The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17

revelation to some of the readers thereof. The
editor, in laying out work for the spring CAM
paign, as good housekeeper would prepare
for the annual siege of housekeeping, was
wondering just how much ground there was to
cover, and just how many persons were to be
reached by the manipulation of scissors and
pen.
The first thing was to look over the mailing
list of THE TRIBUNE; the result was as follows,
the figures employed being something under
its bona-fide circulation, as published some
weeks since:
Subscribers to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. $4,000
Families represented. $4,000
cording to the statistical basis ......... 25OOOO
Number of women readers ..... ......,...... $4,000
Number of children in families. 10000
Number of girls in the above.............. 75 600
Number of girls over ten years old....-... 10000
Number of women and girls who read The
TRIBUNE regularly 90OOO
Number of women and girls who borrow
THE TRIBUNE IuuO
| Total number of women and girls who read
THE TRIBUNE. IuV,oVV
| 1t will be seen by the above that the calcu-
lation, which allows that out of the 10000
| boys and girls one-half, or 10000 are boys, is
a very liberal one, as it is a well-known statis-
teal fact that there is large excess of females
| in the aggregate population of the country.
| The estimate that out of the $4,000 girls but
| eight ffteenths have reached the readable age,
as they stand, it is quickly apparent how largely
| the families of soldiers are interested in THE
| TRIBUNE in the female line alone, and how
much they may rightfully expect from the
columns devoted exclusively to them.
| And now that the editor of the Woman's
| Department stands face to face..with her 100,
/ 600 readers, it may be a good time for a little
confidential chat, in order to bring about a
| better understanding as to the relative duties
| and obligations of each. In this the party of
| the first part agrees to furnish each week the
plain, practical results of twenty-five years of
experience and observation, which the drift of
| circumstances have rendered somewhat varied
| and instructive, coupled with such advice, as
| to what to do and what not TO do, as the party
of the second part-meaning the 100000 readers
| of The TRIBUNE-may seek or desire
| In agreeing to do this, the editor does not
| propose to play dictator, or to give all the adj
vice, or do all the talking. She simply pro-
poses to organize an Experience Meeting,
wherein every one of the 100000 readers of
/ THE TRIBUNE will have an equal chance to
express herself. The editors opinions will be
advanced as an evidence that everything will
| be done in good faith, and that out of the in
terchange of thoughts and opinions, which are
| sure to follow, will result much edification and
enjoyment to all concerned.
WEEKLY EXPERIENCE MEETING.
The Womans Department will be devoted to
woman at home and women collectively, as
she is known in societies, in industries, in the
professions or in any of the many widening
arenas of woman's usefulness. Correspondence
is therefore, urgently invited upon any subject
vital to the happiness or efficiency of woman.
The editor will cheerfully answer any inqui-
ries, or discuss any topic relating to Fashions,
| Fine Arts, Household Decorations, Music, and
the Drama; but knowing how small pro-
| portion of the women of the country are inter-
I'D
| it would give her much more pleasure to tell
| how to care for the sick or how to keep house
easily, or care for the health, or make dollar
| take the place of two. And, while gladly CIV
| ing an approved menu for luncheon or dinner,
would far rather tell some struggling wife how
| TO make a delicious cup of coffee, or cook q
beefsteak without wasting all its precious
juices. In Short let the 100000 readers of
! THE TRIBUNE unite with the editor in the be-
| lief that everything worth doing is worth
doing well, even to the cleansing of dish cloth
or the darning of stocking.
Come, then, let us reason together! If you
| find your path crooked, let us make it straight;
| if it is all uphill work with you, let us find
| where you can rest your burden and take new
breath if you are crushed by over-work
and inexperience and Encouragement, per-
| haps we can put our heads together and find
a way out of the difficulty; if your bread
| is sour, let us sweeten it; if your coffee
| is muddy. let us clear it; if your baby is cross,
| let us make it smile all over with little COM
nonsense relief; if you toll from morning
until night without anything to brighten and
cheer you, let us see if we cannot find ray of
sunshine and a little oasis where you may be
| famed by freshening breeZes into brighter
| hope and better heart. If you are working
against heavy odds to better your condition,
/ give us the opportunity of showing you an easier
| way. If you want a word of sympathy and an
! approaching clasp of the hand, where will you
| find warmer greeting than from the 100000
| woman readers of THE TRIBUNE?
How happy we shall all be to meet and chat
| each week-the wives, sisters, daughters and
| friends of the Union veteran! How the thrifty
New England manor-house, with its hundred
years of comfortable traditions and heartsome
| cheer, will send its encouraging greeting to the
| squatter's cabin of Dakota, or the lonely ranch
| OF Nebraska and Colorado, or the pioneer homes
of Oregon and all the illimitable great West
And how in turn will they give US strong,
wholesome lessons of endurance and fortitude
and faith. All these shall have welcome
! from THE TRIBUNE, which remembers the
sacrifices and services of the loyal women of
America and would give them the recognition
and assistance they SO richly deserve.
woMAN's AUXILIARY WORK.
| Some months since THE TRIBUNE began the
experiment of giving some special attention to
the work of Woman's Relief Corps and other
AuXiliaries of the G. A. r. 1t is needless to
say that the experiment is an experiment no
| longer, but has grown into such proportions as
to warrant its preservation as permanent
feature of the Woman's Department Therein
from week to week questions will be answered
and such subjects discussed as will facilitate
the good work all along the lines. That this
work is but yet in its infancy is well. deter
| mined 1t is in no flush of enthusiasm that
the loyal women of America have organized for
the campaign of peace, an enthusiasm short
! lived because so spontaneous. 1t is no fitful
fever which will die out, leaving the worn out
subject colder and more corpse-like than when
the icy rigors were at their destructive work
Neither is it short-lived impulse, but strong,
healthy, normal growth, which is to warm and
| expand and fill the entire country with its
beneicent and wholesome influences. Else
where, to-day, will be found answers to some
of the many correspondents whose hearts are
| IN the work
| WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING.
THE TRIBUNE will give special attention to
the work of women in any special department,
| and particularly invites communications upon
this topic. Wherever woman has made a
success of earning livelihood for herself and
her family, the columns of THE TRIBUNE are
open to her, since the relating of her experience
may prove an example and an incentive for
some other strugglingsoul. Whetherit be head
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