10
POOR PROGRESS
WISE WORDS TO THE FRIDAY
MORNING CLUB
CLUBS' RESPONSIBILITY
LIVELY DISCUSSION FOLLOWS AN
ABX3 PAPEB
PIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW
Mrs. C. N. Sterry Suggests Badical
Changes in the Policy and Finds
Many Supporters
Tlbe attendance at the Friday Morning
Hub yesterday was large, as is always
Jhe case when papers are to be read
on vfjal subjects. It proved to be one
of tbe liveliest sessions held for some
time.
The paper of the day was read by
Mrs. CI N. Sterry, on "Theßesponsiblllty
}t Clubs." Mrs. Sterry has the courage
bf her cpnvlctlons, and voiced sentiments
\t\a.t many members have entertained
tr some time but have not expressed
such plain language. A spirited dis
cussion followed the paper, and a variety
>f opinions were expressed. The paper
was as follows:
THE RESPONSIBILITY OP CLUBS
A club is an association in which
every one contributes his share, so Web
6ter tells us; and ls organized for the
promotion of some common object, as,
lor instance, art, literature, music, poli
tics or religion. It has become a dis
tinctive feature of modern life, and to
day there are too many kinds of clubs to
enumerate. They range from science to
cooking; they embrace people of all
norts, kinds and aspirations. A strange
cohesive power is drawing together these
knots of people out of the general mass,
forming them into nerve centers for tho
common body of humanity. They are in
tellectual telephone stations, scattered
along the highways and byways of life, i
through which and from which the vita
current of thought may bo transmitted
from one to all, unless, perchance, the
"line ls busy." It is an open question
whether all these clubs are, on the whole
detrimental or beneficial, with many ad
Vocates on either side, and certainly with
many arguments pro and con. It is a
question that, it seems to me, cannot be
answered in general, as every club must
like every individual, be judged and
stand upon its own merit; and ever}
club, like every individual, ought to re
member that "merit lives from man to
man, and not from man, O Lord, to
Thee"; ought to remember that in order
to have and hold the esteem and confi
dence of the community of which it is
a part, it must do something and
be something in and for that community
The religion whose chief thought was
"What shall I do-to be saved?" has
passed with its hour, and in its place
the universal spirit of the Nazarene is
flooding the earth. It speaks to us from
the pulpit, rostrum and stage; it is
the underlying thought of the world
All questions, social and political, tend
toward it and are freighted with it
Never in the history of the world, it
seems to me, has individual responsi
bility been held so great as it is today
and all live people and organizations
are answering to It. This is an age
of specialists, and it is unquestionably
the proper thing to have one doctor treat
your head and another your feet; tc
have your family physician, surgeon
chiropodist, dentist, oculist, etc.; anc
without question it is all right and
natural for clubs to specialize their
work. But there is an element
of danger in this process; it is nar
rowing. The man who views an
object always from one standpoint
necessarily sees but one side of it. We
are perfectly willing that a chiropodist
if he be proficient in his specialty, shoulc
know no more; but we want our family
physician to be broad, many-sided, com
prehensive and progressive.
Now, there are, ana always will be,
clubs and clubs, some of which are
capable and content to do forever one
line of work; but they must of neces
sity be small as to numbers and limited
ln Influence; and, again, there will be
clubs which form important factors in
their community and in the lives of their
members. These will be the clubs of
large and varied membership, of large
ideas, ambitions and sympathies. A club
can easily outgrow the scope allotted
to it by its founders, even as a child
often sets entirely aside the views and
plans of it 9 parents In working out its
own Individuality; even as a story will
sometimes, seizing an author in its grasp,
hurry him off into unwonted and un
sought-for byways, and, much to his
surprise, bring him to an' uncontem
plated end. Was it not Oliver Wendel
Holmes who said, "I change my opin
ions, as I change my coat, when neces
sity demands"? I understand that the
Friday Morning club was organized as
a literary club; that at some prior time
an attempt or attempts were made to
broaden out its work; that, meeting with
only a modicum of success, it doubted
its own powers, and has since devoted
itself to literature. What it has accom
plished in that line is better known to
you than to me. If lam wrong, correct
me; but it seems to me that this club
has accepted as its policy and creed "No
Progress." Now—
" I hold it truth with him who sings,
To one clear harp In divers tones,
That men may rise on stepping stone*
I °f tne ir 'lead pelves to higher things." "
OBVIOUS DUTIES
The time has come when this splendid
concentration of womanhood should
arise and become a power in the land;
should open its eyes to the fact that
one, at least, of its founders, the one
whom it always delights to honor, had
ln mind the development of the strength
and originality of the women of this city,
rather than merely mechanical literary
work. What is literary work? It is a
good thing to review other people's
thoughts and opinions, but better to have
and create our own. Literature is that
realm wherein life is reproduced by the
pen. Instead of the brush or chisel; and
we must be ln vital touch with life itself
befpre we can appreciate or criticise the
human interpretation of the divine crea
tion. We must have a grasp of the real
before we can comprehend the ideal.
