USA > Ohio > The Western Reserve of Ohio and some of its pioneers, places and women's clubs, Vol. II > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Mrs. F. A. Kendall was the toastmistress of the occasion, and served in that capacity most creditably. She proposed the
85
Its Pioneers, Places and Women's Clubs
toast "The Ohio Woman," and said that before she came to this State she had heard so much about the Ohio man that she doubted if there were any women in the great Commonwealth. She called upon Mrs. A. D. Davidson, of Oberlin, for the re- sponse. That lady handled the subject gracefully. She said the time had passed when woman's sphere was bounded by the four walls of home. The field had enlarged. Woman was teaching in the schools, was practicing medicine and law, and in Ohio women were even being ordained as ministers of the gospel. She spoke of the W. C. T. U., the Red Cross Society, the White Cross Society, and other fields where women were accomplish- ing a great deal. She referred to dress reforms, "of which we expect so much and want so much," and to woman's work in the churches and Sunday schools, of which the half had never yet been told. She thought that women should take a greater in- terest in the study of scientific subjects, to relieve the monot- ony of woman's life, and to make it sweeter and pleasanter. Women were better mothers when they could get away from their children a while for rest and recreation. She urged the study of botany, so as to enjoy the buds, blossoms and flowers, of geology and other studies that would take them near to nature. Such work would not decrease their femininity. Only when woman had become all she ought to be was she ready to become a wife. The sweetest word a woman could hear was her husband telling her that he had been made better because of her. Concluding, she said that the Ohio woman was the high- est type of pure, true, Christian womanhood.
"The Higher Education, what it has done for home-makers and housekeepers," was responded to by Miss Mary Evans, principal of Lake Erie Seminary, at Painesville. She said the great need of the country was for educated women. She thought
86
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
she could probably speak from the standpoint of a grandmother, for in her school were fifteen young ladies who were daughters of her former pupils. They were living examples of what educated mothers were doing. Miss Evans then spoke in an interesting manner of what higher education has had to do with housekeeping.
She was followed by Mrs. Sarah M. Stafford, who spoke on the "Brooklyn (N. Y.) Club and Federation of Clubs." Mrs. Joshua Ross, who was for sixteen years president of the Dorcas Society, spoke on "The Women of Cleveland in the Sanitary Commission." Mrs. Elroy M. Avery followed with an address on "The National Press Club Excursion to California and the Northwest." Mrs. J. Humpal-Zeman spoke on "The Foreign Woman Americanized," and the exercises closed with a recita- tion by Miss Lizzie Gleason, of Boston. The program was interspersed with classical selections by Herr Oscar Werner, pianist from the Conservatory of Music, Berlin, and Baron Leon De Vay, violinist. Among the renditions by Mr. De Vay was the "Kreutzer Sonata," and a selection from Lucia di Lam- mermoor.
The reception committee was composed of Mrs. C. H. Sey- mour, Mrs. J. M. P. Phelps, Mrs. Leopold Dautel, Mrs. C. S. Selover, Mrs. L. A. Benton, Mrs. X. X. Crum, Mrs. C. C. Bur- nett, Mrs. C. W. Loomis, Mrs. F. W. Roberts, Mrs. A. B. Foster, Mrs. S. J. Cook, Mrs. Charles Gill, Miss H. P. Booth, Mrs. Lines, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. John Davis, Miss Norton, and Miss M. Quintrell.
87
Its Pioneers, Places and Women's Clubs
PAPER The Press Club Excursion BY MRS. E. M. AVERY AT APRIL DINNER.
January 25 saw California sinking in the west as we stretched away across Arizona,
"The cold, gray desert lone and drear,
With Heaven above and home before us."
No more should we walk in orange groves and pluck the golden fruit while "Old Baldy" with his cap of snow looked down upon us, and smiled and shook the rain drops from his garments, which drops shall flow a fertilizing stream through many a distant, pleasant valley.
We had stood on the gallant vessel, "The San Francisco," and talked of war and rumor of war; we had inspected the silver plate proudly bestowed by the city of San Francisco on her namesake. The plate cost $10,000, and the money was raised in ten hours, "and that's how they do things in the city of the Golden Gate," said smiling Admiral Brown. The city of San Diego had looked so sleepy and the bay so placid, the white cruiser glistening in the sunshine had looked so gay with flags, that we could hardly feel that she was like a lion on guard and was there for a fell purpose.
