253

WAS NOT A PARTISAN FIGHT

Mrs. Peattie Explains Wherein the Women Voters Were Misled.

Suggests That THree of the Gentle Sex Enter the Next Race by Petition.

Reasons Advanced Why a Woman Should figure on the Board of Education -- False Accusations.

The election is over, and the republicans have won. There's nothing disastrous in that. it is to be hoped that it will always be safe for any party of Americans to win. No one can possibly believe that more than half of the nation -- or less than half of it -- is in league against good government. The parties in America represent different points of view, but it is to be hoped that they do not represent different degrees of patriotism.

The women in this city have had a peculiar interest in the last election, owing to the fact that they had a candidate of their own. That candidate has been defeated, along with the rest of those who were upon the democratic and populist tickets. And I am so fearful that the women will therefore feel discouraged, and lose their interest in the office for which this candidate was nominated -- that, however much I may be accused of bad taste, I must publicly write a few words to reassure them.

In no one branch of civic work is woman so much needed as in that which supervises the Schools. It is [?] and appropriate that she should be there. Her duties will not be of the same sort as those which the men assume. The men may attend to the finances in a general way, and dole out the janitorships to their political henchmen. But the women can make it their business to become acquainted with the life of the school room; they can look after the comfort of the children, the welfare of the teachers, and the moral and intellectual instruction. The task will be large, but noble. And certainly patriotic women should not be debarred from performing a public service now and then. It is a service, to be sure, which must be performed without any reward. It lays the performer open to much criticism. Where a woman is concerned success on the school board does not mean the opening of wider opportunities. Nothing but disinterestedness can prompt her to assume such responsibilities. It will therefore be seen that for many reasons she will be a valuable acquisition.

The present defeat has been the result of the partisan feeling among the women. More than half of the women who voted cast their ballot for the republican ticket, preferring a republican rather than one of their own sex upon the board. This was probably unexpected to those who first conceived the idea of securing the nomination of a woman candidate. There was nothing partisan in the attitude of that candidate. Nor could she conceive what partisanship had to do with the duties which are to be performed upon the school board. A democrat or a republican ought to be able equally well to look after good morals, fine instruction good ventilation and thorough system. Opinions on the tariff do not affect ones interest in childhood, nor do differences concerning the ratio of silver and gold currency affect one's ability to judge of text books. But the women seem to have thought otherwise, and to have been indifferent to representation upon the school board, so far as representation lay in sex. And they have defeated their own candidate.

They did not pause to consider, or did not know, that that candidate was nominated by independent petition, and was at first associated with no partisan ticket, and that her indorsement, first by the populists, and then by the democrats, was a matter of courtesy on the part of the respective conventions, and that she would have as cheerfully been indorsed by any party at all. She could not, infact, see that party affiliations had anything to do with the matter.

But to consider further the causes of defeat; The candidate of the women was a writer -- and for six years has written daily for the World-Herald. During those six years she has written one long signed article a week, and these articles have been each of them upon a different subject. If to write a book is to oblige one's enemies, what can be said of the obligingness of a woman who tells what she thinks upon every subject that arises during six busy years? Could any person do that without arousing much personal antagonism? Or, indeed, could any person do that without making many close and true friends?

As I said before, it may be bad taste to refer to this. But I do it only because I wish to speak upon the successes that we shall have in the future. Supposing that at the next election of members for the school board three women instead of one are nominated, and that they are women older, more conservative, and of better education than myself. Supposing, for example, that those women were Mrs. Hanchett, the wife of the physician; Mrs. Keyso, the wife of the juudge, and Mrs. F. F. Ford, president of the Woman's club. The first is distinguished for her learning, and her conduct of private classes of students of women. She has a love for all related to pedagogy which nothing can destroy. The second has been a teacher in the High school, and has also conducted private classes, and is now one of the most esteemed and intellectual members of the Women's club. The third is a brilliant woman and one of the most public spirited in the city. There are many other women who might be mentioned, but I have spoken of these three, almost by accident. If they were to be nominated together by petition, and not attached to any party, but run simply as the women's candidates, and the women were to vote -- which only about a third entitled to a vote, did, at the past election -- they would get in with the help of the men who believe that women should be represented on the school board.

The disagreeable personal features which have arisen in my case would not arise in theirs. They would not, in one breath, be accused of being atheistic and Roman Catholics. Nor would any of the other absurdities which have gained credence concerning me be said about them. For I have been a woman of radical thought and life, and it has not met with the approval of many women, who are, by nature, conformists in every sense of the word.

Some of these misrepresentations have been very amusing. It has been said, for example, that I was the candidate of the World-Herald, because the World-Herald wished to have a member of a particular church -- a church of which, by the way, I am not a member on the board. It seems as if it would take an intellect of low order to believe that, yet many persons of presumable intelligence did so. What benefit would the World-Herald derive from any communicant of any church on the school board? No one can imagine any benefit that would arise. Besides, I was the candidate of the women, and not of the World-Herald, though that paper has been kind enough to support my candidacy, for which I thank it. It has also been said that I was an atheist. It is impossible to understand how anyone could think that, for I have never written a line, nor lived an hour, nor performed an action, when I was not conscious of the fact of God.

It was commonly said, too, that I was eager for election that I might increase my income. As no salary was attached to the office, and as the duties attendant would consume valuable time, may I ask how it would be possible that my income should be increased?

It was alleged that I was spending money for my election. The women supporting me spent $15 for cards such as all the candidates had. They gave their time and they loaned their carriages. That is the extent of the outlay.

