USA > Wisconsin > Centennial records of the women of Wisconsin > Part 7
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Enough perhaps has been said in reference to the general objects and the prepa- ration of articles for the Women's Department of the Centennial Exhibition.
We now wish to call attention to a higher object, namely, the improvement of the domestic and social condition of American women, which we conceive to be included in the general idea. We would not ignore responsibility, as we desire to escape penalty in this regard.
The laws of God are unerring in their operation, and are not hindered or modi- fied by our recognition or rejection. Therefore, if women have made it conven- tional and suitable for lack of better stimulus, to spend the larger portion of their time in dress and pleasure, dissipating physical and mental forces in these pur- suits, it is reasonable to expect that God will bring them to healthier aims, through the discipline of suffering.
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The too frequent exhibition of enfeebled energies and demoralized character is bringing the earnest of our sex to the point of serious deliberation. The balance of conviction is gradually turning in wiser directions. The natural timidity of woman makes her averse to change and fearful of extremes. That modesty which is her crown of glory and excellence is often under the influence of wrong standards and unjust interpretations, made to represent her weakness and unwor- thiness. This, we can quietly overcome, as we cordially embrace opportunities which include the necessity of well concerted action for their success.
We need to learn primary lessons, as we are all unskilled, because inexperi- enced workers in public affairs. The preparation work incident to an honorable representation at our Centennial furnishes common ground for every woman in our nation who has a desire to aid in its commemoration.
Its labors conduce to the highest interest of home and social life, giving im- pulse to mental, moral and æsthetic culture, by calling for their best practical results.
It is not enough that we exhibit works of art, culinary skill and handiwork. Our excellence is acknowledged in these departments, and we have daily evidence of all the appreciation we can conveniently appropriate in some of them!
We need more to test our skill in other ways, and to this end, we need mutual aid and encouragement.
We need the aid of combined influence to dissipate the power of false stand- ards. in the foremost ranks of which apppears the destructive tyranny of Fashion. Ilere, we all stand convicted, to a greater or less extent, wasting time, strength and ability worthy a better service.
What we gain in superabundance of decoration, we lose in healthful, physical beauty and still more in the desecration of mental and spiritual powers, whose worth and endurance are to our finite conceptions immeasurable.
It is universally acknowledged that the demands of the toilet are out of all rea- sonable proportion, while it is also understood that this is in obedience to the mandates of what is called "good society." The axiom that "it is better to be out of the world, than out of the fashion," is received as a primary article in our domestic codes. The avenues of relief from this despotism are closely barred by custom and prejudice, until it seems that nothing less than a tidal wave of na- tional inspiration can bear us upward and onward to brighter fields, where lie the undiscovered treasures of feminine accomplishments, destined for coming gener- ations.
We have gone from the struggles and hardships of revolutionary days to the opposite extreme of luxury and dissipation. Let us pause and think how we can
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gain a new starting point within the circle of the next revolving century, which shall seeure to us a grateful remembrance from the women of the next Centennial.
In the light of what we might be, and are not, there is more to hope for, than to fear, from change. The feminine side of life is, as yet, to a great extent un- developed, and the steps to its attainment must be gradual and carefully taken. Whatever women are called upon to do and to be, it is their privilege to do and be as women. This position once well understood and established, it will be found that there is no sphere of life where the aid and influence of woman is not needed to make that sphere rounded and complete.
Beauty, in all its varied developments, is an essential element of womanly character, to be indulged and enjoyed in ways distinctively feminine. To be cher- ished as the outgrowth of her most delicate and refined instincts. We need not ignore beauty, to secure convenience and utility in dress.
Ascetic severity and plainness are as uncomely and unattractive in the house- hold, as would be an untinted rose, or an unpainted lily in the parterre. Natu- ral conditions of earth, air, moisture and sunshine, unfold the wonders of leaf, bud and blossom.
Obedience to natural, instead of arbitrary and conventional laws, tints the bud- ding, unfolding and ripening years of womanhood, with the inimitible beauty and freshness of health, and crowns her autumn years with the fruitage of noble deeds.
No such compensations come to us in the channels which Fashion has opened to the households of our land. Disease, disability and frivolity inevitably follow in the train of her influences.