rblgjQlub'.ia4U>ssesed: .of a strength and
influence greater than it has ever
dreamed; it needs but to put them forth
to convince Itself that it has both. There
is much work that might be done, much
that must be done, If this club has any
desire for a long and useful existence.
The other day I went to take a small
friend who had been ill out for a drive.
When we were fairly started, she said:
"Mrs. Sterry, we were Just at the club
when you came." "And who belongs to
the club, my' dear?" I asked. "Mother
and I," she replied. "And what do you
do?" "Oh, mother sews and reads, and
I eat tea cakes and apples"—a fair sam
ple of some clubs, is it not? One part
to do the work, and the other to eat the
apples and tea cakes. I have heard ex
cellent papers and talks here drop ab
solutely flat into the great sea of silence,
causing not the slightest rippke of com
ment or discussion 1 ; and, ladies, it ls
not fair—it is not fair to the workers
or to ourselves. A mediocre paper, well
discussed, is worth more to us than an
abler paper accepted ln silence. And it
is not because there is a dearth of opin
ion or lack of ability in expressing it;
but the incomprehensible fact that there
are times when a woman is afraid of her
own voice. In speaking of this matter
to one member of the club I was told that
the legitimate work of the club was to
create sentiment. That is exactly what
I want you to do; but I want sentiments
created here that will do somebody some
good. We may review the sentiments of
hundreds of books, but we are creating
none; we are positively adding nothing
of value to the life of the community or
to ourselves.
HIGHER AIMS!
Let us, at least once every month, de
vote one morning to some public need,
some live question that is vexing the soul
of the great present. Let us once a
month create a sentiment that shall lead
to an action. For instance: There is a
woman among us who supports six
children and a drunken husband over the
washtub. She is not a heroine. She has
neither large, dreamy eyes, clear, oval
contour of face, pale olive complexion,
nor flowing tresses; though I am obliged
to admit that the latter are not pinned
up as closely sometimes as they might
be. But she has a little son who ls
nearly imbecile and who belongs ln the
home for the feeble minded. There
is a home for the feeble minded at Ellen
wood, a state institution, so I am told.
I have never looked up the matter my
self. They refuse to accept this, or any
case, except the county commissioners
pay a sum of 110 per month per case.
The commissioners, claiming that the
home is supported by a general state
tax, refuse to pay a special sum. The
imbecile of 7 years is left to wander
through the streets, and wben he un
wittingly does some wrong Is treated as
a criminal. Ladies, this subject, well
written up, would in»k» an exceedingly
Interesting paper, and ought to create
both sentiment and Investigation. Why
not appoint a committee to look after
this affair and report to the club? Often
such misunderstandings can be cleared
away. But if the law itself is obscure,
let us send a carefully chosen committee
before the legislature, asking it to in
troduce a bill that shall define and de
termine the law; and then let us send
this little one where he has a tight to
go, and know that by our efforts the
way is clear for others.
