The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-23

The Helianthus club will give its Sec
"wednesday evening, November e. IN
Keilan culi.
The Elwell Bridge club will meet
Tuesday with Mrs. H. c. Bowman, 61o
Hunto N street. for rfdge-luncheon.
Mrs. E j. Shakeshaft entertained her
bridge club this afternoon. Mrs. c. M:
Sawyer I'd Mrs. Charles Wolf piaye'A
for absent members.
Miss Mary MacLennan gave bridge
party this afternoon in compliment TO
Miss Constance Pember, Of GAINESVILLE,
Wis, who is her house guest. Out-of-
town guests at the party were: Miss
Pember, Mrs. Herbert Lfniger Of KAN
sas City. Miss Clara Rex Workman OF
Chicago, and Miss Helen Hackney OF
AtchisOn.
Mrs. John A. Ross, of Kansas City,
who is widely known as a speaker on
subjects of current interest, and also
on matters of art, history and liter
allure, gave the first of series OF lee
lures Saturday afternoon In Unity
church She comes to Topeka under
the auspices of the U. and l. club, one
of the best known charity organizations
IN Topeka, anu Will oPCdh ~ AOk~-'>-
audiences on alternate saturdays, CIV
ing six lectures.
Her subject for last Saturday was
Causes Of the War in Europe She
explained that the causes of the titanic
conflict were deep rooted in events long
past, in racial distrust and hatred, in a
need for commercial expansion on the
part of some of the nations, and In I'M
just distribution of territory which
ended former wars. She dwelt on the
results of the Franco-Prussian war
which resulted in the union Of the king
doms which now compose Germany,
and In the possession by Germany OF
the provinces Of Alsace and Lorraine.
She showed how the Russo-Turkish
war, ended by the treaty of Berlin. re-
suited in a division of territory which
seemed unjust to Servia. considering
the service she had rendered, and in
giving to Russia no open way to the
sea.
She then gave the views of each Of
the warning nations in turn, by which
they severally explained why they
were drawn into the fray. So cleverly
did she give the various views Of the
different nations that it would be i'm
possible to know which side her SYM
pathieS were with.
She spoke in her address of the ur-
gent need of a neutral attitude by the
attitude is best for us for three chief
reasons; first, for the selfish reason
that it will keep us out Of war: second,
because we wish to maintain our repu-
tation of being fair. impartial judges.
and we need the perspective of time to
make us such. and third, because We
should want to be helpful, to all the
sufferers from the war that we can
reach, irrespective of nationality. The
response Of the United State to cry Of
need in Europe is beautiful and won
derful. We must not forget. though.
that the war is making trouble in this
country as well, by taking employment
from many people We should beware
Of a near sighted economy. and dis
boarding. If you dispose of your auto
bile because you feel it your duty to
save, remember that your chauffeur is
thrown out of work and his family will
suffer. If women refuse to buy new
gowns those who sew for a living will
be unemployed"
In beginning her address, Mrs Ross
explained the origin of the idea Of
classes in current events, work be-
gun by Miss Richards, of Washington,
D. c., who has such classes in the large
eastern cities. and whose work is con-
sidered of such value that she earns by
means Of it, an income Of from ten to
fifteen thousand dollars a year.
The class in Topeka is one of peculiar
value to busy women, for the lecturer
reads more carefully and widely than
any one can possibly do who does not
make it her business. She gives the
result Of her researches to her audience
in a way that Is both concise, and COM
prehensive. Besides she is pleasing
and cultured speaker.
DR.. and Mrs. c. B. Reed will have
a Thanksgiving dinner party Thurs