The queens of the Bois de Boulogne, as they are recognized day by day in their carriages of state upon this favorite drive, are the representative women of the world in the realm of Fashion. Holding and wielding the purse strings of roy- alty and diplomaey, assiduously served by modistes of artistic merit; it is more than weakness, it is stupidity, for women in the midst of earnest life- bearing the relations which God has established and blessed - to imitate, or receive from their hands ever so remotely, standards for use or decoration.
Why should not our country-women be known by a simpler, more natural and more beautiful style, worthy the name of an American dress.
If we shrink from the idea, it is not because there is not merit in the concep- tion, but because of the absurdities which have from time to time been set afloat, it would seem, for the purpose of creating a sensation, and blocking the wheels of healthful reform.
Influential women in our large literary and commercial cities are taking the lead, in their efforts to give wiser impulse and better tone in this respect.
7
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The women of our own state will not be backward in their expressions of sympa- thy and interest in this movement. We feel confident that some woman, or some body of women, whether from the Bay State, or the Badger State, it matters not, will develop the happy thought of an artistic American dress, which shall be ac- cepted at our Centennial Exhibition, as worthy a National recognition. The re- ward of such a labor will be second only to his, who broke the fetters of a grosser, but not more destructive, slavery, and opened the pathway to untrammeled man- hood.
That we may not be misunderstood, we will define what we do not mean by an American dress: We do not mean a Bloomer dress, or any sort of unwomanly dress; we include the idea of drapery, as suited to the propriety and elegance of womanly apparel. We simply mean, a more general uniformity and simplicity in style, as well suited to the health, taste and convenience of women -to be brought out in some definite and practical way - as is the general mode adopted by men, for their health and convenience.
We desire this that we may avoid the innumerable perplexities and the un- eeasing demands upon time, thought, health and purse, for which we receive no proportionate return.
We cannot now suggest the mode, but we doubt not it will reveal itself in con- nection with other valuable and beautiful inspirations, which shall be the out- growth of our Centennial awakening.
The present burden of each recurring season in households well established so- cially is, how shall the feminine part of the family wardrobe be modeled and re- modeled, into conformity with fashionable proprieties? To this end, ingenuity is taxed, health sacrificed and money lavished. The mother or eldest daughter is often required to make inconvenient journeys to large cities, laden with com- missions touching this momentous subject. Among other duties, she is to search out and confer with conceited modistes, who hold the keys to these hidden mys- teries.
The results of this expenditure are innumerable trains and demi-trains, to be skillfully engineered through heated drawing rooms and crowded thorough- fares, during the freshness and novelty of their ephemeral existence. Multitudes of drapings and loopings to be carefully manipulated, as they are deftly moulded into burdens for feminine backs.
Coming naturally under the general appellation of deformities, they become classical, as they are introduced by names furnished from the nomenclature of fashion.
Headaches and heartaches, which are the portion of unsuccessful votaries at
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this shrine. costly offerings made from the aggregate of family comfort and dig- nity, who can estimate?
The weight of burdens lifted, and the value of forces turned into wiser chan- nels, by the adoption of a more uniform and permanent style, the mothers and daughters of the next generation can properly judge.
Under this régime, distinctions in dress will be based upon the quality and value of material, enhanced by the idea of family association. Fabrics and trimmings, worthless in excess, reduced in quantity to the amount of reasonable use; family jewels and articles, intrinsic in value, will more frequently become heirlooms in our princely, American homes. And each social strata will accumulate substan- tial wealth, both material and mental, for its better development and more en- during prosperity.
Women of Wisconsin, let us be the first to sign this " declaration of our inde- pendence," rejoicing to honor and memorialize the Centennial Anniversary of our beloved mother, with the laurels of individual and National achievement.
The niche we are invited to fill upon this occasion is comparatively small, but it is ours; and, as ours, should be garlanded with designs of utility and beauty.
May it also be a MEMORIAL NICHE, where the cenotaph of entombed follies shall be covered with the living tendrils of a new and more excellent life, for the women of our commonwealth and our Nation.