Ladies, since I have been In y.iurmid3t
In this City of the Angels, a little girl
12 years old, whoae mo'her sleeps out
on the desert and whose father has aban
doned her, was defiled oy a man in whose
family she was living. When rescued
there was no place to put this little girl
save with fallen women. The man, for
this great horror, was 3?nt five years to
the penitentiary (!) Had he stolen a
horse he would not have gotten -.>ff with
less than ten. Ladles, If this subject
could be brought before this club, writ
ten up in all its pitiful detail, it vould
create sentiment, I assure you. But this
is not the legitimate work of this club.
Yet, I say unto you, "He who giveth his
life shall find it." We are, however, much
more apt to appreciate Emerson's admo
nition of "Come not wholly down out of
your high estate to minister unto the
rabble." And so I only plead with you to
give one week in four to the considera
tion of the vital things of today, and I bid
you be not afraid, for out nf it shall grow
courage, strength, vitality and contln
IN TIME OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR
uity for ourselves. Let us, remembering
that "we shall pass this way but once,"
bear with us the lesson of the Legend
Beautiful
LIVELY DISCUSSION
By the time the speaker closed the air
was pretty well charged with electricity,
and when the president announced the
subject open for discussion there was no
time lost waiting for speakers. The pro
gressive element.whtch has felt "cribbed,
cabined and confined" by the club's lim
itations, hastened to endorse Mrs. Ster
ry's views, and the conservatives who
favor the policy of keeping the organiza
tion strictly a literary club, where mem
bers of all other organizations can meet,
just as quickly hastened to support their
side of the case. After several ladies had
expressed opinions, most of them favor
ing the present policy, Mrs. D. G. Ste
vens made some wholesome remarks.
Mrs. Stevens approved of retaining the
literary features part of the time, but
also fully endorsed the suggestion of a
day each month for the consideration of
practical questions. She pointed out the
quick response there had been to Mr.
Davis' suggestions the week previous,
though there had been a variety of mo
tions before the house at the same time.
Mrs. Osgood also endorsed the paper as
expressing her sentiments, as did Mrs. F.
A. Eastman.
Mrs. Graves thought these philan
thropic questions should be left to the
W. C. T. U., the Woman suffrage society
and other organizations of which the
city is full, and the club be left in
peaceable possession of its present pol
icy.
Mrs. Eli Fay thought It should stand
for principles, but did not Indicate In
what way it should let Its standing be
known.
Mrs. C. M. Severance and Mrs.Wlgglns
also heartily endorsed the speaker's
views. Mrs. Groft, Mrs. Schultze and
various others were in favor of letting
the club remain as It Is.
Miss Varlel proposed the appointment
of a committee, as had been suggested,
to which practical questions could be re
ferred, but the chair refused to enter
tain the motion, and said the executive
board would doubtless consider the mat
ter, as they were desirous to act in ac
cordance with the wishes of the mem
bers.
Mrs. Graham said it had probably not
occurred to anyone that the members
might not all want to be represented by
a committee; she, personally, objected to
being represented by any committee ln
philanthropic work.
MRS. STERRY'S DEFENSE
Some speakers seemed to fear that the
club was about to be seized by vandal
hands and turned forthwith into a so
ciety for making flannel jackets for lit
tle heathens in Africa, Mrs. Sterry was
obliged to rise to the defense of her
paper several times and repeat that she
did not advise dispensing with the liter
ary features of the club, nor in taking
up Individual cases. She merely asked
one day in the month for live Issues,
and to advocate reforms" by which indi
vidual wrongs could be righted.
A member of the Century club of Oak
land, visiting in the city, being called on,
spoke of that club holding a similar po
sition on this question. The stronger ele
ment has recently withdrawn and form
ed an organization more varied in its
alms, which took with it the strength of
the old club. She suggested that the Fri
day Morning club take warning, and try
to keep its stronger members within its
folds.
Mrs. Eastman asked for an expression
of opinion from the members, given by
rising to their feet, as an Indication of
the strength of the respective sides, but
the bogy man put In his appearance, as
he always does when discussions take
too decided a business turn, and the
whole matter was referred by the chair
to the executive board.
