The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1908-10-29
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Who Dire the Six
Gysatest WOmen In
Ams,ica2--Ak to
Be Made Vofert.
Womsn Inventoys.
RiVGl of Bureau.

Members Of women's clubs through
out the country have been discussing
the question, "Who Are the Six Great
est Women In American The list in
cludes "the women whose actual
achievements and widespread influence
give them precedence over other wom-
en-" In the lists Julia Ward Howe fig-
ures largely because OF her long ife OF
patriotism and usefulness. Jane Ad-
dams 70 a close second because Of her
helpfulness and practical reform among
the poor. Very prominent in the lists
Is Helen Keller for her wonderful per
severance In overcoming almost insur-
mountable obstacles Maud Ballington
Booth IL a favorite for her work In up
lifting the fallen. Mrs. Frances Folsom
Cleveland Is high In favor on account
Of her noble exposition of American
wifehood and motherhood. Helen
Gould Is also popular for her philan-
thropy.
The woman's Civic league Of Allan
Ia, Ca, has recently asked the city
council to permit women to vote on
proposed bond issue Of $1,500000. The
petition pointed out that Atlanta con
tains many women property holders
who have become such through their
own efforts and argued that II women
know how to make money and how to
take care Of It they ought to be accord
ed the privilege Of saying for what
purpose and by whom their taxes
should be expended.
During the past year no less than
800 applications for patents were re-
ceived by the British patent office from
women inventors. Until recent years
women Of the inventive turn of mind
seemed to be content to confine the ex-
ercise of their faculty to the minor
kind of mechanisms. More recently,
however, they seem to have entered
the broader and more general field Of
mechanical exploitation, and some Of
the most effective improvements In
connection with motor cars, sewing
machines and even marine engines
aud motors have been devised and pat
snted By women.
Uncle Sans weather bureau has a
rival in the small person Of Mrs. Eva
b. Smith Wilkins of Syracuse, N. Y,
a lady who has made a profound I'm
preston as to her ability to foretell
the weather even when the experts
who are paid high salaries guess
wrong, Unlike the weather bureau,
Mrs. wilkins puts no faith In Their.
mometers, barometers. pluviometers,
wind gauges and all such scientific
paraphernalia, but relies entirely on
her ability to read the clouds. She
has discovered twenty-seven signs
which enable her to speak with con-
Adence of what wind and weather are
to be- and her weather bulletin has
proved to be more reliable this season
than that sent out from Washington.
The head Of the Washington weather
service is greatly interested in the mat
ter and has promised to give Mrs. VIII
kins every opportunity to pursue her
study.
= =
When Mrs. Clarence Mackay was
elected member Of the school board
Of Roslyn, her beautiful Long Island
summer residence, some Of her friends
were inclined to the belief that one
term would be sufficient both for her
and for her constituents. Now she has
been reelected without the slightest
opposition. She has proved to be the
most enterprising member Of the
board, having brought about numer-
GUS improvements In the school build
Ing and raised the standard Of teach
ing.
The experiment Of admitting women
to the legislative body OF Finland has
resulted In glowing success. The
twelve women, members elected q cou-
pie Of years ago have developed ~
markable ability in debate and have
been able to hold their own on ~
casions- Practically syArnl
has been open 4 g
Ind for -