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GET TOGETHER.
A Nebraska State Federation of Women's Clubs Proposed.
A state federation of the Women's Literary clubs of Nebraska is under consideration. To this end the president and the one other member of every woman's literary club is invited to meet with the Omaha Woman's club, December 10 and 11. Clubs accepting this invitation will please, without delay inform Mrs. Elizabeth J. Lindsey, 310 South Fortieth street, Omaha. The names of the proposed delegates should be mentioned that arrangements may be made to entertain them by members of the Omaha Woman's club. The members of the Omaha Woman's club take pleasure in offering their homes to the delegates. In order to avoid any misadventures delegates should be particular about all details such as names, addresses and time of starting. These ladies should also bring credentials from the secretaries of their respective clubs. A general meeting will be held on the afternoon of December 10. A reception, to which gentlemen will be invited, will be given on the evening of December 10, and a meeting for the formation of the federation and acceptance of the constitution on the morning of the 11th.
Clubs unable to send delegates may send a written report embodying their desire for admittance to the federation.
ELIZABETH J. LINDSEY, MARY T. STIGER, JENNIE E. KEYSOR, ELIA W. PEATTIE, Committee.
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A WORD WITH THE WOMEN
(By Elia W. Peattie.)
I have a little boy 4 years of age, and sometimes he talks to me. He is especially fond of doing this in the morning, when, awaking, as fresh as any rose with the dew in its heart, he puts his arms around my neck for an early morning hug.
The other morning the following conversation occurred: "Dat ooo, mamma?" "That's who it is. Going to wake up?" "Me are wake. Mamma, what me wake up for?" Because the morning has come, I suppose," "What make mornin' come?" "God makes it come," "How he do dat, me like 'a know" "He turns the big world round so the sun can shine on it." "Oh! Do oo lobe me, mamma?" "More than anything in the world, You are the sweetest thing in the world, you know." "Yes, me is, Me lobe oo too. Mamma, what is women?" "Women? Why-why, ladies, you know." "No, dey is woman. Me wants to know what is women." "A woman is one lady, Women means several ladies." "Oh! mamma, what is rattlesnakes for?" "I'm blessed if I know. What are little boys for?" "Oh, little boys-oh! ho! he! hah! ha! Why little boys is made to libe, and to play and to kiss and to habe fun?" "Are they, indeed?" "But rattlesnakes can no play, and kiss and habe fun." "Perhaps they do. I have seen snakes that run along happily, and seemed to be having a beautiful time in the sun." "Are it naughty to kill happy things?" "I think so." "Are it bad to kill bears?" "Well, yes, if they are doing no harm. They have a right to live." "Maybe bears feel bad-maybe they no happy. How you fin' out if bears happy before you shoot?" "I never shot a bear, I don't know." "Mamma, why you no know eberything?" "My head isn't big enough." "Mamma, what is difference 'tween a nigger and a niggerbocker like what me wear on my legs?" "There is no such thing as a nigger. You mean a negro-an African? He is a colored man." "Oh! An' a niggerbocker?" "A knickerbocker. Those are short trousers. Negroes and knickerbockers have nothing to do with one another." "Mamma!" "What?" "He! He! Ha! Sometimes they do!" "When?" "When a little colored boy wears short pants!" "You rascal! Get right out of this bed this minute and get dressed. Get out!" "No, me get out before oo do!" "You certainly the most ridiculous boy in the world." "Yes, me is."
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ELIA W. PEATTIE -
This favorite author contributes the first installment of an intensely human story in the Sunday World-Herald.
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WITCH'S GOLD-
The first installment of a strong story from the pen of Elia W. Peattie will be an attractive feature of the Sunday World Herald.