SPRUNG A SURPRISE
But Failed to Save Flannelly From
the Gallows
SAN JOSE, Cal., March 18.—When the
Flannelly case was called this morning
for sentence of the convicted murderer, a
surprise was sprung by the attorneys filing
a number of affidavits in support of a mo
tion for a new trial. This rests chiefly upon
the alleged misconduct of two Jurors. It
Is charged that Juror Wm. Buckley, when
LOS ANGELES HERALD. SATURDAY 19, 1898
—Chicago Chronicle.
the jury reached their room, after their
charge, said:
"Well, boys, you all may fight over this
all you wish. My mind was made up long
ago to hang him. I will stay here until
hell freezes over before agreeing to any
thing else."
This is the affidavit of Flannelly, on In
formation and belief.
It Is also charged, and by several affida
vits, that on the 7th of March, when an im
portant witness for the defendant was giv
ing his testimony, one juror, M. F. Ed
wards, was asleep for fifteen minutes.
After the reading of these affidavits, the
District Attorney asked for an hour or so
continuance to prepare counter affidavits.
At noon the District Attorney was not
ready and a continuance was granted until
2 p.m.
Finally, at 2:30 oclock, after all objec
tions of Attorney Boardman had been
swept aside, Flannelly was sentenced to
hang May 27th.
Counter-affidavits had been, flled 1 , deny
ing the statements of the affiants for the
defendant.
Flannelly took all quietly.
THE TERRIBLE TURK
Will Wrestle Roeber for the World's
Championship
NEW TORK, March 18.—The managers
of the two famous strong men and wrest
lers, Tousouf and Roeber, are announced
to meet tomorrow and make final arrange
ments for a wrestling match for the cham
pionship of the world.
TOUSOUF,
("The Terrible Turk")
Tousouf, or "the terrible Turk," as he ls
called, has conquered all the famous
strong men of Europe and the orient. He
has issued a challenge to any who desire
to meet him, and has placed S6OO on deposit
as a forfeit should he back out. Ernest
Roeber, the American champion wrestler,
who is announced to meet the Turk, has
won many victories in this country. He
says he feels confident of defeating the.
Turkish wonder.
Decided to Disband
CARSON, Nov., March 18.—Battery A,
First Nevada artillery, has decided to dis
band. The officers and members of the
battery were court-martialed recently, be
ing accused of having violated orders from
headquarters. The accused were convicted,
but claimed they had been unjustly pun
ished and appealed to Governor Sadler to
revoke the sentence. This he declined to
do, although it is said he acknowledged the
truth of their contention. The battery
thereupon passed resolutions severely crit
icising Col. Lord of Virginia City, com
manding the regiment, and also Governor
Sadler as commandcr-ln-chlef. Each mem
ber of the battery then resigned, demand
ing that the battery be disbanded.
A Cycle Circuit
VICTORIA, B. G, March 18.—John Fos
ter Fraser, Edward Lunn and F. H. Lowe,
English cyclists, who left London July,
1896, to circle the world, arrived here this
afternoon from Yokohama, and will leave
on Sunday for San Francisco.
For the Shop Girl
An excellent philanthropic scheme has
recently been established by a band of
young New Tork women for the assistance
of shop girls. They go to the noon rests
and luncheon places frequented by shop
girls and open sewing and renovating
rooms, where stray stitches can be taken
for the busy saleswoman and quick In
structions can be given them how to fresh
en and keep ln order their wardrobes. They
are taught to put ln braids, clean ribbons,
curl feathers, darn and do all.kinds of,
mead hag. Also bow to prepare inexpens
ive renovating flutde that will remove
spots and eleaase gloves. Praotleal and
economical fashions are suggested, as
well aa healthful arrangements of their
garments. The matter ot diet ls also
touched upon. As might be supposed, the
undertaking Is meeting with great suc
cess.—New Tork Times. -
Some Egyptian Maxims
The mistress and two slaves for frying
two eggs. "Much ado about nothing."
Like the old women at a wedding, they
eat and mock. Rebuking discontent. Ap
plied to one who, though perhaps gratified
even beyond his expectations, affects to
despise what has been bestowed upon
him.
It Is but a day and a night and the pil
grims' caraven will arrive at Romela.
