The colored American., 1900-05-19
History.


nav homage as an honor to her sex anC
Fac. WAS The only Afro American lady
honored by place on the irogram at
the recent me- citing of the omau's 80
ciety su the Vermont Avenue Christian
church an organic alton composed OF the
most cultured and arlstocratle elements
of the na,ions capital. Mrs. COOKS
teplc was 1.-The Outlook efthe Colored
Race" and the depth of thought, wide
observation ane earnest reflection which
characterized the address, supplement
ed by an easy, graceful delivery, amply
demonstrated that t ae committee bad
chosen wisely in assigning this dis
cusslon 10 the erudite president OF the
Coored Women's League.
After a sparkling introduction, de
picting the rspIdity with whicn his
Lory has been made in the century just
closing-its remarkable Inventions, po-
litieal changes, the esssyist pertinently
asked:
with the Europeans striving for
Africa and the United States taking In
Hawaii, Cuba, Porta Rice and the
Philippines, who shall what is 10 be
the future of the dark-skinned races of
llankind?"
Mrs. Cook briefly described the high
grade of work that the women OF the
race were doing in the several sections
OF the country, showing their marvel
Ious progress and development and then
dweIt with particularly upon the ef
t.rts that were being put forth by her
own organization here In the District
OF Columbia. The ntrai idea was
"Helpfuihess."
Tne Women's League was formed
eight years ago, and she SAID was the
fTst society OF its kind organized In
Washington. 1t was founded In the ap-
uareut necessity for concert of action
among those wno were endeavor1ng In
diverse ways to upl1ft humanity. 1ss
specific aud avowed purpose was CO.
operation with eelored women every
where, Ii grew to be national in scope,
and became a part Of the National
Council OF Won en-, being represented
in the trienniai conciave in this city In
1885, Subsequently the League was
federated into another combine, and
lost its identity as national Dody. 1t
has grown steadily, however, locally,
both in numbers and Influence. and the
area Of work covered by 1t has steadily
Widened.
The IA ost expensive undertaking of
the League is the Day Nursery, where
Door mothers may leave their infants
during the day while they are at WORK.
1t has been in existence little more
Than q wear, and the funds for its sup
port hsve been raised through enter
tsaments, private donations and mis-
celIsneous collections. Finding that
the duties of management was too Sc
we're a strain Upon the energies of cur
permanent committee, q 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, a new
general committee taking up the
work each succeeding year. The, step
though experimental, has proven very
satisfactory The March committee
held ian exhibit of the work Of colered
women in the District Of Columbia,
and it's success exceeded the expecta
tons of the most sangulne. TIVE hun
dred exhibitors were represented, and
more tnsn three hundred seprste ex'
hibils were in the collection The visl
tors numbered about seven hundred,
and the receipts aggregate $e2 00-nore
than necessary to meet the bills for the
current mouth. Besides healtbful
stimulus was given to many who had
just taken up the cause, and needed
inspiration.
Mrs, Cook, further eHlogiziag the
the value OF helpfuness to tbs march Of
civilization, pointed eat that while
organized effort Is essential to the sue
cess of a rrnnt m nuannonh vet the nran-