These denials seem superfluous -- even amusing. But if people are so unfair or so stupid as to make them, perhaps I may be excused for being tedious enough to deny them. There were other tales -- fairy lore, perhaps, they might be called -- which I will not deny. It would be an insult to the intelligence of Omaha and a reflection upon the good sense of those who nominated me to do so.

But there is strength in numbers, there is strength in continued and persistent effort. Moreover, this fact is to be taken into consideration, that since I have the good fortune to have freer access to the columns of the daily paper than any other woman, I could exercise some influence with women were any other than myself the candidate for office. In a way, our cause has been handicapped this election by the fact that our efforts were voiced by no woman in the daily papers, although the efforts made in the Woman's Weekly by Miss Mary Fairbrother undoubtedly brought very palpable results.

No, there is no cause whatever to be discouraged. Next year must see us with women on the school board. We have learned several things this year, and will profit by the knowledge. We have learned among other things that the foreign vote will always be largely against us, particularly the German vote. Germans cannot divorce themselves from their old prejudices. They think that women should be in the home and nowhere else. We will have to wait till their sons grow up before we can hope for a change there. We will also have to allow for the reluctance of many women to cast their ballot. They seem to fear there is some pollution in the little red voting booth. We will have to allow for the fact that men, reading the character of women, and knowing how quick they are to be influenced by any sort of an uncomplimentary story, will invent such stories for the purpose of influencing the women.

But is not anything that is worth doing also worth suffering for? Surely? Opposition should make us firm. it should not discourage. We must develop courage, determination and indifference to small and contemptible methods, if we are to succeed. A man riding to battle cannot turn back because he encounters a cloud of mosquitoes.

And, all other matters aside, we have scored one success. It lies in the following, which I have clipped from the columns of the daily paper:

"Chief of Police Seavey says that this was the most orderly election ever held in Omaha. The absence of the bummer element about the polls was the chief feature of the day. Not a single disturbance was reported by any of his men. Another thing was the absence of carriages and wagons generally need in hauling voters to and from the polls. One of the reasons for the orderly condition of affairs may be attributed to the presence of women. Some of the men were so polite as to stand back and allow the women to take their places in the line. Others removed their [?] in the stalls while preparing their ballots if a woman was present."

Next year I shall not write an article on "Why We Failed." I shall have a much more satisfying topic. It will be "Why We Succeeded."

And, by the way, this a good opportunity for me to express the gratitude which I sincerely feel for those who have warmly fought for the cause of women's representation and who, incidentally, have shown themselves my advocates.

To those who have misrepresented my words, who have distorted my actions and who have repaid favors received at my hands with treachery, I also return thanks. My knowledge of human nature has been enlarged -- and that is an invaluable thing to a person who turns a penny by the writing of fiction.
ELIA W. PEATTIE.

LAST DESCENDANT.

The Romantic Fortune That Befel a Bohemian.

The sad fate of the last descendant of Hans Holbein, the famous painter, has aroused the pity and interest of the daughter of a landed proprietor of Prussia to an unusual extent. Fridolin von Holbein, the only bearer of the great name, inherited a considerable fortune In the course of an adventurous life, however, he met many mishaps, made bad investments, and lost all his money. After trying to make a living in various ways, unsuccessfully, he returned to his native town. Assig, in Bohemia, a penniless man. Old and weak, he was obliged to accept quarters in the city poor house, to keep from starving. But a bright ray of hope now shines on his gray head. Fraulein Charlotte, the daughter of the landed proprietor whose large estates are near Charlottenburg, heard the story of Holbein's life and immediately announced to her parents that she intended to marry the unfortunate man and rescue him from his miserable condition. She is 23 years old, has considerable property in her own name -- and natural and necessary in one so romantic -- is a beautiful woman. Her parents saw no objection to her plan, and a few days ago she sent her brother to Aussig as her matrimonial ambassador. calling on the mayor of the town and explaining the nature of his errand, he was sent to Mme Marie Wrusz, a relative of Holbein. The two then went to the poor house to visit the painter's descendant. The bearer of the brilliant name was, as might be expected, pleased at the interest taken in his fate by the young woman, and quickly gave his consent. He was supplied with money, and arrangements have been made for the marriage, to be celebrated in Dresden in a short time.

VELVET CAKE.

Philadelphia Record: One pound of sugar, one pound of flour, one-half pound of butter, four eggs, one teacup of cold water, one teaspoonful of soda. Put yolks and white of eggs in separate vessels. Dissolve soda in the water, sift cream of tartar in the four. Beat the sugar and butter to a white cream; add the flour and water, stirring well. Next add the whites and lastly the yolks, both well beaten. Flavor with lemon and beat altogether for three minutes. Bake an hour. Excellent for layer cake with any filling.

DAILY BULLETIN.

Tid-Bits: "Quericus -- How did such a place ever get the reputation of being a great health resort?

Cynicus -- Two or three prominent men died there.

THE PASTELLETTE.

Here is a bit of humor from "The Satirist," which is not at all bad -- behold "The Pastellette:"

The pastellette is too strong, said he.
[?] I will make it fainter yet!
And be wrought with [?] ecstasy
A pastellette.

A touch -- a word -- a tone half caught --
He softly felt and handled them
Flavor of feeling -- scent of thought --
Shimmer of gem --
That we may read and feel as he
What vague, pale pleasure we can get,
From this [?], witless mystery --
The pastellette.