379780 C. THORP.
At 10 o'clock, the company were invited into the ample dining hall, which forms so attractive a feature of Gen. AT- WOOD's hospitable home. The table was gracefully laid, and decorated with flowers, and the supper, while excellent, con- formed to that simplicity and limit of variety which is the pre- scribed regulation for all our reunions. Reassembled in the drawing room, Gen. ATWOOD, invoking the gift of song for those who supposed themselves devoid of this power of expression, called for a united voice in the following original Centennial Hymn, by one of our poets. Copies being furnished, the "new home " received a baptism of song, which set the seal of conse- cration to it and our noble cause:
The Nation's Jubilee draws near,
Let all the world attend!
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Our thoughts embrace its circling sphere, Our prayers to God ascend -
That He will make the coming day, A grand memorial time: Let every heart its tribute pay, From every land and clime.
Where hate hath ruled. love shall preside, Once slaves - all nou are free ; We stand together, side by side, In blest fraternity.
Our fathers, o'er the swelling tide, Sustained by faith and right - The scorn of monarchs in their pride - Brought here fair freedom's light.
What she hath wrought, let all behold, On her Centennial day! No blessings bought with princely gold, 'Twas God revealed the way.
Our country and our liberty, Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! Her emblems wave o'er every sea - God guides America!
All singing to the tune of Coronation.
This closed the second social meeting of the Women's State Centennial Club of Wisconsin, and if the feelings of all may be gauged by that of many who have given utterance. the evening was one to be marked with a white stone in our calendar, and as- sured ns that the motto of our State-"Forward!" -is also the motto of our Club, and that only the highest social and National advantages can flow from our monthly reunions.
MRS. J. D. BUTLER, Secretary W. S. C. C. To MRS. DAVID ATWOOD, President W. S. C. C. MADISON, May 1, 1875.
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OFFICIAL REPORT.
[From the Beloit Free Press.]
CENTENNIAL CEREMONIES -MOST SUCCESSFUL INAUGURATION OF THE WOMEN'S CENTENNIAL CLUB - DECORATIONS, SPEECHES, MUSIC, TABLEAUX, ETC.
The ladies who have been some weeks laboring energetically and enthusiastically for the organization of a centennial club in Beloit, brought their well laid plans to a brilliant culmination on Monday of this week. Distinguished guests were expected from abroad to grace the occasion with their presence, and assist in the inaugural ceremonies, and a large welcoming delegation of citizens, including nearly all the members of the college were present at the depot upon the arrival of the noon train from Madison, whence most of the guests came. Among the visitors were Gen. DAVID ATWOOD, wife and daughter, Mrs. J. G. THORP, Mrs. Gov. TAYLOR, Mrs. Pres. BASCOM, Mrs. F. W. OAKLEY, Mrs. Prof. KERR, Mrs. HOYT, Mrs. WILLIAMS, from Madison, and Miss SILL, of Rockford. Upon alighting from the cars, the guests were taken in carriages to the homes of prominent citizens.
At an early hour in the evening Goodwin's Opera House was packed from orchestra chairs to the last tier of seats in the bal- cony, with an expectant multitude whose expectations were des- tined to be more than satisfied by the well arranged and success- fully executed programme. The Opera House was very appro- priately decorated with numerous flags of various sizes, protraits of WASHINGTON, MARTHIA WASHINGTON, LINCOLN, and GRANT, pictures of the great centennial buildings now in process of erec- tion at Philadelphia, and appropriate dates, mottoes, shields and
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a real American eagle. Thirteen airily dressed young ladies rep- resented the thirteen original states, and Mr. CHARLES MESSER and Mrs. C. B. SALMON, dressed in elegant costumes. well person- ated General and Mrs. WASHINGTON in their younger days. These with the invited guests, the executive committee and the officers of the club, occupied the stage, a large choir and the orchestra sat in front of it, and the St. Thomas' Temperance Band dis- coursed cheerful music from the onter balcony.
