136
MRS. PEATTIE'S SUCCESSOR
Mrs. William P. Harford Elected President of the Omaha Woman's Club.
Madam Reuben Gaylord an Early Settler in the West Made an Honorary Member.
Project of Building a Club House Is Taken Up but Nothing Definite Is Decided- Routine Matters.
Mrs. William P Harford was yesterday elected president of the Woman's club, to succeed Mrs. Peattie.
When the result of the ballot was announced by Mrs. Towne, temporary chairman of the meeting held in the afternoon at the Creighton, Mrs. Harford took in her arms the big boquet of American beauties presented her and made a most gracious speech, in which she said that the Woman's club was so thoroughly American in its make up, each department having so efficient a head, that she realized her duties would not be of great responsibility, but only to preside and keep as much as possible her opinions to herself. She said that she hoped to fill her position honestly and faithfully, but asked that no comparison be drawn between herself and the graceful and witty Mrs. Peattie, or the other clever presidents who had gone before.
Madam Reuben Gaylord was made an honorary member of the club, Mrs. Ferguson welcoming the pioneer woman whose residence in Omaha has covered forty years, in a few words. Thirteen names were proposed for membership. Mrs Shuman of Nebraska City and Mrs. Riordan of Texas were guests of the club. During the afternoon Mrs. Johnson gave a vocal solo and Joesphine Bell played the piano. An interesting report of the delegation to the Crete Federation of Woman Clubs was read.
DISCUSS CLUB HOUSE SCHEMES.
But after the election of president the feature of the meeting was the discussion of the building of a club house. Mrs. Mary Gerrard Andrews spoke against the stock company idea proposed by the committee. She related to the sad state of affairs in Chicago, where the women of the Women's Christian Temperance union had allowed a stock company to build the "Temple," only to find that where the money of many women had been put into the enterprise the women now are having to face the possibility of relinquishing any interest in the building whatever, merely being allowed to rent it as any other tenant. She was in favor of waiting until the club be older and more established and could build a club house of its own without going into debt and until the women members could organize a stock company among themselves.
Mrs. Ford, the chairman of the club house committee, explained that if the members of the Woman's club bought the majority of the stock they were entitled to the control, and said further that no harm could come of soliciting for shareholders to see what could be done.
Mrs. Harford thought if anything is to be done, now is the time to do it, while a down town site can be purchased at a reasonable figure.
BELIEVES IT WILL PAY
Miss Cary said the need in Omaha of an auditorium of proportions suitable to accommodate large audiences is so urgent that it seemed to her that the club which would provide such a building could not help realizing upon the investment. Mrs. Towne said that she and the secretary felt so kind of queer on the stage of the Creighton theater, so far from the other club members who seemed to be in the dark from the stage, that she more than ever felt the need of a home for the club properly adapted to its use.
The matter was laid over until the next meeting of the club. A reception under the auspices of the musical department will be given Maud Morgan at the club rooms next Thursday afternoon.
137
CRUSADE OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
Plans Laid by the State Federations and Its Convention at Fremont.
Delegates Return With the Most Glowing Account of the Hospitality Extend to Them.
Plattsmouth Honored In Securing the Next President-Mrs. J. E. Keysor of Omaha Elected Vice President-Gossip.
Club women naturally like gossip about the clubs, and this is for them. It is a mild dissipation, something like the drinking of a cup of fragrant and pale celon tea.
The state federation held its annual meeting at Fremont Thursday and Friday of the last week. A party went down fomr Omaha composed of Mrs. W. G. Thompson, Mrs. Gannle B. Patrick, Mrs. Harriet C. Towne, Mrs. Rose Strawn, Miss Mary Fairbrother, Dr. Freeda Lankton, Mrs. Blanche L. McKelvey, Mrs. Jaynes, Mrs. L. R. Harford, Miss L. M. Harford, Mrs. Julia C, Hoobler, Mrs. Francis M. Ford, Mrs. Julia F Marsh, Mrs. B.F. Weaver, Mrs. C. A. Mirchell, Miss Haubens and Mrs. Porter.
The cordilaity of the greeting at Fremont was just what might have been expected. Women came in form every part of the state, and were welcomed at the station. Although guests had not ecpected to be entertained, only delegates having been offered or having any right to ecpect such hospitality, yet, as a matter of fact, nearly all of hte cisitors at Fremont were cared for in homes.
The officers of the federation the last year have been Mrs. A. W. Field of Lincoln, president; Mrs. Belle Stoughtenrough of Plattsmouth, vice president; Mrs. J. S. Haskell of Stromsburg, secretary; Mrs. Ameret Roseman of Fremont, treasurer; Mrs. O. A. Abbott of Grand Island, auditor; Mrs. Elia W. Peattie of Omaha, librarian.