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as to what the contract contemplated let the contrast itself clear away the mist, It says: "During the term of said contract the system shall have the capacity and powers and shall afford ample proteçtion to property against fire for a radius of 1,000 feet from each and every one of said hydrants without the aid of either steam or hand engines, That the water to be furnished through said hydrants shall at all times, when required during said term of twenty-five years, give the fire protection herein mentioned," The consideration for the performance of this contract was that the city of Omaha should pay the sum of $ 84 per year per hydrant for not less than 250 hydrants for the term of twenty-five years for said service, The growth of the city from 80,000 to 140,000 inhabitants has necessitated a corresponding increase of hydrants, to the extent that today Omaha is paying, or is asked to pay, $ 233 per day for water for fire protection alone. For fifteen years the city of Omaha has religiously carried out her part of the contract, realizing at the same time that the water works company has from the beginning. openly and defiantly violated Its every obligation. Because of the failure of the water works company to do what it is obligated to do under the contract the city has been obliged to expend large amounts of money to make available what little water supply there is. Huge piles of broken brick and mortar, myriads of bill boards, bootblacking establishments on the prominent corners (successors to big mercantile concerns), all testify to the capacity of our water system, The mayor has taken the ground that the water works company is indebted to the city in a large amount for non-performance of contract, and with that belief has vetoed the ordinance appropriating money for the payment of their bills. An action was commenced in the United States court this spring by the water works company for the purpose of determining their rights under the contract; it has not yet been adjudicated; they do not seem very anxious to push the case to trial. An idea got lodged in the minds of a few persons some time ago that the water works company might be hired to do its duty toward this municipality. Following out the idea a proposition was made to the city council, asking that if the court would issue a mandatory order to the receivers of the water works company to expend $85,000 in enlarging of mains and otherwise improving the water system the city would pay over to the water works company the $85,000 claimed to be due them. This was agreed to with the provision that the city's claim for damages for past non-performance of contract should not be waived; matters progressed; finally an order issued from the court granting the receivers the privilege of expanding this $85,000; the receivers came before the council in the shape of a letter, saying they "intended" to expend this amount in the manner as indicated by the court. Neither the city attorney nor any other person acquainted with the situation claim that the water works company is bound to expend dollar of the money for improving the system, but it is admitted by the city's legal advisor that by the payment of this money to the water works company the city waives forever any claim against bald company for past violation of contract. In short, this act would be paying the water works company in large sum to do that which is in the power of this city to compel them to do under the terms or its franchise.
The ordinance under which the American water works is now operating provides that "In case of the refusal or neglect of any person, company or corporation or their assigns, who shall construct water works under this ordinance to comply with the provisions and requirements herein contained, and each thereof, and to keep such water works in good order and repair and ready and fit for immediate and constant use, in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance, a reasonable time being allowed for repairs in case of accident, all the rights, privileges and immunities granted by and acquired under this ordinance shall be forfeited and the said elty of Omaha shall thereby bo and become vested with the ownership, possession, control and management of said water works, and properly appurtenant thereto, or connected therewith, subject to a just compensation therefor; Provided, that nothing shall be paid or, allowed for the unexpired franchise of such person, company or corporation."
The city of Omaha has the power to take under condemnation proceedings this entire plant. It is well known that municipal ownership of water works, gas works, electric light works and telephone systems is the only way by which the people can secure these staple necessities at reasonable rates. "The city of Omaha pays enough every year for these necessities to pay the interest on all the money invested in these plants and to create a handsome sinking fund besides. The taking of the water works plant by condemnation proceedings would solve the whole problem. F. B. KENNARD.
Mrs. Peattie's Candidacy.
Fremont Herald (dem.): The Bee, in its remarks about the candidates on the populistic state ticket is narrow enough to make an unkind allusion to Mrs. Elia W. Peattie, on of the candidates for regent. It says that she is "probably as well qualified as any woman who would accept the nomination." A great many people may not know the animus that controlled the Ben in this case. Mrs. Peattie happens to be a newspaper writer whose husband is newspaper man who edits a republican paper in Council Bluffs. Mrs. Peattie is employed on the World-Herald. This is not the first time the Bee has sneeringly referred to this estimable lady.
