The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-20

| PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS.
Belle c. Anderson, Beulah, Okla. Ter. sent
leaf from prickly pear cactus. The plant
growing on the roof of their cave. 1t has
leaves and contains 145 buds. The flowers az
very beautiful and will bloom il the leaf.l
placed in saucer of water in a sunny window
But my, the prickles. even the flowers al
full of invisible stings. On this account tt
plant is very difficult to handle. You wi
have to watch out" as the colorsd folks sa.
for the slivers." And even when you
watch OUT in removing the dead flowers tn
slivers will find you.
The leaf will grow if given a sandy soil Wit
scant moisture. Any portion of the leaf vi
take root.
WOMAN MANS EQUAL.
C. C. FRIENDS: In The NATIONAL TRIBUN
! of May 10 Brother James Mckenna speaks
woman being formed out OF crooked bon
] taken out of man. Did the brother ever sto
to think why she WAS taken from his side?
she had been taken from his feet he might hav
| tread on her in after years; or. il she had bee
taken from his head, she might have ruled owe
! him.
But she was taken from his side, so that sh
might be his equal in all things, and this
| right and just. Women should have NOR
chasces TO show what they can do; they shout
be admitted TO our meetings of all kinds, TO
they are capable OF standing ia the councils c
our Nation. d. II. Smith, Elliottsburg, Pa.
THE MARCH OF CO. A.
Selected by Ella Puinan, FTedonid. ~ J.
Forward, march,! was the Captains word,
Ana tie tramp OF n hundred men was heard,
As they formed into line ia the morning gray:
Shoulder 10 shoulder went Company A.
Out of the shadow into the sun,
hundred men who moved as one;
Out of the dawning into the day,
In glItterIng files went Company A.
Marching along the rendezvous,
BY grassy meadows the roads ran through,
BY sprinaing cornfelds and orchards gay,
Forward, forward, went Company a.
And the pink and white OF the apple trees
Falling fast the Il fu breeze,
Scattered their dewy scented spray
Straight ia the face of Company A.
A breath like sigh ran through the ranks
TT -ading those odorous blossom banks,
For the orchard hisides far away.
Tie northern hillside Of Company A.
Forward, march! aud the dream sped.
Out OF the piue wood straight ahead
Gathered aroop of the Southern gray
Face TO face with Company a
| Forth with 81 fash in the Southern
hundred sabers lenped like one,
! Sudden drum beat and bugle-piay
Sounded the charge for Company A.
| Halt! What Is here2 A numbering child
housed ny The blast OF the hugle wild
| Between the ranks of the blue and gray,
| Right in the path of Company a.
Nothing knowing of North or South,
| Her dmped finger within her mouth,
| Her gathered apron with blossom&gay,
She stirred at the guns OF Company A.
! Straightway srt for a Sign Of truce
Whitley "A handkerchief 6ultered loose,
| Ia front Of the steel Of the Southern gray
Galloped the Captain Of Company A.
To his saddle bow he swung the child
With n kiss tl4e baby lips that smiled,
While the boys in blue and the boys in gray
Cheered for the Captain Of Company A.
Forth from the ranks Of his halted men,
While the wild hurrahs rang out again,
The Southern lender spurrcd his way
To meet the Captain OF Company A
Out of the arms that held her SAFE
He took with smile ,he little wnf:
grip Of the hand 'twix blue aud gray.
And back rode the Captain of Company A.
Up there in The distant cottage door,
A mother casped her child once more,
Shuddered at tic sight Of The smok cloud gray,
SliroudiDg the path Of CoDspan A.
A little later and all DONE
The battle over, the victory won,
NoihnG WAS left OF the piiilcss fray
That swept the ranks OF Company A.
Nolhing left save the bloody STAIN
Dark ening the orchards rosy rain:
Dead the Chief of the Southern gray,
Aud dead the Captain OF Company A.
Fallen together the gray and bluc,
Gore to the final rendezvous;
grave to cover. "a prayer 10 say,
ABd-Forvard, march, went Company A.
VALUE OF SECRET socIETrEs
HELEN E. HUNTINGTON: After ding you
letter in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE think i
is my duty TO answer ia defense Of all honor
able secret orders societies.
You say the new woman will grapple tn,
great monster, Secret Society, which is bringin,
disgrace upon our laud, by the throat ant
choke it 10 death.
What would have become of US as a Nation i
it bad not been for secretness in the time OF th
Revolutionary war; also IN the late war? As
body, all armies are secret societies, as the,
have their secret work and secret signs. pass
words. or countersigns. If the enemy couIt
know all that be in camp, how could the com
mander, or even the privates. ever expect [,
accomplish anything or gain victory2
You mistake the work iBgs OF that monster
Secret Society" by not knowing the benefits /,
be derived from it. When yon kick aud berat,
the secret society you are trampiug under you
feet the best friend civilization has.
Secret societies. such AS the following. are
benefit to nan, and | dare say to tho "nev
woman" il she is TO resemble her sister tn.
present woman, in the least: The noble Crane
Army of the Republic. Sons OF Veterans, Daugh
tiers OF Veterans. Woman's Relief Corps, Masons
Odd Fellows, knights of the Naccabees. Ladje
of the Maecabees, knights Of Honor. and
score of ether fraternal secret societies such a
you call monstcrs."
They are monsters-they are gigantic mon
sters for the benefit of mankind.
The abovc-named societies are doing az CRANE
and noble work for humanity as the Church il
lifting up civilization 10 the standard wher
the Advise Creator intended il should be- in
stead OF dragging IL down, as yon have tried I,
show US.
How could the Grand Army he kept where i
is were il not for its secret work, signs an,
passwords to keep outsiders from enjoying fire.,
what its mem ers are all willing to pay for ant
arc all SO proud Of?
All other monster secret societies are carried
on in The same way az the Grand Army.
Ny friend. did you know that ali churche
have their secret sessions. all stock companies
and all banks? All families have their secro
sessions. where no one is allowed admission bu
the members OF SUCH
There arc great many secret societies bu
there ought to be a great many more just a
good ones. If the people Of this land all be
longed TO that monster, Secret Society,"" thi
country would be great deal better off than i
is to-day
0ne-haf Of the poorhousss. jails, penten
tiaries, and reform schools of the land would b.
empty and the other half would have bat
very few inmates compared with what the,
have to-day.
The men and women would be better Chris
tan men and women than they are to-day /
they would live up to the teachings Of tina
monster, Secret Society"
Oh, no! do not choke any thing that is bepe
ft TO your brother or sister, even if the "nev
woman " does not like it on the start. She will
get used TO il In time aud see differently.
Next 10 God, the secret fraternal societie
should lie next to the heart Of every man and
/ dar hot in