Morning journal and courier., 1890-11-14
CoLORED WOMEN,S CLUBS.
one of Their Objects is 10 Give
 Good Funeral and n shiny Coffin.

one of Their Objects is 10 Give Good Funeral and n shiny Coffin.
 From the Indianapolis Journall
 What the colored woman of Indianapo- lis most desires is membership in a society that insures care in sickness and respecta- ble burial when death comes. Her chief object in life is apparently to have her mortal remains disposed of in good style. The great majority of negro women as well as men in this city Fay weekly dues into some Hodge" treasury, and sleep sweet dreams of peace in consequence. Thrift in its best development they may not have, but failing in this direction is not to be held to their blame, since for so many generations they were not permitted to depend upon themselves nor required to take thought for the morrow. Though in many cases their forethought extends to the limits named and no further, it is step in the right direction and an augury of better things in future.
 "Just what do the societies do for you!' was asked of an old ''aunty'-one of those relics so fast passing away, of the time before the war.
 'tEf we done get sick" was the reply,
 
 we is jes' porely an fibble they send the doctah. Elf we git right down sick in bald they send somebody to take care of us. Elf we up an die they gives us a fun eral"
 ''What kind of funeral.'' "Wha' kindl 4 good one, a mighty good funeral. Nice, black, shiny coffin, cahiages, all the membahs of the lodge who can anyhow be thar, and . sehmun. Laws, yes, got to have sehmun and a | good funeral. Whaffor you reckon we gwine pay twenty-five cents a week dues an not have some style when we laid awayl'
 ''If your husband or children are able | to take care of you themselves does the lodge do anything.'
 "Jes the same, rich CT pore; the lodge is boun' to pervide for every membah who keepe her dues paid reglah."
 "Much trouble about paymentss'
 Most membahs is mighty reglah. Dues | is only twenty-five cents a week, and any body kin git that, though women with big family O chillun find it right smart hard to spar. I knows a heap O lazy, trifiin niggah gals who will wo'k to get twenty five cents foh lodge, an then go bahfoot an raggid rest O the week an mebbe hun gry."
 'Any men allowed in your lodgesl'
 ''Mens Go way! Haint got no use foh men folks in ouah lodges. They done stay wha' they b'iong, in their own s'cie- i ties" And the scorn of the male sex and its financial aid expressed in the tone of the ample matron's pip, and the toss of her head could not have been exceeded by any member of the Propyl@um.
 "What are the names of your lodges@
 "They's pow'ful lot, an I'm mighty | &-~ 1.-,k .t.x- s,l Temple, Debore (probably Deborah) Tem. pie, Daughtahs of the Rising Sun, Sistah' of St. Mary, Sistahs of St. Deretha, Sis tahs of Chahity, the Jubsniles Juveniles) Doves O Protection-Fm a dove, honey Household Ruth. Sistahs of Sanahitans Nunited (United) Sistahs, Independent Daughtahs of Honah and Queen Estah': Cou't Daughtahs of Honah are branch of the Sons of Honah, and Queen Estah i. branch of Odd Fellows. Mighty fine they think themselves, layin' back in cah iages at funerals, with puhple ribbons or they hats an puhple velvet collahs. Nigh ty fine an biggity. The Lilies O the Val ley an the Daughtahs O the Mohning haC lodges in Indi'noplis, but they done go broke up. .- a
 sDown in Louisville the cullud ladie. have othah lodges, an Mis- Brown, who i. the gues' O frien's an resides in Washin' tn wha Gen1 Hahison is, says they don' got some what we ain't got. Young Hom, Sea'ch Daughtahs O Love, Daughtahs O the Golden Cha'iot, Loving Daughtahs O Pahadise, and Sistahs of the Lo'd's De light sciety Mis- Brown tole us bout. In d'nap'lis cullud ladIes don cah foh to hav' no triflin', foolish names. Doves is gooc enough foh us."
 ssWhat do you do at your lodge meet ings, aunty"
 HWe-we-look heah, chile, don yir try foh get me tell secrets. Doves O Pro lection is secret s'ciety. Me tell wha' VI do in lodgel No, no; no, no. Mustn' ask that. Laws no. An eff I, eff I don be gwine on with these yer clo'es wont b. no washin done this day" And away sh' trudged, singing softly in minor key a she went what would presently be heart in louder song in her own little home: ssFix yo'sef as we'll yo' kin Pick up vartue chop down sin, In the mohnin', in the mohnin Kase you'll need it, all yo' got,
 Eff yos rich CT poor CT not,
 In the mohnin, in the mohnin.