146

A WORD WITH THE WOMEN

(By Elia W Peattie)

Silverio Borelli of Chicago was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to be hung. When he heard the sentence he bemoaned his fate so violently that "the guard was doubled" to provide against the prisoner doing injury to himself. Strange fatulty of civilization, which will do a man the most hurt, by depriving him of life, yet guard him lest he shall commit the same offense." Strange arrogance, which will permit government to openly commit the crime against nature for which the murderer is held culpable. Can a murderer who is elected by the people and dubbed a sheriff be guiltless because of that election, while the man who merely revenges a private wrong be condemned to mortal and eternal damnation." Tis a sorry tangle, and not for the unraveling of the dull or the conventional.

Every lilac is in bloom, the Judas trees rain purple blossoms, the plum spills white petals and luscious perfume on the air, and the apple and cherry trees are exquisite with bloom. Along the margins of the creeks the willows and aspens have flushed into delicate green, and the prairie grasses have sent up their bright leaves. The great willow 'cane brakes" by the prairie farms look like mammoth tossing plumes and in the little gardens by the farm doors the purple flour de lia shows its royal color. Mystified [?] never never used to this wonder of the regenerated year, looks at it all lovingly, yet sadly. Never a religion a philosophy or a hope, but framed itself in some way on the roll of the seasons and the miracle of spring. Never a race of people whose poets did not in their earliest similes embody this idea of regenerated and reawakened nature. Never a man or woman who did not feel the heart grow lighter, and leap in the veins, at the joy of it. Never a lover who did not love better for the wonder of the sweet spring time!

The Excelsior is really a bright paper, and fills its honest place in Omaha, but it really ought to be reminded that other books besides "Tillby" have been read by everyone. It is a dear book, but--it is read. Please let it stay on the shelf for the next generation, who will, be sure, enjoy it well, but who do not yet need to be reminded of it. As for the present generation, it can be told nothing more about the book which Mr DuMaurier, in an unguarded moment, wrote.

While one is speaking of the Excelsior, it might not be out of place to suggest that the statement that it is really the men who get out the women's editions of newspapers, comes with poor grace in view of the fact that a great part of the Excelsior is written by women. The best and most professional work done on that paper in its history has been done by Mrs Cannon, who has the newspaper instinct, indefatigable industry, and a good, brisk newspaper style. The womens editions of newspapers are got out by the women. Unfortunately most of these women are novices and labor under the same disadvantages that men would be if taken from their accustomed occupations and put in the newspaper office. But the literature of the womens editions of daily papers is above the average. The work does not particularly amuse the ladies, as the Excelsior says, but it does provide a handsome sum for some charity which needs the support. The Excelsior is a paper written for women. It could not live for the patronage of women are society paper, and women are society it would therefore be better policy to treat them with fairness. It is not fair to say that they do not do the work they claim to do.