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A WORD WITH THE WOMEN

(By Elia W. Peattie)

Forty clubs were represented by their presidents and delegates at the State Federation of Nebraska Women's Clubs held at Lincoln on Thursday and Friday of last week. The congregational church, which has the best audience chamber of any structure in Lincoln, was occupied by the federation, and was filled each sesion. Its capacity is about 600.

The women who, with some hesitancy and doubt of success, called the meeting of organization together last February, could hardly have imagined such success does nto lie in a mere aggregation of numbers. Nor is there abstractly speaking, any occasion for rejoicing because another organization has come itno existence. But when women of all conditions of life, of all ages from 14 to 70, of all parts of the state, come together for such purposes as higher education mutual benefit, and good fellowship, the surely it is worth while.

Anthony Trollope and a number of other gentlemn who have held pends with more or less entertainment to the human race, have dpicted the typical woman as a loving, sensitive, dissimulating, shy, revengeful, small-minded, beauriful capricious and unreasoning creature. This creature hated every woan of her acquaintance who was likely to prove her rival in the affections of any man, had a low code of honor, a tremendous capacity for weeping, and, whatever she did, never frogot her personal appearance.

When much has been allowed to these writers of fiction and creators of caricature, there still remains some drop of truth in this bucket of musrepresentation And the woman's club, if it is destined to do anything, is destined to break down the suspocions, the animostles, the frivolous traditions and the un-Christian exclusion of women.

The federation meeting was a success because from first ot last it was genial, marked with fine courtesy, distinguished by delightful intercourse, and unaffected intellectuaity. Moreover, there was, back of all this, something yet deeper and more fascinating. It was a sympathy between woman and woman, of an intimage sort, and the women left with feelings which had softened and deepened because of their intercoruse.

The Lincoln ladies showed that they were trained women in a very practical manner. The task of entertaining so many delegates was a large one, but it was done with such system that the labor was reduced to a minimum, and the conveniences of the delegate absolutely secured. The spirit of heariness in which they were received gave a glow to the proceedings from the first. Moreover the decorations of the place of meeting-decoration of flags and flowers-gave to the church a sociable aspect. When this structure was filled to its capacity with alert, cheerful and aspiring women, it was easy for those who gave addresses or read papers, or discussed subjects, to do their best. The badges, by the eay, were very tastefil and were designed by Mrs. Canfield, the absent president as a reminder of the regard for her old associates. They were of corn colored sating, with the letters N. F. W. C. and half of a rising sun in silver on the yellow ground

There was not a useless or futile paper read at the federation, and at least one paper and one address bore the mark of genius. Mrs Sawyer of Lincoln talked upon The Home of the Future" with such eloquence, fire and spontaneity that anyone who listened myst have been inspored to a higher sense of domestic and civic responsibility; and Miss Byrne of Omaha. In her paper on " The Opposition to Realism," showed a power of literary criticisim that would have been remarkable even if it had not been linged with a sort of genius, which is a part of Muss Byrne's temperament, and which holds her listeners as if spellbound

The discussion were freely paricipated in, and with a readiness of speech and intensity of interest which would not have been shown a year ago there are, as the result of the discussions, to be several things which will add to the interest of the club this year. The invitation of the Crete Chautauqua to hold a federation meeting on their grounds in midsummer was accepted. Many women who could not attend meeting at Lincoln will be able to attend that meeint The circulating library which has been a bright, but apparently inattainable dream, seems now possible of attainment. Twenty-one dollars and fove cents was raised by the ladies in the last session, and a committee is to be selected by the chairman of that committee-who was nominated frim the floor to communicate with all clubs on the subject of needed books. There is hope that every club will coluntarily tax itself for the benefit of the library which will carry the finest books into the bookless districts

The reception at the home of Mrs. A J. Sawywer added not a little to the aggreeableness of the occasion In many homes there were little gatherings of congenial persons, and the women left with a feeling of having been finely stimulated by the whole experience As Mrs Frank Heller of Omaha said, men have so long taken as thier right the companionship of other men, so long been free to find the best that society might offer in the way of association with their equals, that they think nothing of it But women have led lives more or less isolated When they enjoyed sociability it was apt to be of the sort that fashionable society offers. It held no lasting satisfaction and did not bring happiness or development. The assiciation of women who wish the develop the best possibbilites of life it quite different It is, to a great extent, new, and it is bringing to the women that elation which the men have long feld in congenial companionship Moreover, as the purpose of the organization are largely altruistic, even a high pleasure is derived from it than that which mean generally know.

The criticisms of an adverse nature to be made upon the federation are few. The worse fault the women have is their lack of elocutionary knowledge, If all the clubs would insist that its members should learn breathing and speaking the comfort of audiences which have to [?] to papers would be added to and the labor of the readers lightened. If a creche could be provided in juxtapoition to the palce of meeting, where babiescould be left with responsible nurses, more owmen would be able to attend. If members would be quicker with motions which must be made to permit the regular business to proceed, the presiding officer would be saved some embarrassment.

But there are little things.

The whole comvention was pervaded by an air of delicate refinement, by hearty good will, by iniversal courtesy. When one remembers that Mrs. James Canfield, president of the federation, despaired of bringing together the divers and diverse clubs of Lincoln, and then perceived the harmony with which they were all working this year, the community of interest between women of all stations, degrees of wealth or poverty, of all creeds and grades of cultures, one feels that the federation presented a positive example of what the woman's club can do in the way of breaking down cliques, destroying prejudices and cementing the interests of women.

The names of the new officers have already been printed but are reprinted here for the benefit of any who may not have seen them. Mrs. Allen W. Field of Lincoln is the presdient, iss bBeel Stoughtenborough of plattsmouth, vice presdient; Mrs. Amoret Roseman of Fremont, treasurer; Mrs Allee of Beatrice the delegate to the general federation of women's clubs, which hold its blennial meeting next May at Louisvill Ky.

The corps of officers is strong and popular, and the presdient a lady of executive ability and of most agreeable personality.

A WORD WITH THE WOMEN

(By Elia W. Peattie)