196
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN
(By Elia W. Peattie.)
It's worth while to remember now and then, when life seems to have become tragically monotonous, and to stretch out before one like a treeless and weary plain, that even for a queen the days may sometime seem very dull. Victoria, for example, must have many a tiresome day.' The thing thad made life sweetest to her are gone. She has long been a widow. Her children have all left her. Some have known sorrow, some are submerged in common placeness, some have been dull, and one has been foolish-sicked perhaps. None of them have done any thing to make a mark on their time. They have been distinguished only because of the relationship they bear to her. And certainly, for all of her conservatism and formalisim, she has been a very judicious and admirable ruler. She has hemmed herself about with all exclusiveness, wrapped herself in a womanly modesty, and preserved in the mids of the court, the perfect model of an English home. Her pleasures have been music, books, flowers and a few friends. She has not in any sense been a picturesque woman. Her extreme temperance of action in all directions, her well-ordered affections, her stately manners and her unrelaxing fortnalism have made her a veritable proverb for propriety, but have done nothing to inspire or exhilarate her people. England has been under her guidance as a well-trained four in hand. She has been a careful driver, affecting no bravado, incurring no risks. She has never been beautiful, nor poetic, nor remarkable. But she has shown a polse, a consistency and a termperance of demeanor which is almost unequalled among sovereigns. It has often been said that she has done nothing to advance the cause of woman. Perhaps this may be true in a way. But it seems more just to say that a subject is a subject to her, regardless of sex, and that she has not been bitten with the womanphobia which is the development of the age. The fact remains that under her reign England has reached a freedom and order never, perhaps, attained by any other country in the course of history. Women, as well as men, enjoy the most complete liberty under her dominion-a liberty more comlete and sure in some ways than that of which even we, the citizens of a republic, can boast.
There may be some American women who will mention Mrs. Maybrick at this point, and say that there is one woman who has not been able to enjoy liberty in her majesty's dominions. That is true. A woman, presumably innocent, tried inconsistently, beleived to be innocent by the best minds in England is confined, and may be till the day of her death, because of the lack of a court of criminal appeal in England. But the creation of such a court is another step toward more complete liberty, which may-which must- come before long. May it come before her majesty has passed from earth! May this be the crowning stone in the temple of liberty ash has reared!
There is a new lodging house for working girls in Omaha. It has only been in existence five weeks, yet already it has sheltered thirty-five girls, and been means of securing employment for twenty-one. It has been opened by two Roman Catholic young women who come to this city recommended by the Paulist fathers, whose mission in this city a few months ago aroused much interest. Miss Nellie Enright has for years studied methods of operating among working women. Her cousin opened a home for working some in Cincinnati ten years ago, and has attained an extrodinary success there. Miss Enright has lived with her cousin, and is competent to bear the responsibility if suh an institution. Associated with her is Miss Lizzie Buckley, who has for many years been an instructor of languages in an Episcopal academy. A cottage of seven rooms has been hired at 1720 Cass street, and it is open to all women who may apply so far as they can be entertained. Factory girls, and other workers who have small wages are especially invited. The board is $2.50 a week for those who have employment and who can afford to pay that much. Girls out of employment may stay at home till employment is secured, and pay board when they can afford to do so. A musical and literary entertainment is to be given for the benefit of the come at the Y. M. C. A. hall Thursday evening. February 14, at 8 o'clock.
197
CRETE'S LITERARY LADIES.
Meet to Rear [?] Lecture by Mrs. Peattie.
CRETE, Neb., April 5.--[Special.]--Yesterday afternoon the many literary loving ladies of this city had the pleasure of listening to a parlor lecture given by Mrs. Elia W. Peattie of Omaha. The occasion was a reception given by the ladies of the Round Table, one of the three ladies' literary societies of Crete, to the members of the two other societies--the Sorosis and the Social Literary club. These societies comprise about sixty members and nearly all were present at the reception, which was held at the residence of Mrs. J.L. Tidball, and was one of the most pleasant affairs of the season.
Mrs. Peattie chose for her subject, "In Memoriam," and her lecture, which was ably prepared and well read, was both pleasant and profitable and was greatly enjoyed by all present.
The pleasure of the occasion was increased by good music, beautiful flowers and choice refreshments, served by the ladies of the Round Table.
198
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
199
ONE WOMAN'S HEROIC WORK
Miss Wells and Her Struggle to Help the Poor Little Children
This Noble Young Woman Is Laboring Under the Greatest Disadvantage and Should Have Help.
Here is an Opportunity for Some Christian to Show That the Name Means Something in Reality.
Ten little children and one overworked young woman in six tubmbledown, ill-furnished rooms. That is the condition in the cottage back of the Burt street Chirstian association home, where Miss Wells endeacors to do a work more difficult than most mothers are called upon to perform, for the helpless and hapless boys and girls, who, like driftwood on the human sea, have floated to the kindly care of the Christian association.