We had viewed all that wondrous sunlit corners through which the Southern California Railroad so enchantingly winds, and now. over the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe were fiying eastward.
Arizona stretched untilled on each side of the track as far as eye could see, land, for a continent of which a farmer would not pay a cent. We saw the scanty, gray vegetation, bristling with thorns, the insects likewise bristling, the only bird a bird of prey, and we sighed-
88
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
"Oh for one little spot of green,
One little spot where leaves will grow."
Then we thought of the abundant supply of water stored in the mountains, and dreamed of the near-by time when tribu- tary streams shall make this desert land a land of living beauty. An enthusiastic believer in the future of Arizona puts the matter in another way: "The New England farmer's daughter shall chew gum and swing on the garden gate to the music of the cow-bell and sewing machine; what now bristles and bites in the country will, with the advent of irrigation and civiliza- tion, smile and blossom as the rose."
Several times during the day we made raids on the Mojave Indians and came off victors with a few pieces of rude pottery, "to show the folks at home." These we generally managed to break in a few hours.
At one point we found water awaiting us. It had come sixty miles in tank cars. The railroad officials spare nothing needed for the comfort and happiness of the passengers.
Tuesday we stopped to view the Leguna Pueblo Indians. They are a wonderful people. Their architecture is communis- tic, consisting of several adobe structures, joined together. In many cases the lower story is without doors or windows, loop- holes only, and the second story is built around a sort of court, which is reached by ladders. When I emerged from the train I found many of "the brainiest men on earth" engaged in a brisk effort to barter Uncle Sam's silver quarters for Indian relics. Not much remained in sight for the poor white woman. Seeing a Pueblo woman ascending a shaky ladder, with a celerity and agility that surprised myself I followed. Securing a coveted bit of pottery I started to descend. That was another matter, and was only accomplished after much care and deliberation,
89
Its Pioneers, Places and Women's Clubs
assisted by the warning toots with which our obliging engineer calls his wanderers home.
Mr. Wilde, holding up a silver dollar, conducted a trade for an Indian's ornament thus: "Me, you; you, me," at the same time thrusting the dollar into the girl's hand and unfastening the ornament without ceremony. It proved to be two punched silver quarters, fastened together with a brass pin.
What is the difference between the Apache and the Pueblo Indian? was asked in Albuquerque. The Apaches live in lodges or wigwams, the Pueblos in houses; the Apaches live by govern- ment rations, the Pueblos by Agriculture; the Apaches cannot be civilized, the Pueblos can; the Apaches are dirty, disgusting creatures; the Pueblos are neat and clean. To the last we can testify, for the Pueblo homes we saw were as sweet and neat as possible.
At Albuquerque we met old Cleveland residents, the Rev. Mr. Hood and wife. He has charge of the Congregational missions of the Southwest. "Are your friends all ministers?" an observant press man asked. "No," I replied, "I have some friends on the train."
At Albuquerque they began presenting us with printed questions in envelopes, to obtain our opinion as to whether New Mexico should be a State or not. Those who thought not took good care not to post their letters till out of the territory. The only way to avoid trouble when asked, "Don't vou think New Mexico ought to be a State?" was to announce your thirst for information. I have lots of information-most valuable.
Albuquerque is a growing place, but I don't forget that at Albuquerque Mr. Yager had to pay seventy-five cents a quart for milk. "Is that the price?" asked the astonished gentleman. "Well, it is-now," was the response. The milk was bought.
90
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
"Let's get out of here quick," said Mr. Yager, only he did not say it in that way. In spite of which, Albuquerque is a flour- ishing place; Yankee thrift and enterprise are there, and her future is assured.
That evening we reached Santa Fe. We were driven through narrow lanes, bordered with one story adobe houses, adorned with strings of red peppers, and saw the Mexican women with the queer bowls on their heads, and I felt not only in another land, but in another century. When I entered the State House and beheld the fine hall decorated everywhere with the stars and stripes, I knew my foot was on my native heath. When I heard the cheery voice of the handsome Governor, and saw the fine-looking men who surrounded him, I knew I was among American citizens. When I heard the Governor's name, L. Bradford Prince, I knew that Plymouth Rock had a representative in this land of adobe and cactus.
