$1?5) has so far been raised for this work.

At the coming session of the lefislature, the federation working with the state conference and baord of charities and correction, will endeacor to secrue a juvenile court law and in co-operation with the Nebraska pure food commission, and extension of the state pure food law Effort will also be directed to bring about a more equitable womans property rights laws to extend manual training in the public schools and further the dissemination of knowledge of civil service refrom principles.

New Executive Board.

The following officers comprise the next executive board President Mrs W E Page Syracuse, vice president, Mrs E J Jainer, Aurora, recording secretary, Mrss Minnie Becker, Columbus, corresponding secretary, Mrs Nellie Beach Miller, Dougals, Treasure Mrs. Fila Bell, St Paul auditor Mrs H M Bushnesll Lincoln, Nebraska secreaty for general fderation Mrs. Belle M. Stouenbrough, Plattsmouth

The hearty reception accorded the new officers on their introduction at Columbus, bore amle evidence that the federation has the utmost confidence in the ability of the new executive board to carry forward, uplift and strengthen the ideas and objects for which the federation stads