The music was in charge of Mrs. Prof ALLEN. and to her well known energy and ability in this direction was its uniform excel- lence in a very great measure due. Mrs. OAKLEY entranced the great audience, as she always does, with the sweetness of her voice, her perfect enunciation and pleasing manner on the stage. Miss HELM was the host which she always is when at the piano; the choruses were prompt and harmonious, and the orchestra made a very efficient support to all, while the brass band was of course indispensable upon such an occasion. Mrs. ALLEN had, by request, arranged some beautiful music to which the choir were to have sung the Centennial Ode, but owing to the length of the programme, it was finally decided to have the ode read instead of sung, as a saving of time. The ode, which was com- posed by our local poetess, Miss MARY KING, and beautifully read by Miss EVA GUERNSEY, is as follows:
CENTENNIAL ODE.
One hundred years! a silent stream, Still fast and faster flowing on; One hundred years since British rule And haughty sovereignty were gone!
Who e'er that saw the bark canoe Shoot down the river's noiseless stream,
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Past sachem's lodge and council fire, Of such a sight as this would dream?
Or who, that saw the sun go down From settler's lonely cabin door,
Foresaw the ceaseless tide of men That surges now from shore to shore?
That where the pale faced emigrant Toiled painfully the trail beside, Across the wide spread continent To-day the untold millions ride ?
That church bells sound where once alone Was heard the whoop of savage brave, That college halls make hallowed ground Where lies the chieftain's nameless grave!
Each waited for its bidden time, An embryo for the appointed hour - Fulfillment of the years' demands, Behold it, bursting into flower!
A flower that springs from honored graves, Tended by breeze and sunlight free; With Truth and Honor for his stem, And for its root True Liberty.
The words of greeting by Mayor DAVIS, who always discharges such duties so well, were as follows:
GREETING BY THE MAYOR.
Ladies and Gentlemen: It must be a source of no ordinary gratification to the ladies of the city of Beloit, and especially so, to those who have so earnestly, and I trust successfully, urged upon the attention of our citizens the importance to our city of the enterprise in which they are engaged, to witness so large a gathering of our people as we have here to-night, ready as I believe, and as they believe, to cooperate with them in this important and difficult undertaking. And what adds immeasurably to this gratification is the fact that we have with us here to-night a goodly number of distinguished personages from abroad, come to aid us by their
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presence, come to entertain us by speech and song, and to leave with us their words of counsel. What has been accomplished up to this time in connection with this enterprise, here in the city of Beloit, has been, I believe, exclusively through the efforts of the ladies. The gentlemen, of course, felt exceedingly grat- ified when they learned that at a proper stage of the proceedings they would be admitted as silent partners, and permitted to furnish such an amount of capital as the ladies in their good judgment might find necessary to a complete success of the enterprise in which they are engaged. Now as I am one of those expecting to invest, let me say to you, ladies, go forward, sparing no pains or expense in securing for our city a full. complete, and faithful representation of our business and educational interests, and I will assure you, that all drafts drawn upon the gentlemen of our city for this purpose will be cheerfully and promptly honored.
It is not expected that I should occupy time in considering the important ques- tions connected with this enterprise. But before I resume my seat, I wish, on behalf of all our citizens, to extend to you, ladies and gentlemen here from abroad, a cordial welcome to our city, thanking you in their name, for interesting your- selves in that which if successfully carried forward will, in the future, be a source of pride and gratification to the entire population of our city.
The reading of interesting and encouraging letters by the sec- retary, Mrs. C. INGERSOLL, was a very pleasant feature of the oc- casion.
Upon presenting the membership scroll to Mrs. J. G. THORP, chairman of Wisconsin, the chairman of Beloit, Miss MARTIIA PEET, spoke in the following very interesting and appropriate manner:
MISS PEET'S PRESENTATION REMARKS.
"Mrs. Chairman : - I have the distinguished honor to present for your accept- ance and official recognition, the names of the members of the first centennial club of Beloit, mounted upon wood grown upon the first tree, planted by the first grad- uate, and molded into its present form by the amateur workmanship of the first tutor, professor and president in one, of Beloit College."
Mrs. THORP responded in brief but most interesting and happy remarks, as follows:
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MRS. THORP'S WORDS OF ACCEPTANCE.
