71
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN (By Elia W Peattie)
The courage, decision, efficiency and system which the modern trained nurse exhibits are too well known to need comment. The little white cap, the striped gown and the spotless apron have come to be the insignia of her comfortable office. Physicians depend upon her trust in the most hazardous operations, trusting to the deftness, rapidity, delicacy of perception--the almost clairvoyant sympathy-as they would not trust in one of their own sex. The endurance of these trained women is remarkable. They have added to the self-control that has been acquired by their training a devotion to duty which is of a feminine type. An instance of the passion for self-immolation that occasionally appears in woman was shown by Miss Minnie Baumer, a nurse at the Jennings Avenue hospital at Cleveland, which burned yesterday. When she found that her patients could not be moved from the burning building she refused to leave them, and was found dead by the bedside of an old man who was in her charge. Was the heroism superfluous? Perhaps so. She benefited no one by this consummate sacrifice. But she satisfied her own sense of duty. She indulged herself in the luxury of martyrdom, which, after all, may be a sort of vanity. But she attained her ideal. That, surely, is the best one can do. And she demonstrated what training for self-control can do. For it takes more than moral courage to sit calmly down in a burning building at the post of duty and wait for death. It takes well-trained nerves, a masterful will and an indomitable physical courage.
The woman's department of the Cotton States and International exposition is one of the most important and interesting features of the fair. This branch of the work was organized early in the history of the exposition and has already attained large proportions. The women have more than matched the appropriation allowed from the general fund, and from the present outlook they will quadruple it before the year is out. The sources of the fund are entertainments, bazars and a variety of enterprises, some of which are of a very unique chaacter. The latest and most notable of these is the Valentine Journal. Mr. W. H. Cabanis, manager of the Atlanta Journal, generously offered to give the woman's department of the exposition the proceeds of the day's advertisements in the Journal if the women would edit. They promptly accepted, and the Journal of February 10 will be made and edited entirely by women. Mrs. Joseph Thompson, president of the woman's board will be editor-in-chief, Mrs. Loulie Gordon will be telegraph editor and Mrs. W. H. Felton the brilliant wife of ex-Congressman Felton, will write articles on the tariff and finance. An elaborate variety of special matter and a score of the brightest young women in Atlanta have been assigned to report the courts the capitol, police headquarters and court, the railroads, the exposition and other departments. The prospect is that the Valentine Journal will be a brilliant number, and advertisements will be more numerous than ever.
The women will invite the Daughters of the Revolution to meet in Atlanta next fall, and is expected that they will accept. This would bring to Atlanta 13,000 ladies prominent in their respective communities, and many of them women of national reputation.
By a recent vote of the board of women managers, it was decided to ask congress for a special appropriation to make the collection of woman's work exhibits a national one. Mrs. William Dixon, Miss Loulie M. Gordon and Mrs. Sarah Grant Jackson were appointed a committee to bring this matter before congress.
The new moire sash ribbons come in all colors, daintily figured in Dresden patterns, or with vines of delicate flowers through the center.
Mrs. Gladstone receives most of her husband's callers, and seeks to save him from the visitors actuated by curiosity, or who have some favor to ask.
Artificial flowers are developing some new varieties for decking spring bonnets, and the upretentious potato blossom is among the novelties.
Miss Crabtree, otherwise Lotta, the ever effervescent and perennial, is passing the winter in Cleopatra's land, and is much benefited by her prolonged rest.
The craze for English open-work embroidery has attacked the ribbons, and some of the new varieties have a pattern of very open embroidery down the center.
72
RECEPTION TO MRS. PEATTIE
Mrs. Draper Smith's Home Scene of Entertainment.
In honor of Mrs. Elia W Peattie, who was in the city for a few hours on Friday en route to Chicago Mrs. Draper Smith gave a delightful reception from 2 until 4 yesterday afternoon at her home on Park avenue.
The affair was most informal as it had been quite suddenly planned in the morning as the delegates were returning] from the state federation meeting at Wayne. Invitations were sent out by telephone and telegram, and as many of Mrs. Peattie's friends were reached as was possible in such a short space of time.
The guests were received by Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Peattie and Mrs. George Hiden. Assisting in the rooms were Mesdaines, Lobinger, McGilton, Towne, Keysor, Herring and Page of Syracuse. The dining room was in charge of Mrs. George Houbler. [?] and cakes were served the table being daintily decorated with pink carnations and ferns.
There were great many callers during the afternoon all of whom were delighted at the opportunity of meeting Mrs. Peattie.
Among the out-of-town guests were Mrs. N W. Parkhurst of Chicago, who accompanied Mrs. Peattie on her trip west, Mrs Laura Page of Syracuse, Neb., Mrs. Elson of Plattsmouth.
There were also a number of men present among them Mr. Draper Smith, Mr. Arthur Smith, Mr. C. C. Bellen, Mr. Charles Longiner, Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick.
Mrs. Peattie left on an evening train for Chicago.
73
SHE RESIGNS AS PRESIDENT
Mrs. Peattie Anticipates Her Approaching Departure From the City.
Relinquishes Her Position in the Woman's Club to Take Up Other Cares in Chicago.
Club Will Think a While About Building Before Taking Another Step in That Direction --Yesterday's Meeting.
