The herald., 1898-03-19

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 1 went to take small
friend who had been i'll out for 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 IT, she replied. "And what do you
do?" "Oh, mother sews and reads, and
eat tea cakes and apples"-a fair sam
pie of some clubs, is 1t not? One part
to do the work, and the other to eat the
apples and tea cakes. Ihave heard ex-
cellent papers and talks here drop alb
solutely fiat into the great sea of silence.
causing not the slightest ripple of COM
ment or discussions; and, ladies, 1t Is
not fair-it is not fair to the workers
or to ourselves. A mediocre paper we'll
discussed, is worth more to us than an
ADLER paper accepted in silence. And 1t
is not because there Is a dearth of Opin-
ion or lack of ability in expressing it;
but the incomprehensible Sact that there
are times when a woman Is afraid Of her
own voice. In speaking of this matter
to one member Of the club was told that
the legitimate work of the club was to
create sentiment. That is exactly what
want you to do; but 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 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 heroine. She has
neither large. dreamy eyes, clear, oval
contour of face, pale olive complexion
nor flowing tresses; though 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 is
nearly imbecile and who belongs in the
home for the feeble minded. There
is home for the feeble minded at Ellen
wood, state institution, so am told.
have never looked up the matter my
self. They refuse to accept this, or any
case, except the county commissioners
pay sum Of $40 per month per case.
The commissioners, claiming that the
home is supported by a general state
tax, refuse to pay special sum. The
imbecile of 7 years is left to wander
through the streets, and when he un-
willingly does some wrong is treated as
a criminal Ladies, this subject, we'll
written up. would max. an exceedingly
interesting paper, and ought to create
both sentiment and investigation. Why
not appoint committee to look after
this affair and report to the club? Often
such Misunderstanding can be cleared
away. But if the law itself Is obscure.
let us send 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 seId
this little one where he has a right to
go, and know that by our efforts the
way is clear for others.
Ladies, since have been in yaur midst
in this City of the Angels, little girl
IL years old, whose mother sleeps out
on the desert and whose father has aban-
I
family she was living. When rescued
there was no place to pu. this little girl
save with fallen women. The man, for
this great horror, was sent five years to
the penitentiary (D Had he stolen a
horse he would not have gotten aff with
less than ten. Ladies, if this subject
could be brought before this club, writ
ten up in all its pitiful detail, it would
create sentiment, 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-
milton OF Come not wholly down out of
your high estate to minister unto the
rabble." And SO only plead with you to
give one week in four TO the considera-
tion of the vital things of today, and bid
you be not afraid, for out of it shall grow
courage. strength, vitality and contin-