The Cairo bulletin., 1913-05-04

the meeting of the Federation of the
Twenty-tifth District of Women's
clubs, made Friday afternoon by
Mrs. Isabella L. Candee, past state
president OF the District Federation.
Mrs. Candee has served as president
of the Cairo Woman's club three
tines and was the first president OF
the Federation.
Madam President and Members of
the 25th District:
esteem il privilege and great
pleasure to be permitted to address
you today and reite-ate the cordial
welcome extended by the President
of the Woman's club on behalf of
all the Women's clubs of Cairo who
join in this sisterly greeting and re-
joiee in your presence. We are fill
ed with gratitude to a mereiful
Providence that we can meet to-
gether today in safety. amid these
pleasant surroundings. One month
ago our little city confronted the
greatest danger it has ever been
threatened with in its long and
eventful history. its homes were
almost empty, its streets and stores
vacated, its population forced to
fee for safety to neighboring towns,
and its buiwarks guarded by its
brave men who had sent their wives
and children away while they re-
rained to battle with the relentless
floods. For twenty long days and
nights they toiled and labored in-
cessantly to preserve their all and
at last were victorious.
i is impossible to realize fully
now that danger is past and all il
going on as usual, all that our brave
fdefenders endured and the heroic
struggle that saved our homes, our
churches and schools, this library
and its books, and everything we
hold dear. When the State Fede-a-
ton met in Cairo ten years ago
words were spoken in greeting that
now seem like prophesy fulfilled.
After the hearty welcome to the
tour hundred delegates who had
honored us by coming from all over
the state, said to them--'the
cohorts Of the Illinois Slate Fedora
ton have come down into Egypt
like an army with banners. and our
hearts are filled with JOY and pride.
In welcoming you to the only city in
Illinois, in fact in America that has
many times been entirely surround
ed by the waters OF two mighty
rivers without getting wet. We can
show you d magnificent steel bridge.
then the second longest in the
world, the highway between the
north and south, particularly be-
tween the great lakes and the gulf.
and eight miles of solid, impreg-
nablc entertainments. These famous
leyees make the dykes of Holland
seem almost like ehild's play, for
Though those keep out the sea. our
great leyees curb the restless, treach-
erous currents Of the largest and
most shifting of rivers. Behind
heir protecting walls we go quietly
on, safe and secure while hundreds
Of our helpless neighhors lose their
all and often life itself in the en-
quilting floods 1t takes immense
sums of money to build and main
tain such defenses and other things
muse be left undone, so the fine
beautiful parks and monu-
ments of more favored cities in nat
aral location will not be found here
But | am confident that our heroic
efforts to have and to hold our
homes and the splendid courage
which has wrested from the great
rivers and redeemed this little point
ot land for commerce and success
fui business enterprises will more
than make up in your good opinion
for anything that may be lacking ia
beauty or finish
What was said then can be re-
peated with greater emphasis now
in view of our strenuous experience
The last two years and knowing fun
we'll how sincere were your symns-
tines and interest in the terrible or
deals through which we have passed
feei we Will have your earnest az
rreval and hearty oconeraticn in tha
Efforts the city is making TO prevent
The recurrence of such dancer. The
ihinoss stare fedes -t!sa sas Rear 8 IS