The program as printed, followed without any important alterations, was as follows:
THURSDAY, 10 A. M.
Meeting of boared of directors. 10 to 12 o'clock-Meeting of delegates to present credentials, pay dues and receive badges.
1p.m.- Invocation Instrumental Duet-Beethoven's Sepiet. Mrs. Frawley and Miss Blache Turner. Reports of secretary, treasurer, auditor and librarian. Music-Song, Mrs. F. B. Harrison. Address of Wlcome-Mrs. J. F. Reunolds, president of Fremont Woman's club. President's address-Mrs. A. W. Field. Address-'Responsibility of the Woman's club Toward Public Questions," Frances M. Ford member of the board of directors of the general federation. Paper-"Significant Phases of the club Movement" Mrs. H. M. Shuman, Nebraska City Woman's Club. Music-"Old Folks at Home." Lorelel quartet, Miss Lillian Terry, Mrs. A. G. Edwards, Miss Maud Oakley, Mrs. D. A. Campbell. Discussion-"Woman Before the Lae" "Perosnal Flights" Miss Vesta Gray. Fremont Woman's club; "Property Rights," Mrs. Elizabeth J. Tracis, Plattsmouth Woman's club; "Women in Nebraska." Mes Archibaid A Scott, president Lincoln Woman's club; Nebraska Products," Mrs. O. C. Holmes. Appointment of committees. Roll call of delegates by the secretary.
EVENING Collation and reception by Fremont Woman's club Toss and music by Fremont talent and Lorelel quartet
FRIDAY 9a.m.-Music, duet, Mrs. Cassus Reynolds and Mrs. F. S. Harrison. Paper-"food Standard," Mrs. J. C. Field, Beatrice Woman's clubs Discussion-"Is a Small LImited Club Capable of More Effective Work Than a Large Club?" Small club, Mrs. D. C. McKillup, History and Art club Seward; large club, Mrs. O. A. Abbott, Grand Island Women's club. Thirty minutes for general discussion. Three minute reports of clubs 2 p.m.-Reports of committees, Election of officers. Transaction of business. Reports of clubs.
Mrs. Field, the president, has a reputation for parliamentary reliability, and justified her reputation in presding in the pretty hall of the Fremont Woman's blub, which was made gay with autumn leaves, ropes of simlaz and asparagus, chrysanthemums, begonias and foilage plants. The addresses were happy and the debates blisk Mrs. McKillup and Mrs. Abbott proved to be very witty and keen, and the heat of the debate brought forth roars of laughter from the federation. As a matter of fact, the discussion concerning the merits of large democratic clubs, such as the Omaha Woman's club, and small exclusive clubs, was a model debate. The majority decided in favor of the large club, after listening to the arguments.
MRS. FORD'S ADDRESS
Mrs Ford's address was written at the rquest of Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin, president of the general federation of women's blubs, Mrs. Ford being one of the board of directors of that body. Among other things Mrs. Ford said:
"Where shall the clubs draw the line between that which is worth doing and that which need not to be considered? We have power and influence. But shall we go fussily runnig about to correct this, that and othe other, interfering with everybody's business and often with their linterties? Most of the little things we long to wipe out will disappear of themselves if we let them alone, and there are other things which are so entrenched that it is but waste of time to attck them. The Chicago Woman's club is an example of discriminations if public effort. It undertakes no work which is needless, nor hopeless.
"But, having eliminated these classes of efforts into which we are liable to be betrayed there are still two important points to settle. First, shall the club do charitable work? and, second, answers both these questions with 'yes' and 'no' I believe that almost every community is well supplied nowaday with charitable organizations. We do not need to make another out of the Woman's club, though we may encourage and support those which already exist. There is, moreover, a clear difference between benevolence and philinathropy. We may feel no call to cltivate the one but we cannot have ton much of the other. As for the second question: Its answer depends upon what you mean by politics- that much abused word. If you use it as a synonym for trickery and corruption certainly the club need not enter it , but if, to your mind it stands for public welfare, public polley, public profit, why should any body of intelligent women remain outside it?"
The first day's work closed delightfullym with a collation served in a large and brilliantly "illuminated hall. Four hundred persons, one-third of whom were men, were seated at about forty tables. Red and yellow, the combined colors of the Fremont club and of the federation, appeared in the flowers on the tables, the bunting about the hall, the lamp shades and general decorations. The evening's entertainment was as follows:
MENU "A Feast of Reason and a Flow of Soul" Invocation.....................Mrs. F. M. Sisson Ladies' Quariel-"Legends"............Mohring Miss Maud Okaley, Mrs. A. G. Edwards, Miss Lillian Terry, Mrs. D. A. Campbell.
