The colored American., 1900-05-19

nav homage as an honor to her sex anC
Tscs was The only Afro American lady
honered by place on the IrogFam at
the recent NE citing Of the " omau's so
cie6v al the Vermont Avenue Christian
church All organic alton composed OF the
most cultured ana arlstocratie elements
of the na,iOns capital. Mrs. Cooks
teDic vas 1.-The Outlook ofthe Colored
Race" and the depth Of thought, wide
ohseryation ane earnest rehecion which
characterized the address, supplement
ed by an easy, graceful delivery, amply
demonstrated that 8e committee had
chosen wisely in assigning this dis
cugsIOn TO the eTudite president OF the
COlored WOmen's League.
After sparkling introduction, de
peting the rapIdity with Whien his
LOry has been made in the century just
closing-its remarkable inventions, po-
litieal changes, the essayist pert1nently
asked:
with the Europeans striving for
Africa and the United States taking In
Hawaii, Cuba, PoTta Rice and the
Philippines, who shall what is DO be
the future of the dark~skinned races OF
Ilankin0?"
Mrs. Cook briefly described the high
grade of work that the women OF the
race were doing in the several sections
Ofthe country, showing their marvel
lOus progress and development and then
dWeIt with particularly upon the et
t,rts that were being put forth by her
own organization here In the District
OF Columbia. The ntral idea was
"HelpfuiHess."
Tne Women's League was formsd
eight years ago, and she said WAS the
ATsG society OF its kind organized In
Washington. 1t was founded in the ap-
LareuJ necessity for concert of action
among those wno were endeavOr1ng In
diverse ways to uplIft humanity. It's
specific aud ayOwed purpose was CO.
operation with eelored women every
where, Ii grew to be national In scope,
and became part OF the National
Council OF Won en-, being represented
IN the trienniai cOnclave In this city III
1898. Subsequently the League was
federated into another combine, and
lost its identity as q national body. 1t
has grown steadily, however, locally,
both Ia numbers and influence, and the
area OF work covered by il has steadily
widened.
The m9 9st expensive undertaking OF
the League is the Day Nursery, where
poor mothers may leave their infants
during the day while they arc at work.
1t has been in existence a little more
than wear, and the funds for Its sup
port have been raised through enter
taiRments, private donations and mis-
cellaneoas collections. Finding that
the duties of management was too SO
we're strain upon the energies Of cur
permanent committee, new system
was put into operation just after The
last annual meeting. The membership
was divided into twelve committees,
one for each month, each committee
to bear the expe ases, and TO take charge
OF the nursery for that time, new
general committee taking up the
work each succeeding year. 1he, step
though experimental, has proven very
satisfactory. The starch committee
held IAN exhibit of the work OF colored
women in The District Of Columbus,
and its success exceeded the expecta
tOns of the most saBguine. 1--WE hun
dred exhibitors were represented, an6
more tnsn three hundred seprste ex'
hlbiIs were in the collection The visl
tors numbered about seven hundred,
and the receipts aggregate $92 O0-more
than necessary to meet the bills for the
current month. Besides a healtbful
stimulus was given to many who had
just taken up the cause, and needed
inspiration.
Mrs, Cook, further eulOgiZiag the
the value OF helpfuness to tbs march OF
civilization, pointed out thab while
organized effort is essential TO the sue
cess OF great movement yet the prae-
Al fzF aF ID al At