The association never deliberately and with mercy aforethought planned to care for children. Circumstances thrust this charge upon them. Mrs. Tilden and Mrs. Ford, leaders in the association, are both intensely opposed to permitting walfs to stay, even for a brief length of time, in our crowded city jail, where they cannot but overhear that which will be injuroius to them. The poorhouse is not the proper place for them. Indeed, the poorhouse, as it is now conducted, does not appear to be a fit place for anybody. The creche is fill to overflowing, and was not at any time intended fro aifs, but for the children of parents who could not give them proper attention, and who could place them at the Creche as boarders. The Benson Place orphanage is intended for rather a different class of children, though its work is allied to that attempted by the Christian association. But Protestant women did not wish to feel that they were permitting the Roman Catholics to assume all the responsibility and care of orphans and deserted children. They wished honestly to do their share. Moreover, they do say the knees of the youngaters out at St. James' are sore with much kneeling, and it is hinted that the good sisters somewhat uppress young lives with excess of devotion.
But however that may be ten little children are now at the Christian Association home, crowded together in a building which looks as if it ought to be condemned by the building inspector, and under the charge of the noble, but over-worked young woman, who, haveing been trained as a nurse, come naturally into this work, and devotes her life to it with a self-abnegation which is as unusual as it is beautiful.
'Who are the children in the Home? Well, there are two belonging to Bachman, the devil-driven wretch who has caused such a sum of misery, and who was recently released from imprisonment. These children are legitimate, and he comes sometimes to see them. Being separated from his wife, neither of them are in a position to care for them. On the innocent heads of the children breaks the stoms brewed by the passion of the father. There are two other children brought by a drunken father one stormy night. Bareheaded, half-clothed, thorougly frightened, the little ones were dragged to the home, and left there. Their mother is not dead. Their father is not dead. The children say that once the mother left the father, taking the little girl with her, but he went after the child, and brought her back, and the two are at the home. There is one little girl, who, being left an orpahn, was adopted by her uncle and aunt, whose cruelties to her were and unspeakable nature-the least and most tellable of which was the filling of her mouth with soap till the tender lips were turned out like those of and African. The aunt went to her reward-she had consumption-and the child was sent ot the home with bruised and lacerated flesh. There is another girl whose mother committed suicide last year, saying taht God would surely raise up some one who could take better care of her children than she could. Her husband was a drunkard, and the chldren were hungry when she did it-so perhaps a merciful God will forgive her! Byt why repeat any more of these terrible stories? The ten little children are there, and each one has been born and nurtured in tragedy. They cannot be turned a drift. There is no place else in this city where they can go. They must be cared for just where they are.
The question is, can they not be provided with more comfort? The Christian association would like another for them. It does not ask to have a new house buildt. It wants an old one donated. It must of course be a house worth moving it should be sifficiently commodious to accomodale at least fifteen perosns, and it should have a bath room in it. At present the ten children eat with Miss Wella in the kirchen for theire is no dining room. In order to work in the kitchen, so small is it , the chairs must be moved into an adjoining room during the house of the day. This room is called the play room. It has folding bed, a wash stand, six or eight chairds and a lor of toys in it. At night the chairs have to be piled up in the kitchen in order to lower the folding bed. The excessive work and irritation cause by all this, is really breaking down one of the noblest of young women. She has no intention of deserting her post. She means to work on where she is as long as strength is spared her. But surely, her task could be lightened. A new house would lighten it past expression. And it may be that some one, reading these words, will go to the Home, investigate the situation for humself and furnish shuch relief. There is room on the lot for another house- though really the best use to which the rashackle building now used could be put, would be to make kinding wood out of it.
Miss Wells certainly needs an assistant, too. Whether one can be provided or not, is a doubtful question. At present she is to all intente and purpose, a prisoner, for she cannot leave her charges even to go to church. If some of the women who find time hanging heavily on their hands, could manage now and then to look after the place for a few hours, while Miss Wella goes fro a little recreation, or shopping or to church, it may be that such an act would fill the door with the joy which comes from the consciousness of a good deed perfromance
To think that some people should fime and fret for want of ways to "kill time," when these poor children need the care which fate has denied them from expected sources! If time hangs heavily with any woman, she is indeed to be pitled, for she has neither brain nor heart to comprehend what is required of her!
Ah, well What use to rail? One grows extreme, in thinking of these poor, poor children- of the young siant who works among them and for whom there will be no canonization. Railing wins nothing at any time, either. But-not to rail in the least, but only to appeal to the thousands of kind hearts which makes the city one of the friendliest and most neighborly of places-will not some kind soul find a way to better the condition of these little ones?
Elia W. Peattie
200
ARMENIANS IN NEBRASKA
Proposition to Bring the Victims of the Turks to This State.
They Are an Industrious, Sober, Frugal, Moral People Devoted to the Domestic Virtnes.
Text of a Letter Written to Governor Holcomb on the Subject-Nebraska Club Will Act.
Nebraska wants more farmers The Armenians want to become Americans. Shall the Armenians be'brought to Nebraska? That is a question which is being asked by certain persons interested in the development of our state, and by other persons interested in the amelloration of the Armenians.
