The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-26
OF Interest
To Women

years ago to Mrs. Leonard Matless by
the late Capt. Gerard Huiskamp. This
violin was made by Andreas Amat in
1890 and has been played by the great
artists OF the world, In the capitals
OF Europe before many royal families.
Just before coming into the posses
sion Of Mrs. Matless it had been play
ed by one Of the violinists in Gill
mores band in world tour. You will
remember that In Cremona, Italy, on
the River Pc the Amati family made
violins the equal of which have never
been made before or since. Antonio
violins began to be made about the
middle of the seventeenth century,
the greatest refinement Of construc
ton being attained about 100. SO
you see this one made in 1890 Is one
Of the oldest and finest of the Gre
mona violins. Stradivarius was a
pupil of the Amati family and he
later made famous violins. These vio-
Inns have long since been out of the
market and Mrs. Matless has been
offered fabulous sums for this one,
but it Is not for sale. She has prom
Used some of her music loving friends
that the violin shall be played some
time here in Keokuk when an artist
able to do it justice comes to the city.
One day not long ago group OF
Keokuk women were making an auto
mobile trip across Iowa. Guided by
the Blue Book and visiting as they
journeyed they completely lost town
passed it without even seeing it. All
day they wondered about that town.
The incident brought to mind an edl-
torial that Sam NJ. Clark wrote in
The Gate City years and years ago,
about the trip by wagon that they
used to make from Keosauqua to
Keokuk to get their copy of the Des
Moines Valley Wing. He said: From
Keosauqua we crossed the Des Molnes
river and went to Keokuk the south
divide passing Squire Nixon's and
Utica. 1t was one Of the despairs OF
finding Nixon's. it was always there;
but no one was ever able to hno
Utica. 1t was one of the despairs TO
several years of my life. A town was
an event in early Iowa, one couldn't
afford to miss one. When you got
fairly beyond West Point you began
to look out for Utica. 1t was a few
miles ahead. The afternoon would
pass and all at once you'd find your
self at Cap Miller's on the Keosauqua
hill road and you would cry with a
sharp little gasp of amazed inquiry,
Where's Utica2' oh, We passed 1t
some time ago. The matter doesn't
interest me so much now because I'm
an old man, but maybe every ons
owes it to himself and his fellows to
strip life Of illusions. If so. 1t may
be my bounden duty to find Utici
before l die" And therein lay Sam
Clark's art. to make one remember
thirty years an editorial about
a sign board along a country road:
Utica 8 miles"
Speaking of the far reaching posi-.
bilities of a newspaper item, If 1t be
written in a catchy or unusual way,
Miss Josephine Babcock, the chair
man of the press committee Of the
First District Iowa Federation OF
Women's clubs told this story: Over
here in Washington concert was
given and Alex Miller in commenting
upon it in his paper said Miss Smith,
or whatever her name was, was "a
hunka dory player" The item was
copied as reported by clipping
bureau, In every state in this coun-
try in Canada, in England and in far
away Germany. The phrase used was
chara cteristic of Mr.. Miller, the editor
Of the Washington Democrat. He edits !,
one of the most readble papers mag
Inable One can read it with the
keenest interest not knowing one !
soul about whom he Is writing. When
YOU read the account of wedding as
ne writes it, full Of personal touches,
you find yourself wishing only happi-
ness for these young people and You
lave the keenest interest in their
'uture. When he writes of death,
le tells you just why he feels so
sorry for the family. how old the chill
lren are and what other hard luck
md misfortune has come to the FAM
ly. There isn't a bit Of offense in
INV of these personalities, it's just
human friendliness.
Every woman in Keokuk and else
where will be sorry to know that
rane Adams is ILL., Perhaps not III
With anv organic trouble, but worn
tut and by order Of physicians, taking
rest cure. In personal letter last
week to Mrs. W. J. Roberts she said:
I am so tired" and it is little wonder
hat she is tired, carrying in her heart
he burdens Of so many people. We
hink of her usually as standing be-
ore great audiences or in some such
pectaeular place. She is often so
laced. but every day she lives among
he common people of the district
Hull House, advising the ;
1others in the care of their babies,