El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-04

recently held in Galveston was the
most successful gathering of the kind
ever held in the state of Texas. Gal
weston may feel justly proud for the
hospitable manner in which she enter
tain both visitors and delegates, and
everything was done to make the stay
pleasant and comfortable.
The visitors felt we'll repaid by the
intelligence, honesty of purpose, and
bright wit shown by the members OF
the congress. It WAS q wonderful
thing to see gentls-mannered women
standing on the platform and speaking
out from the heart things good and
beautiful, as we'll as thoughts lnd1-
cative of highest culture, all without,the
loss of WON snliness or modesty. They
seemed to be so much in earnest in
their desire for improvement that they
lost ell consciousness of self, but no
whit of their femininity.
Many clever papers and addresses
we're given before the congress and it
has been conceded that the paper OF
Mrs. Mary Burrows Ramsey, of this
city. on 'Have we as club women q
duty to the bile schools?" was by
far the best on delivered before the
convention. Mrs. Ramsey carried
away from the platform the admiration
as we'll as the respect of her audience,
for her address showed not only earn
est thought, but a heart full of love for
humanity.
When the order of exercises was be
ing made up one of the mem bers in the
convention suggested that the address
of the delegate from Ell Paso should
follow that of the president, as she
thought 'no brighter women were to
privilege rightly theirs" The sug-
gestion was accordingly acted upon
and q Mrs, Ramsey followed the
president. She spoke without notes
of any kind. When Mrs. Ramsey had
concluded her remarks the applause
was deafening and many of the visiting
delegates wanted to know If she were
school teacher, if she had children of
her owp, and finally if she were q ma
tive Texan.
The address is printed in full below.
Ell PASO HONORED.
A great deal of enthusiasm was man
ifested at the election of officers, and
when the name of Mrs. Ramsey WAS
put in nomination for the Office of third
vice president, seconds came thick and
fast, delegates vying with each other
to do honor to Mrs. Ramsey, and che
was elected amid great applause, al
though she had strong candidate as
her opponent.
Many women of strong clubs waived
nominations that would doubtless have
given them election, in order that the
Offices might be scattered, geographic
cslly speaking, or given to weaker
clubs that they felt needed the educa-
tive results of responsibility. All &C
ton was harmonious, and many affect
ing scenes were enacted in parting
with old officers to greet the new.
Mrs. Edward Rotan, who had acted
as president for q number of years,
would uuder no consideration accept
q nominat alton, and Mrs. George K.
Meyer, of Dallas, voiced the sentiment
and belief OF the convention in a no.
minatiug speech that men present de-
clared was seldom equaled in national
political conventions. Mrs. Rotan was,
however, elected to life honors in the
federation by being made ex-Officio de-
legate from the state at large to the
meetings of the federation. when she
has every privilege as delegate, and
when absent from the state she Is
authorized to represent the federation
in ell ways that will serve its interests
and enlarge its influence.
TO JOIN THE GENERAL FEDERATION.
An important action of the conven-
ton was the unanimous vote of the
conven ticn to enter the general fedora
ton of women's clubs, of which Mrs.
Lowe, of Georgia. is now president.
Mrs. Rotan spoke feelingly upon the
loyalty the club women of Texas owed
to their southern sister occupying this
great responsibility in the widening
affairs of woman's kingdom.
The question of national and stat e
flower having been suggested, Mrs. D.
G. Bolinger of the literary club of
Waco read a short paper setting forth
the respective merits of various flowers
that were candidates for honors. The
goldenrod proved, upon vote, to be the
choice of the convention for the natio
nal flower, and the lupin or buffal o |
clover, for the state flower.
San Antonio was chosen as the meet |
ing place next year. |
The following new clubs were added |
at the last meeting: Fornightly club, |
Dallas: XXVII club, Corsicana; Wo-l
mans Corpus Christi; Shakespeare |
club, Honey Grove; Echo club, Calves
ton: Owl club, Decatur; Sesame club,
Mars all; Sesame circle, Tyler; South |
ern Literary club. Ladonia: Woman's |
club, Ell Paso; Mutual improvement |
circle, Bryan; Culture club, Van Alst-
yne: Ingleside club, Farmersville: Ed |
elweiss club, Mckinney; Woman's |
Wednesday club, Granbury; Lotus
club. Bonham: Shakespeare club, Ans |
tin: Womsn's club, Colorado City; Wo-
mans Reading club, Beaumont; Wo-
mans club, San Antonio; F. U. N.
club, Navssota; Twentieth Century |
club, Cisco: New Century club. Bolton.
ENTHUSIASTIC OPINIONS.
Mrs. 7. J. Beall and her daughter
Miss Florence Beall of this city were
two mem bers of the Ell Paso Woman's
club who were present at the congress,
and they speak enthusiastically of the
proceedings.
The speech of Mrs. Ramsey was
beautifully delivered" says Mrs.
Besll, intensely interesting and not
overdrawn. She simply captivated