Mrs. Peattie is not running on the ticket supported by this paper, but The Herald is liberal enough to concede that there is something good in the candidates on the opposition tickers. The populists might have searched the state form Douglas country to the Colorado line without finding a better candidate than Mrs. Peattie. She is the peer of any man in Nebraska in education and ability, and she understands decent polices as well as any writer on the Bee. She is deeply interacted in the work of building up our educational institutions, and the state university has been the subject of several increasing articles from her pen. By tireless energy Mrs. Peattie has made a name and a fame fro herself in literary circles, and through it all and above all she has found time to rear an interesting family as only a fond and loving mother could do.
"As well as any woman who would accept the nomination!" Of course, and better than most men. Why not be fair in politics? Why not concede what everyone knows who knows Mrs. Peattie, either personally or by her writings, that she is a woman of wonderful ability, wrapped up in the one idea of uplifting humanity and tireless in her efforts to make others happier and better. The fact that she is a woman should have no part nor place in the race she is making for the office. The republican party will have to sock a long time before it will find in its ranks a man better qualified for regent than Mrs. Peattie.
Nebraska City News (dem.): The Omaha Bee is never charitable to its political enemies or those with whom it differs, but in its editorial on the populist convention it went directly out of its way to cast a slur upon a lady who is honored and respected throughout the state. It says: " The woman nominee, Mrs. Elia W. Peattie, ran fro the Omaha school board on a democratic ticket last year and failed to secure the necessary votes to elect. Her qualifications for the position are probably as good as those of any other woman who would be willing to run." That criticism was entirely unnecessary and uncalled for. The News has no love for populists, but we do admire honest and noble women, such as Mrs. Peattie, and so far as brains are concerned she has not an equal in the state. We admire her for her actual worth, and simply because she is in the employ of an opposition paper is no reason why dirty flings should be made at her. Should she be elected sh will fill the office with ability, but she won't be elected.
Crete Herald (dom.): At Lincoln, Wednesday, the populist state convention nominated Judge Samuel Maxwell for supreme judge and Mrs. E. W. Peattie and James H. Bayston for regents of the state university. Judge Maxwell has a long and honorable career on the bench that will make him a strong and popular candidate. Mrs. Peattie is the versatile writer of the Worl-Herald, and has been an ardent worker for the organization and advancement of her sex.
WHY CREENBACKS ARE GOOD MONEY. (Journal of the Knights of Labor, Philadelphia.)
The $ 346,000,000 of United States treasury notes or greenbacks that have been in circulation for the last thirty years are the bost answer to the goldbugs and silverbugs who claim that metal money of one kind or the other le the only real money. These greenbucks to the amount of nearly $350,000,000, are falsely claimed by the bankers and goldbuge to be redeemable by the government in gold, and for that reason alone are valuable. But, as a plain matter or fact, they are not. First, because there is not and never has been any law making them so; second, because the act forbidding their destruction forbids their being redeemed in gold or anything else, and orders that they must be kept out and continued in circulation, which could not be done if they were ever "redeemed;" third, because none of the people of the United States ever wants them redeemed. Every business man, every workingman and every farmer is perfectly satisfied with the greenbacks and infinitely prefer them to gold or silver coin. Why? Simply because every citizen of America knows that behind every one of those greenbacks lies the whole wealth of the United States, $ 75,000,000,000, over $ 200 of good property for every dollar of greenbacks issued, so that no same man of ordinary intelligence or a teaspoonful of brains ever dreams of doubting that the greenbacks are "good" money in the best sense of the term. Hence it is they pass current wherever they are known, both in England and on the continent of Europe, as well as in every corner of the United States, and will buy just as much of anything as gold coin of equal denomination.
Senator Jones of Nevada, who is conceded by men of all parties to be by far the ablest man in the United Sintes senate on the money question, declared speech in 1890 that "It was a misfortune to mankind that the words promise to pay were ever printed on the greenbacks, because by it millions were led to believe that the value of exchangeable power resided that promise instead of in the legal tender power conferred upon it." And it is because o this all-important fact that they are not "redeemable," but "receivable," by the government and the people that the greenbacks are "good" money. In all the years that have passed since they were issued not $100 of them were ever presented by any farmer, laborer, merchant or manufacturer for redemption in gold labor and legitimate business prefer the greenback to the clumsy coin every time.