Would they make deirable citizens, is the first question to be asked by the patriotic citizen The chairmain of the Aemenian committee at Chicago, Mr. Edward E. Cragin, says there is no doubt of it He writes:
My Dear Sir: You are familiar with the sad tales which come to us form Armenia of the persecution and attempted extermination of a race of hardy, industrious people, whose greatest crime in their determination to hold to the relifion of their fathers
The great mass of the Armenians are agriculturists. They have cultivated, since the dawn of history, the table lands of Eastern Asia Minor, whose varying altitudes have accustomed them to climate ranging from that of Dakota to that of Texas They are hardy, industrious, sober, frugal, moral and devoted to domestic virtues
The dryness of their lands has compelled them to study irragation with the most admirable results With primitive tools and great discouragement from the oppression of the Turkish government, and the robbery of the kurds who sweep down upon them, they have yet made a living and lived in contentment. Within a few years, however, a systematic effort has been made by the Turkish government to exterminate this people The remark attributed ot the sultan seems to express the awfulness of the situation; 'If I choose to destroy a certain race among my subjects whose business is it but mine? They are my property."
Some time ago they head men of a group of villages came to an American and asked if there were not some means by which the Armenians of these villages could go to America. The answer was of course that the Armenians could not undertake such a work work, and that it would require a large amount of money to carry it out The men replied with sadness, 'We are not rick," and pointing to their stalwart arms and broad breasts," but if the Americans would only transport us and see taht we got safely away from this hell we would be content ot live and die their slaves, and work for them for our bread until we die, if so be that our wives might live without dishonor, and our children be citizens of the great republic,"
A committee of Chicago citizens is arranging for a mass meeting to ecpress sympathy with the Armentans We find from creful investigation that they would make an excellent class of citizens. There are about 20000 of them in this country and their record is equally as good as that of any other nationall in all that constitutes good citizenship We think if an asylum could be found for them in this country. We estistmae that somewhere in the neighborhood of a million of these people could be transported to this country They would readily assimilate with our peopel [? this line is cut off] customed to the cultivation of weat, barley millet and flax.
Would you not htink it would be very desirable if means could be brought about to bring 1,000,000 or 500,000 of these people to America and place some of them on the lands of your state, provided of course, they have sufficient funds in their hands to carry them over one season's crop and build houses fro themselves?
The above letter was written to Governor Holcomb, who forwarded it to Mr. Charles E. Williamson, secretary of the Nebraska club. Now the club, in its articles of incorporation, procides that nothing shall be done toward inducing emigration till the treasury contains a certain sum The club is busy, at present, trying to raise that sum. When it does raise it, official action will be taken concerning the Armenians.
This state has had colonization schemes before. Mr Max Meyer and the elder Mr. Eigutter, members of the Hebrew colonization society, once, years ago, provided means for the bringing into this country of a number of Russian Jews They were wretched, small siezed, broken sprited men from the clities, used to pedding small wares, and when put out on our strenuous soil and told to farm, they sank under the burden. They were sent back to some city, and allowed to make their way after their own fashion But there are a number of excellent Russian colonies in the state, made up of natural agriculturalist, persons of much self-respect and worth They came here with capital and their household goods, and have become part and parcel of the state. There are also Scandinavian settlements, and German colonies which form a prt of the state's best strength.
Miss Melron, the Preshbyterian missionary who was in the city the otherday and who lived years amid the Armenians, spoke of them with great resepct. She presented them as brave, industrious, truthful, of une physuque, and with an unconquerable desire for liberty To be free, to live under a fair government, to enjoy land and houses without ruinous taxation, and to know that the lives of those they love are safe from outrage, is their amblition. They would probably make faithful and grateful citizens of this republic. It would be [a?act] of humanity as well as of polical wisdom, to bring them to this state. They would have the patience to deal with the problems which confront the Nebraska farmers, and like the Russians, would probably be found to be promters of immigration.
The problem really is to secure permission form the Turkish government to let them leave. To arrange for their transportation would be a secondary matter. There is danger of coming in conflict with the immigration laws of this country, but attorneys can be employed to provide against trouble in that direction.
Arizona is at present considering the feasibility of granting some of her lands to this oppressed people, and making them of her citizenship.
We have problems enough in America, and shames and treacheries enough but it is still a land where the oppressed can find refuge; it is still a haven for those looking for personal liberty; it is still a place where the industrious may win form poverty to comfort, where the hopeless may acquire happiness, where women are held sacred, and little children blessed If the Nebraska club does find itself in a position to help these hapless ones, it will do credit to this state in perfroming that service. And the missionary societies, the humane societies, and all organizations which claim to have an altrusitc purpose, may well combine with that club, to resuce form unspeakable misery this bitterly oppressed people. For there is hardly an upward-looking cause which would be be aided by this emigration. Religion, education, humanity, state development-all have their part as factors.
ELIA W. PEATTIE.