An elegant supper was served in the ancient palace. This building surpasses in historic interest any other in America. It was built in 1598, before the cavalier found Virginia or the pilgrim boarded the Mayflower, and has been the seat of author- ity for that region ever since.
It stands, not as a crumbling ruin, but as the living center of human interest. The ruler, from the Spanish Viceroy to the territorial Governor, has had his home in this palace for nearly 300 years.
It is a one-story building built of adobe, and of large extent. It is filled with old pictures, some painted on skins, with pot- tery, the work of Zuni, Mojave or Pueblo; Indian blankets cover the floors or hang from the walls, and the stone idols of a past race divide attention with the rusty armor of the conquering white man.
91
Its Pioncers, Places and Women's Clubs
Here, in 1598, Onate prepared for his perilous journey to the far-away east; here, in 1822, New Mexico avowed herself independent of the tyranny of Spain, and planted her standard of the cactus and the eagle; here, in 1846, General Kearny took possession of the city and "slept, after his long and weary march, on the earthen floor." The inquisition, the massacres, the sieges, the triumphs, the defeats, can they not point you to the scene of each and all in this old palace, and here, fitting capstone to a strange, historical edifice, Lew Wallace wrote Ben Hur.
We hated to leave Santa Fe. Some of us declared that we would stay anyway, and picked out the adobe house in which we proposed to live. Nothing but an adobe would we have, so cool in summer, so warm in winter, so easily repaired, so pictur- esque, so altogether delightful. In vain the engine tooted, we paid no attention. Jerome sent out scouts, and we were im- prisoned as fast as found. Mr. Burnett, that most courteous official of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road, captured self and friends, but we resisted valiantly, till he showed us the Governor and his charming wife, likewise captured and in durance kind, on board the train. Each of us has the firm intention of returning to Santa Fe immediately. We want to see again the oldest church in the United States, the room of the inquisition, the Ramona school, the Apache children, the donkeys loaded with wood, the filigree work, the monument to Kit Carson, the hero of my childhood days, "the thirty-five places of interest," in short, we want to see Santa Fe.
On our way to Las Vegas we passed "Starvation Peak" with its tell-tale crosses outlined against the sky. Here, lured by treachery, a score of Mexicans held the cliff against an encirc- ling Indian band, till one by one the white men dropped for lack of food. The crosses, one for each, repeat the tale to every passer by.
92
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
Las Vegas is another delightful spot in the "Sunshine State." Here again we heard an eloquent and convincing argu- ment in favor of the admission of New Mexico to the Union. As I listened I thought:
"I heard the tread of pioneers, Of nations yet to be,
The first low rush of waves, where soon Shall roll a human sea."
But when the speaker said, "New Mexico is as large as New England, and-" I turned and fled into the gathering darkness. Every county in California "is as large as New England, and-," Poor New England.
Leaving Las Vegas we turned our backs on the glories of the West and headed straight for home. Thursday we fairly Mfew through Kansas, doing 125 miles in 125 minutes they said. I believe them. If they had doubled the miles and halved the minutes I should have believed them. I would believe anything good of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road. Then I listened to a lucid explanation from a press man, who did not under- stand it himself, of how he had water brakes and air brakes, double sets of them, any one of which would stop the train in- stantly, and if it did not the others would. I believed that, too. I would believe anything good of our "wandering Wagner." If he had told me that it would spread its wings and bear us safely through the air on the blast of the morning, I should have be- lieved it.
Kansas, "bleeding Kansas," the "grasshopper State," the land of the "Jayhawker," the land where they trade off men of brains for men of beard, the land where women vote, the land where the weeds are so tall that they will pull a man off his horse, and where they gather corn with a ladder, the land of
93
Its Pioneers, Places and Women's Clubs
the cyclone and tornado, the graveyard of the "Farmer's Alli- ance," Kansas! We had only bewildering glimpses of this State as we hurried through. Thursday night we crossed Mis- souri, that "debatable land" during our "late unpleasantness," and I lay down my pen.
KATE H. T. AVERY.
TOAST
The Ohio Woman
MRS. A. D. DAVIDSON.