AUNT MARY WOULD LOOK FUNNY.
A little boy in Kalamazoo prayed the other evening for the safe return of his Aunt Mary, who had gone a visit, and added, as an afterthought; "But, Oh, God, I didn't moan a safety," Then, as a vision of the new woman cyclist in bloomers raced through his brain the little chap smiled broadly and added to his supplication, in strict confidence: "Oh, God, think how funny Aunt Mary would look on a safety!"
DIPLOMATIC SRUPLES.
When Prince Alexander of Battenberg was kidnaped M. Hitrovo, the Russian ambassador at Bucharest, said to the Russian ambassador: "I do not understand the scruples of the diplomacy today. It is a misfortune that diplomacy today. It is a misfortune that diplomats are not allowed a free hand any longer, as in the fifteenth century when everything was permitted the poniard or poison." Afterward, according to the Vossische Zeitung, when the Asiatic department of the Russian government wished to get rid of Prince Ferdinand, 505,000 francs were sent to M. Hitrovo, who also furnished the explosives to blow the prince up on the railroad from Rustchuk to Varna in 1888, Stanbuloff saved the prince's life on both occasions.
A TRIBUTE TO PHELPS.
(Fullerton News, Rep.)
Mr. Phelps is a man of integrity and a lawyer of high standing, but has no show in this contest for election, Judge Norval will be his own successor.
THREE LITTLE ONES.
It was stated some time ago by one of the heads of departments of the London and Northwestern railway that that company issues yearly fifty tons of railway tickets.
In Paris a total of 2,401 newspapers, trade Journals, reviews, etc., are published. Of these 197 are medical, 193 financial, 166 political, and fifty-four literary. The city supports only three humorous papers.
Light, single-rail roads, on which large wheelbarrows run, are beginning to be used on French farms. The rails are fastened to small iron cross pieces, the ends join by fish-plates, and can easily be put in place and removed. The trucks can be drawn by horses or men, and are balanced by a heavy crowbar held by the man who pushes them.
Half Sick.
At all seasons of the year, many people are half sich with colds which do not yield to the usual remedies. This is because the vitality is low. The blood has been allowed to become impoverished and impure, and it fails to supply the life-giving qualities which, in a health condition, it furnishes to the nerves, organs and tissues of the body. A cure will come though refreshed, invigorated and purified blood. Hood's Sarsaparilla, the great blood purifier, will bring back health, give strength after the grip, pneumonia, fever and all other serious illness. Thousands have found relief in Hood's Sarsaparilla, when all other remedies had failed, because, while others only allay the symptoms, Hood's Sarsaparilla makes pure, rich, healthy blood, and this is the foundation of good health.
"SPEOKLE.'
In er corner next her bin, Wher yer can't see anythin'; Hev ter hunt fer quite er spell, Sometimes purty hard ter tell; Trios to fool me if she ken, Same ez eny other hen; Likes ter hide her nest er-way, Jest stops long er-nough ter say; "Kut, kut, ku-da-a-kut."
She jest keeps a-watchin' me, Steals er-way fore I ken see; Awful quiet when I'm round Scrathcin' holes deep in ther ground, Calls ol' Shanghai an' ther rest, But she's sure ter get ther best. If I'm playin' in ther hay She files up there jest ter say; "Kut, kut, ku-da-a-kut."
In ther other left or in ther shed, May be on er beam instead; Think she surely must be there, You can't find her anywhere, Shanghai struts er-round en tries Ter make berlieve he's awful wise; "What''s up?" he asks every day Soon ez Speckle 'gins ter say; "Kut, kut, ku-da-a-kut." —W. S. S., in Chicago Record.
If the knife comes often, it may be God's way of telling you that you are still abiding in the True Vine.
When people do not treat you right, think of Jesus washing the feet of Judas.