"Women of Beloit : - Allow me to congratulate you upon the success with which the centennial enterprise is meeting, as organized and sustained by you. You are the first to receive the official recognition of the Women's State Centennial Exec- utive Committee of Wisconsin. You have organized the first centennial club out- side the capital city, thus endorsing and setting the seal of your approval upon this agreeable social feature of our work, which is distinctirely Wisconsin in its origin. The prestige of your sanction will go far toward securing a state adoption, as well as the national approval. I would also congratulate you that you have the honor to be represented by an able and efficient chairman, whose generous and discreet enthusiasm in this as in every cause whose interests she espouses, is sympathetically contagious. The women of the state committee are proud to know and to affiliate with such women as have here represented themselves. It seems to me a matter of general congratulation that the women of Wisconsin may join hands and unite hearts in the labors preparatory to our grand centennial jubilee, from which we shall come forth better equipped for life's duties and destinies. We have reason to expect that the coming generation will open up new fields of labor and accomplishment for women; fields in which the barriers of ignorance and prejudice shall have been swept away by the incoming tide of a higher civili- zation. Upon its bosom woman shall be more graciously and tenderly borne to her appointed place. Problems in her life and experience inexphcable, from her present standpoint, will there come to the light of a more intelligent solution. We have to watch and to wait, while we also work. Our statesmen did not plun to liberate the slave when our men went forth to the battle field. Yielding to the fearful necessities of a war which God permitted, that He might open an avenue of escape to the oppressed and grant absolution to the oppressor, they did not even discern the finger of destiny pointing with unerring certainty to this great national culmination. They saw only, as they were forced step by step to higher levels, the light which freedom was faintly shedding from the distant horizon of peace. As women we see and feel, just what, we know not. We think we dimly discern the dawning light of a better day for our children and our children's children, and we lay hold upon the invisible with a faith commensurate with our love and desire for them. We hail this golden opportunity; we listen to the voice of this united appeal with quickened sensibilities, expecting from its results a guaranty for the future of womanhood. We honor ourselves, our families and our posterity, in honoring the centennial anniversary of our beloved country. We cannot labor inspired by its sentiments, without being the better and the happier for it, We
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give liberally, and our fund of patriotic enthusiasm is not diminished; we receive in the same measure, and we find ourselves strengthened and uplifted thereby; therefore, we know that God is in the work; that He hath destined our one hun- dredth fourth of July to be a national and international communion season, when the bread of life shall be broken to us and to all the nations who come to this feast of love. We are in the seed time of our centennial year, and 'whatsoever we sow, that shall we also reap.' Allow me to express the hope that the era upon which you have so grandly entered shall be crowned with an honorable represen- tation at Philadelphia in 1876, for the women of Beloit are among Wisconsin's most gifted daughters. May we each and all be there to see."
Upon accepting the scroll from Mrs. THORP, Gen. ATWOOD, United States Centennial Commissioner, delivered the following able address:
GEN. ATWOOD'S ADDRESS.
"Ladies and Gentlemen :- It gives me much pleasure to meet so many excellent friends of the goodly city of Beloit as are now present. for the noble purpose of making preparation for a proper representation of that city, in the centennial ex- hibition in 1876. In the few moments I shall claim your attention, I cannot hope to do more than touch upon some points in regard to a matter that is now attract- ing the attention of the civilized nations of the world-an international exhibition in commemoration of the close of the first century of American Independence; an event which no person now living can ever enjoy again. It is hoped that our country will exist for ages upon ages; that our Declaration of Independence will ever remain the noblest expression of mankind for liberty and freedom. On the 4th of July, 1876. one hundred years will have passed since the noble 'fathers of the revolution ' proclaimed to the world in a solemn declaration, that the united colonies of America were, 'and of right ought to be, free and independent states.' In support of that declaration, the patriotic and true hearted men pledged 'their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors.'
"One hundred years ago, there were only three millions of people in the colo- nies, occupying but a narrow strip of territory on the Atlantic coast. During the century of our national existence about to close, from the small beginning of 3,000,000 of people, our country has increased to a population of 45,000,000 of peo- ple, representing every land, and stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to those of the Pacific; with an agricultural and manufacturing industry, expanded and diversified, so as to embrace all that the brain of man can devise, and that the
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