Vocal Soin-"Madrigal".......Roy L Smith Mr. Dan II. Wheeler hr Omaha.
TOASTS. "Our Guests"..............Mrs. M. E. Reynolds "Clubs".........Mrs. (President) Fields, Lincoln Vocal Solo-"For All Eternity"..........................Macheronal Mrs. C. H. Nye; violin obligate, Mrs. Julia Harpham. Vocal Solo-"Sogna d' Amor..........Gregh Mrs. Cossium Reynolds.
COLLATION Ladies Quartet-"Old Folks at Home"
TOASTS. "The New Woman"........................................Mrs. Elia W. Peattie, Omaha "The Old Woman".........................................Mr. H. G. Wolcott "The Man We Left Behind Us".................... Mrs. Dan Harrington, Wayne "The New Man"............ Mr. E. J. Barnard. "The Old Man.......... Mrs. S. R. Twone, Omaha "What Next?'..........Prof. Clemmons Vocal Solo (a) "Habanera".................Carmen (b) "One Spring Morning"...........Nebin Miss Nella Rogers; Violin obligate, Mrs. Julia Harpham.
Vocal Solo-"Heart's Blossoms"..........................Roy L. Smith "Old Man"...............Miss Mary Fairbrothers, Omaha
COLLATION. Duet.............Selected Mrs. C. H. Nye, Mr. Dan II. Wheeler, jr.
Mrs. H. G. Wolcott, who filled the difficult post of toast mistress, added much to the brilliancy of the occassion with her humor and grace.
OFFICE ELECTED
The officers elected fro the coming year are Mrs. Belle Stoutenbrough of Plattsmouth, president; Mrs. Jennie E. Keysor of Omaha, vice president; Miss Vesta Grey of Fremont, secretary; Mrs. D. D. Nickolls of Beatrice, treasurer; Mrs. D. C. McKillup of Sweard, auditor, and Mrs. G. W. Lambertson of Lincoln, librarian
The committee on resolutions submitted the following which were adopted:
Whereas, The Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs has been proapered during the last year be it
Resolved. That we thank our heavenly Father for his protecting care over us and for the bountiful supply of mercles bestowed upon us as an organization.
Whereas, The art department of the Omaha Woman's club, through its leader Mrs. Keysor, has generously contributed to the Nebrasa traveling library ten volumes of art history, and also the use of fifteen art portfolios. Illustrating the history of painting; therfore be it.
Resloved. That we acknowledge and herby express our appreciation of the same.
Whereas, Mrs. Elia W. Peattie of Omaha, who for eight years has shared with us the good and evil things of Nebraska, very soon leaves us for her new home in Chicago; therfore be it.
Resolved. That the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs express its deep appreciation of what she has done, not only for the clubs of the state, but for the solitary and unorganized women as well; be it also
Resolved. That while we remember her benefits to us, we wish for her happiness and properity in her new home:
Whereas, The third anual metting of the Nebraska Federation of Women's Blubs have been delightfully entertained bu the women of Fremont; be it therefore
Resolved. That we tender our thanks, wishing them scuccess in teh future as boundless as their henerous hispitality has been ot us.
The high grade of music furnished for the cocassion has been especially inspiring feature, and it is a mtter of congratuatlion that from our ranks such abundant and varied talen is at out command. Henrietta Smith Mary E. Foss E. M. Cobb
The Beatrice Chautauqua sent and invitation for the federation to hold its mid-summer meeting on their grounds and to fill up one day's program. The Beatrice Woman's club also invited the federation to hold its next annual meeting in the city.
138
MRS ELIA W. PEATTIE.
With many regrets, the World-Herald announces that today Mrs. Elia W. Peattie severs her connection with the paper, that she has served so long and efficiently. It is eight years since Mrs. Peattie began to do newspaper work in Omaha, and in that time she has won the lasting admiration and respect of all classes of Nebraska people. Her departure from the state will be doubly regretted for, while her writing will be missed from the World-Herald, there will be the additional feeling of a personal loss with the reflection that the gifted woman who has taken such a conspicuous part in the life of Omaha and Nebraska has transferred her interests to another part of the country.
While doing the regular work demanded of a member of a newspaper staff. Mrs. Peattie has found time to write stories about the west. These studies of life, having for their background the rolling prairie lands, have won for her a broader field, and she leaves journalism for the more congenial employment of weaving pleasant tales for the magazines.
Having accomplished much as a writer and given abundant promise of greater things, it might seem that Mrs. Peattie's hold on the state that has so long been her home is purely that of a literary worker in sincere sympathy with her environments, but it is the woman, perhaps, more than the writer who has gained the friendship of all. Possessed of tireless energy and fearless independence, Mrs. Peattie has always championed the cause of the weak and oppressed. The highest ambitions and aspirations of all women have ever received from her the best encouragement. She has never been too busy to help the poor or to give her strength in a good cause.