The Woman's club may or may not have a club house of its own. It wants to think. It is going to think for at least a fortnight. Mrs. Frances Ford, chairman of the committee appointed to investigate the matter returned a report showing a great amount of thorough work. The club listened with intense interest, but concluded to defer the discussion of the matter.
"The club," said one woman, "is going home to talk the matter over with its husbands."
The president placed her resignation before the club, to take effect the 19th of this month. At that time a new president will be elected, and candidates are already being talked of. The president's brief address was one of greeting and farewell.
Many matters of interest came up during the meeting, which was unavoidably devoted to business from first to last. A committee has been empowered to purchase a piano on which even the most fastidious musician will not hesitate to perform. Mrs. Lindsey reported for this committee, and with Mrs. Wilheim and Miss Cunningham, the new leader of the musical department, will make the selection.
A certificate of deposit given by the German Sayings bank to the federation library was taken up by the club at its face value, thus making it possible for the library committee to continue its work without interruption. The Omaha club will make no gift to the library this year, feeling that its taking up of the certificate is all it can afford.
The next meeting of the Woman's club will be held at Creighton theater, in order that the adaptability of the place to club uses may be tested. The managers of the theater have most generously offered to let the club use the theater for its general meetings on such days as its occupation will not conflict with the engagements of the theater. The department meetings of the club and the social meetings will be held at the present rooms whether Creighton theater is used or not.
The one melancholy episode of the day was the announcement of the misfortune which had overtaken Mrs. Pennok, who, at the hour of the club meeting was returning from the cemetery where she had buried her only child, a little girl 2 years of age. The club expressed its sympathy with Mrs. Pennock.
Mrs. Draper Smith, secretary of the club, was elected delegate to the federation meeting at Fremont, which is held Thursday and Friday of this week. Mrs. E. G. McGilton and Mrs. Henry Jaynes were made alternates.
Mrs. Ford presented the Derthink musical course to the club. Miss C. C. Tennant Clary's concert, to take place at Boyd s opera house the 22d of this month, was spoken of Two pieces of embroidered linen were presented to the club and acknowledged by the president. A proposition was made to alter the hour of meeting, which is now 3 30, in deference to the teachers A standing vote expressed the preference of the club for the hour now obtaining
Mrs. W. K Galloway, president of the Eau Claire Woman's club, was present, and at the solicitation of the president, gracefully expressed to the club the obligations she and her club felt under to the Omaha club, after which the Eau Claire club was modeled. At the adjournment of the meeting the ladies paused to drink a cup of tea in the dining room in honor of Mrs. Galloway, who was presented with a bunch of bride and tea roses The attractive appearance of the dining room promised faithful service form the new house and home committee.
The secretary read an announcement to the effect that a public reception would be given the departing president next Monday evening at a place to be designated in the future.
BOY UNDER THE WHEELS.
Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Cheyenne, Wyo, Oct. 5—While playing on moving cars in the Union Pacific yards here last evening with some companions, Ludwig Mahr, a boy of 6 years, was pushed off and fell under the wheels. His left leg was cut off and his right foot crushed He died in the county hospital this morning.
LOCAL BREVITIES.
Mrs P Milbrodt of North Omaha lost nine chickens by theft, which she suspects a neighbor with having stolen, and has secured a search warrant for the premises of a Mrs Brown.
Willow camp No. 12, Woodmen of the World, will give a social tonight at Fuller a hall, northwest corner of Fourteenth and Douglas streets An excellent program has been prepared and choice refreshments will be served.
J A Vail of South Omaha reported to the police that his nephew, John Thomas, has been missing from his home since Saturday evening, and as he has not been in the city long and had some money when he went away. Vail fears for his welfare. He asks the police to send the boy home if they can find him.
74
MRS. PEATTIE WILL READ.
At the next Monday evening entertainment to be given at Unity church tomorrow, Mrs. Elia W. Peattie will read passages of original fiction. The music will be conducted by Mr. Thomas J. Kelly. To commence promptly at 8 o'clock.
75
MARLOWE AND HIS INFLUENCE.
Mr. Peattie Lectures Entertainingly Before the Chautauqua College.
Members of the Chautauqua college who were so fortunate as to attend the session of the society at the parlors of the First Methodist church last night enjoyed a rare literary treat. The principal speaker was Mr. Robert B Peattie, who, for half an hour, held the attention of the audience to a scholarly and most interesting lecture, entitled 'Marlowe and Ilis Influence on the Contemporary Stage"
In his lecture Mr. Peattie showed how Christopher Marlow influenced the stage in the time of Elizabeth, and though he preceded Shakespeare and lacked that poet a catholic genius, he held the light which enabled the latter to put the drama in the front rank of English literature.
The boldness, the genius, the master mind of Marlowe were presented. The lecturer claimed for Marlowe the honor of introducing blank verse into English dramatic composition. He gave numerous illustrations and furnished suggestions for further study along this line.
In closing Mr. Peattie had this to say of Marlowe. If he had lived longer or had not lived at all are contingencies which mean much in considering the Shakespearean drama. He was the son of mean parents, but managed to pick up a smattering of university education. He was a born bohemian and he was a part of the most interesting and disreputable life of the period. His contemporaries and the writers of our own day have showered upon him posthumous praise in verse and prose, but his deathless fame is preserved by the results of his genius."