The term, "Ohio Man" has become the synonym of suc- cess. He is the president of the Republic, has been the suc- cessful general, wise judge, eminent diplomat, poet, preacher, philanthropist and financier. The press teems with allusions to the Ohio man, but mine is the pleasant task to speak of the Ohio woman. Not the woman represented in the galleries of the old world, that mixture of angel and imbecile, or the drudge of foreign lands, or the veiled woman of the East, but the typical woman of America. The East claims the high- est intellectual gifts, the West claims the most energy and vivacity. The Ohio woman is most fortunately situated, and combines the intellect of the East with the energy and vivacity of the West, the philanthropy of the North with the courtesy of the South.
A few years ago woman's sphere was confined to the four walls of her home. Her place was by the side of the spinning wheel, the loom and the cooking stove. But that irrepressible spinster who attended to the village sewing, and successfully superintended the village affairs, soon undertook the district school, and so successfully wielded the birch that from that time the school teachers have been mostly women.
94
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
From teaching she began to write for the papers and edit them. Then she studied medicine, law and theology, and during this evolution of the woman's sphere she was rapping at the doors of the colleges, schools and universities. At first the presidents, faculties and trustees were deaf, but in time they opened the doors, and to-day the Ohio woman has as complete and thorough educational advantages as the Ohio man.
And with increased education comes a more full apprecia- tion of her responsibilities, which is shown by a glance at the philanthropic and moral movements of the day-the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, with its most admirable organiza- tion, the Missionary Societies, the White Cross work, the dress reform, from which we expect much, and many kindred organ- izations, which show the desire of women to do what they can to elevate fallen and sinful humanity. The church has a majority of women in the church membership. The Sunday school de- pends mainly upon women for teachers. The missionary so- cieties are receiving large sums of money to support missions, and women are going as missionaries, and can work where men can not.
In Art the Ohio woman has made an excellent record in the past, and we look to the future as full of promise in that direc- tion. In literature the honored names of Ohio women are among the best and brightest. In science she is making great advances, and the future will show what excellent work is being accomplished in its various departments.
It has been prophesied that the higher education of woman would detract from her gentle womanliness-that her head would be educated at the expense of her heart. But this has not been the case. The most intelligent women have been the most affectionate wives and the fondest mothers.
95
Its Pioncers, Places and Women's Clubs
The ideal sphere of woman is the home. There she has full scope for her talents. She can make a true, pure Christian home, and on such homes the prosperity of the nation depends.
But there is work to be done outside the home circle. Let the strong hearted and true woman do what she can to elevate the ignorant and sinful. Let the true and pure use their in- fluence for the elevation of the race. Whatever the work, we know that the Ohio woman will, in the future as in the past, present the best type of true, pure Christian womanhood.
TOAST
Foreign Women Americanized
Madam President and Ladies of the Sorosis:
In calling upon me to respond to the toast, "Foreign Women Americanized," you give me an opportunity to give you a hasty sketch of the foreign women that come to the shores of this beautiful American Nation.
It is well for us to know something of these great throngs of women who are to be wives and mothers of our coming Ameri- can citizens. But before I will begin to tell you of them as Americanized, allow me to give you a glimpse of them as they are in their native lands.
We hear continually of what the wonderful progress of the American women has done. The women of America hear them- selves praised and flattered on every side. This, and the en- thusiasm which they derive from their successful work, are very apt to cause them to overlook the efforts of women of other countries. I do not mean to undervalue the efforts of American women, or say that they get too much praise-Never! It is always my greatest pleasure to be able to lay another laurel wreath at their feet, for I know that they deserve it. The
96
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
women of all countries are to-day turning their eyes to the women of America for leaders in every kind of women's work. But though they hold this honorable place, they must not over- look what the women of other nations did in preparing the way for them.
