The Topeka state journal., 1911-07-08
WOMEN'SS1
1JBS'

The safe and sane Fourth, tested
in Topeka this year for the first ume'
was undoubtedly a complete success.
The credit for day o. saIety anu
comparative quiet is due largely 70 tHe
club women. At the beginning OF MIS-
Lee Monroe's administration as presl-
dent of the City Federation, the Ques-
ton was agitated by the club women
It was impossible to secure immunity
from the old fashioned celebration LOT
the following Independence Day, as
the dealers had ordered their stock OF
ammunition" and the city govern
ment could hardly compel them 10
stand the loss of their investment
However, that difficulty was overcome
for the next season when the mer-
chants were instructed not to buy
their stock of Fourth of July goods.
The clubs have been working Tor the
sane Fourth ever since the idea first
took root in their minds, and 1t was
later that they were joined by the men
in an effort to bring it about. Last
Tuesday in Topeka there were no fires,
no fatalities, no accidents, no arrests
and no sick people made more mlser-
able by the shock and annoyance OF
exploding dynamite and powder. some
Of the small boys are finding fault with
the club women for their part in the
suppression of the old time barbaric
celebration, but before long they will
have forgotten about the former way
of being patriotic and will have learn
ed a new and better way, and young
and old will agree that noise is not
liberty and loyalty. Anyone VINO
wanted the frecrackers and pistols OF
the old Fourth, could have them II
they conducted the celebration out of
town where it could not annoy those
who didn't want it. However, it will
be observed that a good many people
find little amusement in that kind of
entertainment unless soneo is being
disturbed by it. A firecracker loses
half it's charm when it doesn't make
somebody jump.
An idea has been suggested for the
club women who remain in town dur
ing the warm weather, by which they
may put into practice the spirit of
helpft1lness that club life teaches A
men can be effected by little
thoughtfuIness on the part of the
women by ordering their Sundays
supply of ice on Saturday. Almost any
ice box will carry enough ice to last
two days, and it is no more expensive
and no more troublesome to order in
that way. Every person whose ice
card is not hung out on Sunday morn
ing saves for the ice man tho time and
work necessary to handle ice for one
family. 1t is not a matter in which all,
or a majority. must unite to have any
effect, for the kindness of every one,
individually, counts for a good deal.
The men and horses are entitled to one
day of rest, and they want it. A
woman who has made q practice of
ordering her ice for Sunday the day
before, tells me that her iceman has
expressed himself as extremely CRATE
full to her and all others who have
shown the same thoug ghtfElness, as
every one of them have added to his
time of leisure on the one day that
really belongs to him for rest and
recreation.
In the shade of the trees in back
yards here and there are placed
basins of water furnishing a drinking
place for birds. and thirsty dogs and
cats Giving the water to the thirsty
brutes is a little thing to do, but it is
a humane act in this time Of drouth
when there are so few places where
the birds and stray dogs can find a
place to drink. There are many people
who never think to give the cat a