As one of the leading spirits in the Woman's club, Mrs. Peattie has done much toward the successful development of that organization upon broad lines and democratic principles. As a farewell to her, the president, elected for this year, the club has arranged a reception to take place Monday evening at the Commerical club. To this all her friends are invited and this invitation includes everyone who felt her kindly influences in days gone by.
From Omaha Mrs. Peattie goes to Chicago, to join Mr. Peattie, who is the Chicago representative of the New York Times. She carries with her the good wishes and best hopes of hundreds of Nebraska friends. And when she shall have attained the most coveted places in the world of letters, the state will still feel a proprietary interest in her achievements, for it was in a Nebraska home and among Nebraska people that she received the inspiration for the stories that have commanded the respectful attention for the whole country.
139
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN
(By Elia W. Peattie)
I have just writen the familiar head line for the last time. My fingers have become so used to it that they write it quite mechanically. But they will propably never have occasion to type it again, because with the writing of these words my long association with the Omaha World-Herald ceases. I have felt so identified with it that there have been moments, when, if anyone had told me I did not own the paper I would have been surprised. I have cerainly owned the friendship of some of its readers, who have shown their cordial feeling, or confided their difficulties, or paid me the line compliment of asking me for some kind of asisstance during many busy years. Letters have reached me from Melbourne and from Havana, from London and the remotest cities of this country -and from the City of Mexico-- relating to what has appeared here. Some of these words, though from persons I shall never see in the flesh, have been inspiration and a sustainment. Many have appealed to the sumpathy. Many have been heroic and brave and have been the confessions of those who had no friend near at hand, and who were pleased to hink of me as such. All this has been wonderful to me. It has been as the breath of life. It has made the paper seem like a sort of pulpit, and has given me, what I did not at first have a deep sense of responsibility for the words I wrote. My friends will forgive the personal nature of these remarks. The kindness shown me recently, the letters written me and the words spoken, justify these perosnalites.
When I first came to Omaha newspaper women were not common here. People suspected that women would not make practical newspaper workers. Dear Dean Gardner asked me. I remember, if I was going to carry some notes I had taken about the cathedral chimes to a reporter to have him write it up! But since that time women have become well known on the newspaper in Omaha, and there are several efficient women writers engaged on the various papers of the city. I have had the privilege of watching this toung city pass from its pioneer stage, with all the materialism that implies, into the state of intellectual aspiration. It cares for power now more than for land; it likes music and books, painting and ideas, better than houses and horses. Its evolution goes on, and those who remain will have the privilege of assisting it. They will help to kill the silly feuds between religion and religion, learn not to suspect a person of inhericiency because he or she seeks a home in Omaha, gather confidence in their own abilities and amalgamate into a society. The civic pride could hardly be stonger than it is, but it will take new fornia presently, and when a Dr. Duryea comes here people will not suspect that he did so because he was worn out and unfit for other fields. The pride will soem day be sincere and deep, and the citizen of Omaha will believe that great men some here because this place stands for an opportunity and because it is privilege to live here.
This column has never essayed to be brilliant or remarkable. It has quietly followed the mood of the day and the town-for towns and days have moods. It has commented casually upon what happened to be happening. It has been merely as a mirror, idly heldsup, that the public might see in it its own face. Whatever of good or bad there had been in it, the public is almsot as much responsible for as I.
I am tempted to hope that some people, seeing this familliar column in the paper no more, will miss it for a week or two- it would be folly to expect to be remembered longer that than And I having lost my occupation, will also miss my audience-for a longer time than two weeks.
And so, bon soir, la compagnie:
140
ANNUAL MEETING.
Woman's Club Elects Mrs. Elia W. Peattie President.
At the annual meeting of the Omaha Woman's club, held in the club rooms yesterday afternoon, the reports of officers and heads of departments for the last year were presented and accepted.
The election of officers for the ensuing year result as follows: Mrs. Elia W. Peattie, president: Mrs. Harriet C. Towne, first vice president; Mrs. Amelia H. Somers, second vice president: Mrs. Henrietta Smith. recording secretary: Mrs. Anna M. Herring, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Delia L. Ferguson, treasurer; Mrs. Abbie A. Billings, chairman of auditing committee; Miss Mary Fairbrother, chairman of constitution; Mrs. Delia R. Belden, chairman of courtesies; Mrs. Hattie A. Bryson, chairman of house and home; Mrs. Clara S. Rosewater, chairman of membership committee, the other members being Mrs. Emma Cole, Mrs. Florence L. Haller, Mrs. Sarah J. Dewey and Mrs. Jennie L. Wattles.