Look at France and see what women have done there! See the power which they possessed through their "salon," before which even Napoleon was weak. Who does not wonder at the genius of Madame De Stael, her tact and influence, both as a woman of letters and a diplomat, George Sand, Madame Ro- lond, and many others. In England you will see the great Elizabeth, with her diplomatic powers, Lady Montague, George Elliot, Mrs. Browning, Charlotte Bronte, in letters, and hosts of other women in all kinds of fields. Even so in Eastern Europe. Almost every nation has had at some time some great women. In Russia women always partook in the national life. There is Katerina, the Great, and to-day Russian women are prominent, not only in letters, but in political and national life. So it was in Poland, and even in the unfortunate and always suffering Bohemia. You will be astonished with the work that the quiet daughters of Bohemia did. One of the first rulers of Bohemia was to have been a woman, and later in its history several women reigned with their husbands. Ir middle ages, during the great religious struggle, the Bohemian women stood by the side of their husbands, and fought with them for the religious liberties. The women brought the stones, and the men hurled these into the ranks of their enemies. And when the dreariest moments came, and Bohemia stood on the verge of her grave-her best sons being from home-the women again did their duty, and went with them. In the beginning of this century, when the nation again rose from its grave, in
97
Its Pioncers, Places and Women's Clubs
which it was buried by her worst enemy, Rome, the Bohemian woman again helped in its resurrection. She, with her clear brain, loving and daring heart, her sharp pen, went with her brother among the hills and the valleys, and gathered the scattered words of the almost forgotten language, helped to. reconstruct it, and through it sent burning arrows into the hearts of her people. And to-day we have a long list of au- thoresses who gave us some of our best gems in literature. The Bohemian women have Literary Societies, Women's Industrial Unions, Red Cross Societies, Minerva, the society for higher education of women, which has sent a petition to the Emperor, asking that our women should be admitted to the University of Prague, and now the Bohemian women have built the first women's gymnasium, or preparatory school, in Central Europe. In two or three years we hope to see our women in that famous school of learning.
Now, among the foreign women that come to us year after year, are sisters of these women. You see that they are not always ignorant women, but not being able to speak the English language they naturally appear ignorant. The reason that you see so many of our Bohemian women going out washing is that they have a greater ability to acquire the language, and it is easier for them to get work than for the men. But the fact that they work and help their husbands does not necessarily signify that they are ignorant, and don't know any better. They work because they do not want to become a burden to the American citizens. Sometimes your washwomen know more than you think they do, only they cannot let you know it be- cause they cannot speak your language. From this you per- ceive that the foreign women are somewhat prepared for your ideas, and so can adopt them readily, which they do the first
98
The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of
chance that they get, so that to-day we have a great number of school teachers, musicians, bookkeepers, several college grad- uates, one lawyer, pharmacist, and some writers. Our women are contributing to the newspapers, and are encouraged in so doing by the editors. We have all kinds of societies among our Bohemian women in America. Some are King's Daughters, the Non-partisan W. C. T. U.'s, the Working Girls' Club, Lit- erary Societies, Ladies of Honor, and other insurance or patri- otic societies. They are trying to keep in step with all other women, and the reason that they have not done more is that they are to-day where you were fifty or more years ago-that is, the pioneering times. They have to help their husbands build homes, and are paving the path for their children.
The Bohemian and other foreign women are somewhat shy. They feel themselves strangers in this country, and are waiting for you to extend the hand of welcome, and for the invitation to join you in the work of advancing women's progress.
It is because of all these different women bringing their gifts, their talents, healthy bodies and different temperaments, which, all combined, are like branches grafted into a great tree which, because of them is able to bear such a variety of good fruit; it is because Americans are made from what is best ir every nation, that we are called to-day-the marvel of man- kind!
JOSEPHINE HUMPAL-ZEMAN.
Women's College, of Cleveland, April 14, '92.
99
Its Pioneers, Places and Women's Clubs
TOAST Higher Education in its Relation to Housekeeping and Home Making
BY MISS EVANS, PRINCIPAL OF LAKE ERIE SEMINARY
Having neither the decoration of a college degree nor mem- bership in the honorary company of matrons, I might well hesitate to speak upon this important subject, were it not for an opportunity of observation which gives me some claim to speak as a grandmother. The Seminary with which I have had the honor to be connected for nearly a quarter of a century is reaping what it sowed, and we have this year fifteen students who are the daughters of old scholars, while among more than 3,000 former students, a very large proportion are housekeep- ers and home makers. And as higher education is a compara- tive term, and quality should be considered as well as quantity, we may allow to these students of former years a high degree of accuracy and a fair amount of knowledge. At the meet- ing of our Alumnae Association last June two papers on that ever fruitful subject of housekeeping proved that educated women can bring forth some new word worth hearing, upon the old theme.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.