The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-01

the best Of the nation. She is doing
all she can, in every way she can to
be of best service to her home and
community. She is rearing her chill
dren so that they, like herself, may be
at least step ahead, bit more capa-
BILE and better able to serve their day
than was the generation just behind
them. She is one of the best house.
hold managers to be found, often feed
ing and clothing her family comfort
ably and presentably with an amount
which would prove inadequate if not
so carefully managed. She has the
gift of keeping work from becoming
drudgery and of making an art of
plainest labor and with her commend
able pride will almost work her fin
gers to the bone before she would be
or allow any Of those near and dear
to be charge upon public charity.
Those of you who have never noticed
or thought of this-just look over any
community and you will find it to be
true. Added to these we have our
gifted colored women and those of
professional ability and intellectual
attainment. Those who are brilliant
lights among our people and who
dwell on the heights Of achievement
and give pride, hope and courage to
their race. Great women and humble
women, leaders and followers, women
who can hold an audience spellbound-
like your national president, our dis
tnguished guest, Mrs. Mary Talbert,
or your own president, Mrs. S. Joe
Brown, whom Mr. E. R. Harlan, cura-
tor of the state historical department
of Iowa said rendered one of the best
and most succint federation addresses
he had ever heard-tnose VINO can
only smile or breathe prayer in their
inmost hearts-women enlisted to
teach-others enlisted to learn--wom-
en- of every degree of power, who feel
the need of organized effort all formed
into great army for the cause of
progress and righteousness. This is
the Federation of Colored WOmen's
Clubs. 1t is militant body and bound
to make an impression, for represent
ing what she does, there is not a men,
Der in it, however small and weak she
may be, who is not in some way
power for good, and power that is
bound to be felt. There is no such
thing as good being futile and void.
Good is divine and always counts
somewhere. Good is never wasted.
Nothing ever is right in vain. May
every member continue to give her
best, remembering that everything
counts in giving power to the organic
alton, and in doing so find reward in
the truth of the poem
"No stream from it's source flows
seaward, however so lonely it's course,
but that some land is gladdened. No
star ever rose and set without influ-
ence somewhere. Who knows what
earth needs from earth's loWliest
creature? No life can be strong in its
purpose and pure in it's strife, and all
life not be grander and better thereby.
The spirits of just men made perfect
on high. The army of angels who
stand round the throne and gave on
the face that makes glorious their
own-Know this, surely at last: Hon.
est love, honest sorrow, honest work
for the day, honest hope for the NOR
row-are these worth nothing else
than the hand they make weary, the
heart they have saddened, the life they
leave dreary? Hush! The seven fold
heavens to the voice Of the Spirit
echo: He that o'ercometh shall all
things inherit