Romela (Menshlyah nowadays), situated
at the foot of the citadel of Cairo, ls the
starting place of the Mahmal or holy car
pet for Mecca, and where this carpet ls
brought after covering the prophet's tomb
at Mecca for a year. The saying is com
monly used to counsel patience. A day
and a night only and the long wearisome
Journey will have come to an end.
What has your father left you? A he
goat and it died, he replied. A company of
friends . Rat down to eat. One of thi-m
asked another, not the most intelligent of
the party, what he had inherited, where
upon he narrated a long story which was
not finished until the last dish was brought;
then, seeking to avenge himself, he asked
the ssme question of another, who re
plied briefly as above, ln order not to lose
his share of the repast. Hence the proverb
is frequently used to denote reluctance to
being questioned.
He who does not make me as a "kohl" in
his eye I would not wear as a slipper.
Kohl ls a black powder commonly com
posed of the smoke-black which is pro
duced by burning a kind of "liban," an
aromatic rosin. It ts used for blackening
the edge of the eyelids and eyebrows of
the Egyptian women as adornment. Ttie
expression used figuratively means that If
a neighbor does not pay the speaker atten
tion the latter will treat the former with
contempt, the slipper being frequently
employed as a term of reproach. In the
streets of Cairo "you son of an old slipper"
Is constantly heard.—Joseph Hanki In the
Cairo Sphinx.
Haymaking Time
My darling's gone south for the winter,
She lolls by the southern sea;
But I'm not putting in my time sighing
For my darling to come back to me.
Every morning she writes me a letter,
I religiously answer the same;
And thus, with our ink and our paper,
We keep the old feelings aflame,
My darling's gone south for the winter,
I'm making the most of her stay;
For the only time I can save money
Is when my fair darling's away.
—Chicago News.
Getting Ready
Dear woman now ls cleaning house,
And 'tis not strange she should;
She thus has tlmo to ride her wheel
As soon as roads are good.
—Chicago Paper.
Hired girls should keep away from Japan.
Good housekeepers there command fifty
cents a month, nurses receive from 31 to
11.50, and a cook who understands Euro
pean cookery can demand from |5 to $7.
In Kansas City there Is a well authenti
cated case In which a man kept the secret
of a marriage engagement from his wife
for several months.
ALPHONSO XIII., KING OF SPAIN
(Prom the Latest Photograph Taken by Special Permission asd Published ln the lUuetrated- IrfmOori<^ewa.}.rj
"HAPPY OLAF"
The spray from the falls had froxen on
the grass and walks about Falls View and
the passengers who got off the train to see
the great work of nature were very care
ful. Indeed, as to their footing, and many
of the ladies were content with the view
from the windows of the coaches.
One girl rather below the medium height,
with a wealth of fair hair and a quick,
springing step, crossed the narrow stretch
of grass and leaned against the railing,
apparently unconscious of everything
around her save the endless rush of the
water, gray and dun in the early morn
ing.
As the train bell rang the girl turned
quickly, her feet slipped on the frosen
grass, and she would have fallen If I
had not caught her. She turned her head
quickly, then she smiled and said in a
voice that was low and musical, "I thank
you." I raised my hat and she returned
to the car. On taking my seat behind her
she turned to me and said: "Do we stop ln
Buffalo, do you know?"
"The connections are quite close, I be
lieve."
She looked pleased. I wondered It the
Christmas shopping was attracting her to
Gotham. I asked as much. It was a bold
thing for a stranger to do, but she seemed
glad to speak to someone.
"I stop In New York city only a few
hours," she answered. "I am going home."'
That explained tt—the winsome freedom
from affectation, the simplicity of the for
eign born. She was not an Englshwoman.
Of that I was sure. She was not a Ger
man. Then It dawned upon me; she was
from the northland. "Your home it in
Sweden?" I ventured.
"In Norway," she answered; "how did
you know?"
"It was suggested by your personality
and your voice."
"I am glad," she said; "I want the peo
ple at home to find me Just as I was when
I went away."
