The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-06

also contributed to the general theme
Dy suppliment.ng Mrs. Wards papef
with deal OF interesting information
regarding the state.
AT the last meeting of the club. held
January 30th. with the president Mrs
II. Marion Peckham. the subject was
Illinois" Mrs. l.. NJ. COnley had rho
nrst paper. which summed up in n very
pleasing narrative style the geographi-
cal story of Illinois.
In beginning the paper records that
The traveller I'm passing form the
Eastern 20 the Western part OF the
continent will cross no tract of land
more pleasing To the eye than the
beautiful border plains of the Mlssis-
sippi.
Beautifully located I'm the rich re-
gion Is the queerly state OF Illinois.
The word Illinois Is Of Indian origin
deriving it's name from the Delaware
word lens, meaning men, a name ap-
piled because Of their manly traits TO
those tribes that dweit in the country
south OF Wisconsin.
At this point the paper describes the
development OF illinois from the time
when IL became state in 1918.
The Second paper Of the afternoon
was by Mrs. +. w. Smith and gave a
clear and vivid word picture OF Life
ON Western Prairie
The picture OF storm on an Him
o.s prairie may be quoted. viz: Moth
ing can be more magnificent unless IL
be on the vast praifdes farther west
where the storms are said 10 be more
terrific. They come on toward evening
ana last until near morning Nothing
can exceed the rapidly with which
they gather, after the first signal Is
given. \ little cloud not larger than .
mans hand rises on the horizon and
IN fifteen minutes the earth is deluged
There are few showers undccompanied
by the most striking electrical phe-
nCmira. The effect rs heightened too
by contracts with the scenes which
follow for the vast extent OF country is
a few hours after the storm, as quiet
and smiling as if the upper element
had dispensed only peace and sunshine
The praires spread their green car
pots and variegated the pattern with
violet and scarlet. The strawberry
came out i'm her white blossom. not -
beds such as we see in the East, but
red iened whole acres" Mrs Smith de-
scribed also the animal and bird life
on the prairie the trees and other items
OF ir-ercst.
\ pr1 -ical and helpful paper on
Flower Culture" was given by Mrs.
W. .. Peckham OF the club whose sue
cess i'm this particular branch OF hor-
ticulture has been SO pronounced, as
TO cause her To be regarded as an au-
thor " on the subject Of the best
mC.nods of successful flower culture
In the home. Her suggestions were so
practical as TO draw out quite a gener-
al discussion on the subject.
The subject Of the meeting OF the
Current Topics Club OF Newport on
Monday, February first was the usual
Bulletin OF Current Events followed
by "A study of the Victorian Drama
lists"
Cosmopolitan Washington. the mecca
'or "all sorts and conditions OF men"
viii be the scene of conventions galore
Turing the month of February. i'm which
he feminine element will be strikingly
n evidence.
The National Council of Women of
he United states, representing about
me million women, will inaugurate
heir third convention at Washington.
,. G.. commencing February IL and
losing February 20.
The Daughters of the American
revolution will also hold their annual |
beginning February %
Also on February IL will open the |
National Congress of Mothers.
From February Is to IS the Interna- |
iunal Press Union will also hold a |
ongress. the sessions To convene at |
Hotel.
The report OF several clubs. which |
or lack of space. cannot appear i'm this 1
"a h.a tuh In