The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-07

SSot'ii'y lNiV VNb tlAS hVb1A " S0A-
dier circles.
HAvERHILL Mass, May Is.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
have been greatly interested in the correspond
ence i'll your paper, also have derived much intor-
nation in regard to war memories, the Woman's
Auxiliaries by Mrs. Kate SheTwood-in truth the
whole paper is filed with exceedingly interesting
matter, and is unquestionaby the best soldiers pa
per extant. 1t is truly refreshing to Learn OF SO
many organizations in which the ladies the
special workers, and by their efforts accomplish
such great results
In THE TRIBUNE, April &c, 1883, saw e letter of
inquiry in regard to making these organizations in
the West secret societies, having raps, passwords
and grips. Reply of Mrs. Sherwood: :" Under
plan OF work, there are no raps grips, passwords
other accom- animents of secret society She
further says: "The only object in voting upon
candidates for admission is to exclude those who,
for some good reason, would be injury to the
society,", She also saws: There are societies in
the New England States that have secret work, but
it tends to exelusiveness and Journalism" would
most respectfully ask to whom would this occur?
The Departments of Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut the ritual. We
have worked in our corps informally without sue
cess worked with comrades as members OF the
Order but 1T has been to disadvantage. At that
time we had q ritual that liked, and
tireiy failed of the object for which it designed
Now we have secret work and ritual that admits
good loyal women, who are eighteen years of age
and over, who desire to engage in this great work
of F. G. and L. In Massachusetts there up
wards of 400 in New Hampshire As i'll Connect
lieut. 200. The adoption of the secret work extends
to Nebraska, Wisconsin and all over the West.
The time has come when the poor mother and her
children can have assistance without the whole
world knowing it, Beside this, what is gwen is
not dealt out with ostentatous vanity, but finds its
way to homes of the weary toiers and nearly
hegrt-broken wives and mothers whose little ones
know by sad experience what it is to suffer by the
grim hand of pinclling want. Our secret work
does not consist III raps, passwords, nor grips;
they only protect us from imposition and iInpos-
tiers. We also have a recognition sign that is of
signal service in developing acquaintance
when brought rpUuISitIOn. Mrs. Sherwood
must not think her New England sisters are exclu-
sive and formal even if we do not consider her
plan of having National Department established
OF much importance. Our State Department num-
bers at this time between 2,G00 aud CSC members;
however, our worthy and efficient Department
officers viii daily consider the subject.
There are many things of which could write
but lest trespass good nature VIII only refer
10 a Camp fre without smoke, which I attended
Little Corps No. g." 165 present, nine corps repre-
sented. Mr.. Editor, yourself as well as Mrs. Sher-
wood would have been pleased with the speeches
OF the Department. officers. The president de-
seribed the work in glowing terms; the ehaplains
frankness and sparkling wit, her happy illusions
to the coming president very pleasing.
Please don't eensure the length of this commune
cation, and, please may come again?
Mrs. PHISEAs E. DAVIS.
WELCOME TO OUR EXPERIENCE MEETING.
THE TRIBUNE welcomes this hopeful, appre-
ciative soldiers wife, and hopes she will come
to every meeting:
BANGOR, Me, May II, 1888.
DEAR Mrs. SHERWOOD: 1t is with pleasure
avail myself of the privileges set forth in the last
TRIBUNE. | have to keep the paper before ME lest
my doubts and fears overcome my desire To become
useful member of this helpful, cheering band.
May every effort put forth in the interest of
woman be crowned with success, especially the
sorey tried wife and children of the deceased
disabled soldier; and when the head grows weary
and the hands tired, may there be hosts of willing
helpers ready to assist you. If Mrs. @. E. Lewis
is the presiding genius in that Iowa kitchen, she
has admiration and heartfelt SymDAthleS.
Only these that have such to bear can
know how heavy the burden is. She must come
to the experience meetings and fill to the hrim her
cup of patience and wait with many another the
benifieent smile of our Uncle Samuel.
should be particularly pleased to hear from
some OF the women that trying to support
themselves and their families. All that pertains
to the interest and welfare of woman has my
o general uprising in every soldiers home a
brushing up of neglected aud faded garments, and
a generous attendance at the first weekly expert
ence meeting TO which they all have been
daily, invited. remain, as heretofore, your
humble reader, SOLDIERS WIFE.
TOLEDO MIDWAY CARNIVAL.
To say that the six nights entertainment
given at Toledo o., by Forsyth Post aud the
Woman's Auxiliary was success little ex-
presses the grand popular out-ponring IN behalf
of the disabled soldiers and widows and
orphans relief funds of that patriotic city of
the lakes. The carnival opened on the evening
OF May p, and closed on the evening of May
20, including a Saturday afternoon matinee
It was given at Wheeler's Opera House. which
has a seating capacity of 1.400, and which was
filled each evening, and on several of the NEST
popular nights hundreds stood throughout the
performance while hundreds more were
turned away. The Grand Army are using
this as their best argument for their memorial
building, for which they are actively at work.
The aggregate receipts of the present enter
tainment are about So, $780, two thirds OF which,
or the amount over and above expenses, goes
exclusively to the relief fund. Their charity
entertainment over the Pest will now go Wig
orously to work for the Fourth of July cele-
bration in aid of the memorial building
The popularity of the Grand Army enter
tainments in Toledo is something phenomenal.
Everybody works, everybody is interested,
everybody and his friends attend the enter
tainments; interest auglnents instead of
tagging, and the last night is always one of
the most successful of the series. The pro-
gramme, heretofore published in THE TRIBUNE,
was faithfully carried out, and the operatic
dramatic, fancy drill and fairy features were
thoroughly worked up and excellent beyond
the power of words to describe. Fully 500 men,
women and chilren, divided into sub-com-
mittees, had been for two three months at
work with results such as hard work drill and
taste can alone secure.
The fairy plays alternated with the operate
dIitt utiidtiC representations, ana were so un-
usual as to require special mention, remarkable
as they were for their beautiful spectacular
effects and the proficiency in voice and drill of
the fairy little folk. The Magic Pump was the
work of Miss Emma Sibley, who lost a father
and her only brother in the war, for the latter
of whom Mark E. Sibley Camp, Sons OF Vet
erans is named and who possesses dramatic
ability which, if cultivated, would lead to sue
cess composer. The drama as presented
was readapted by her facile pen from an old
nursery tale, and arranged so as to introduce
the Boy Brigade, whose members, in wonderful
little paper uniforms, went through the evolu-
lions of the military drills in way that would
do credit to company of Regulars. The little
fellows were all under the age of thirteen, and,
property armed and aecoutered, created i'm
mense enthusiasm, showing what can be ac-
compiished after six weeks training by Lieut..
Cook, of The famous Toledo Cadets. The.Magic
Pump is the story of q fairy, who has forfeited
her kinsfolks and country by marrying NOR
tai, and is afterwards restored by the bravery
of her two little daughters, whose adventures
in the domains of King Frog constitute the
burden of the play, the Boy Brigade serving as
the guards of King Frog. The fairies were
little girls between the ages of five and eleven,
and were as dainty and airy as such little
daisies are wont to be-
The Three Little Toad Stools was one of the
pleasant surprises to everybody when the cur
tain raised, revealing three veritabe toad stools
among the grasses, the costumes of the little
performers being made so as to resemble nature
as far as encasing the bodies in muslin bags
with draw striuu of tnp opI hoffo,,, o,1a