I changed my seat to the one opposite
her ln the same section, and we talked as
the train sped along. She told me how her
father, her mother and herself had come
to America five years before.
"My father sent some money to this
country many years before to be Invested
by his friend, Nells Anderson, ln some
mines in the northwest. Neils Anderson
wanted my father to come over, and so we
came. My mother died." and the voice was
lower than before, "and then only two
months ago my deal father died and I was
left quite alone."
"And so you are going home?"
"Yes, I sail on the Hekla on Saturday.
Many of my country people will sail on
that boat. The people of Denmark and
Sweden and Norway love to go home for
the Christmas holidays. But I do not go
alone from New York."
She looked at me as If wondering If she
could tell me her story. "I will be married
when I reach New York," she said, "and
my husband and I will go home together."
I was Interested. She saw It and with
the frankness of her race she said: "Shall
I tell you about it?"
"Please do," I said.
"Then listen. At home there was a lad.
Olaf his name. You must remember that
we were all poor ln those days. My father
had sent the savings of his lifetime tf
Welle-Anderson and -Gist's parents wan
dead, and be bad only bis hands as an In
heritance. Olaf and I were to be married
some day;
"Then we came to America. Olet could
not come, but he eald to me: T will com*
as soon as I can.' He used to write ma
often and always cheerfully. Than he said
he was going to London to look for work.
For a long time I did not hear from him.
Then he wrote me that he was saving a
little each week. By and by he would
come.
"Then my dear father died and I waa.
quite alone. I wrote to Olaf, but my letter
was returned. I was very lonely. I went
to live with Nells Anderson's family, and
one day Nells Anderson cams home and
said: 'My fortune Is made and yours, too,
Bentlne. The mines are rich. I can sell
our etock for many thousands.'
"My first thought was of Olaf. Now we
could buy back my dear home ln the Alten
fjord. I have so much money. Olaf and
I will meet there, and some day I will bring
my dear father and mother to be burled
at home. But where was Olaf? Then one
day came this letter."
She opened the letter she held and spread
It out so I could see It. "You cannot read
it," she said. "I will read It tor you. olaf
says: 'I am coming to you, Bentlne. lam
ln New York. By the Christmas holidays I
will have enough money to reach you. My
heart ls true and filled with love* for you."
"Happy Olaf," said I to myself.
"You see. he does not know that I am
wealthy. He does not know that I am
coming to him. He Is bravely working
there ln New York, and all tbe time I am
coming to him, and we will go home On tha
Hekla to the Alten fiord for the holidays."
There were tears of happiness In her
eyes, and she leaned her head upon ber
hand and closed her lids and spoke on aa
one speaks In a reverie. "It will be a cold
Journey. We will travel by sledges to the
Alten fjord, by the reindeer sledges. I can
hear the 'Jangle, Jangle' of the bells and
the sharp hoofs beating on the frosen
snow. It will be dark, the long, dsrk win
ter of the north, with the red and the pink
and blue of the aurora ln the sky to light
our way—but there will be borne beyond
and there will be—Olaf."
"Happy Olaf," said I.—Katharine Hart
mann In Buffalo News.
Something Sligo Soil Could Not So
Recently, while some workmen were dig
ging a drain near the Market Cross, Sligo.
they unearthed the skull and bones of a
man who must have been of gigantic sta
ture, and who ls supposed to have been
burled there nearly 800 years.
A number ot people gathered round,
among whom were a local seed merchant,
who had frequently been prosecuted by his
customers for selling bad seeds, and a stal
wart young country fellow, who was In the
habit of boasting about his own size and
strength.
"Well, Michael," said the seed merchant,
"you may stop boasting now. You think
yourself big and strong, but you'll never
come up to him."
"Begorra, I don't know how ye'd expect
me, an' him havln' 300 years of a shtart."
"Why, you don't mean to say that hs
grew ln the ground, do you?"
"Sartlnly!"
"The Sligo soil must be very rich if It
can make dead men grow."
"Well, there's only one thing I lver heard
tell of that It couldn't make grow."
"And what ls that, Michael?"
"The seed thst you sell."—Answers.