Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 16, 1903, Page 15

TRIALS OF GIRL REPORTERS Mr Mary Holland Kinkaid's Papér on ““Woman's Work in Journalism.” PECULIAR FIELD FOR FEMININE EFFORT Some of the Difficulties in the Road Surmonnted by Winners. — Before the receat session of the National Editorial assoclation in Omaha, Mrs, Mary Holland Kinkaid of the Milwaukee Sentinel read a paper on “Woman's Work in Journ- alism.” It was briefly referred to in the dally reports of the convention in The Bee At that time. The full text of Mrs. Kin- kald's paper, taken from the August num- ::.or the Natfonal Printer-Journdlist, Is In this distinguished assembly of editors, doubtless there are some who hold the be- Met that journalism off no legitimate work for women. A minority still regrets that the girl reporter, with kier adjectives, there opened N.Mt & fair dame who was traveling in Burope or to ten lnes of | t about how to make tatting. thé mischief was done. The bars were Tatting desigris led to crochet patterns—chain stitch three; hook, one; shell stitch, five—and lo! today huridreds of women oocupy the cholcest places in that corner of emia pre- empted by newspaper,tollers. Effect of Smaill Beginning. The editor who first saw the value of tatting directions as items of interest has gone to an unknown grave. His name ls not preserved. (He is forgotten, but if any industrious historfan ever t@entifies him a monument of surpassing grandeur should be drected to his memory by the women ‘who have evolved through the agency of Hterary tatting from mere soribblers to suc- cessful editors. It cannot be denled that the tatting has left 'Its wmpression on Journalism, for have not we fashion pages, beauty departments and etiquette columns? ~but nowadays It often happens that men are doing the lterary tatting while women . are attending to the executtve work of the great newspapers. ‘We all know that while crochet stitches may have firet Introduced a few women into journailsm, the trfumphal entrance of the great army of women workers was made through thé humble gate-marked “Social News." Although dallles and week- Nes have multipited, the name in print velopes are distributed. The literary girl dreams at her desk. Through the halo of with the request that she qnake a trip BSunday school plenic or a fresh alr t Is no wonder that she withers & glance of cold contempt.’ But plles and plles of newspapers. Its pigeon- holes are mysterious receptacles bulging ! with all sorts of things from poems to dross samples. Somewhere between pads of copy paper, bits of blotter and masses of dippings are lost the pocket knives that have been kindly lent by chivalrous sport- HiH porters distike to do. Because she is con- sclentious you let her fix up the church notlces, write over the contributed mis- sionary. items, attend gradustion exercises, investigate conditions in the women's ward of the county hospital, and scour the town for photographs of infant prodigies whose ‘When she s {Il you do not remember why she I8 (hreatened with nervous prostra- tion. You merely realize that Miss Smith 1s tired out and has to take a rest, which is most Inconvenlent, because the odd job writer in a newspaper office Is missed more than the dramatic critic or the terary editor, You forget that Miss Smith has never lost a day becnuse she tarried too long at the press club punch bowl or be. chuse she was overcome, by the menu at a political banquet. But of course the men reportérs are expected to have privileges that even the most ambitious woman re- porter dare not dream of enjoying. € fentions to the Limit. It s the consclentiousness of the typleal woman Feporter that gives you editors 2 feeling of confidence which Is seldom be- trayed when Miss Smith has an assign- ment. If Migs Smith does cause her paper trouble it is not often due to earelessness, A @irl reporter on a Chicago newspaper almost 108t her position, however, because her conselentious (nstinct asserted itself at the wrong ‘time. She was doing soclety, A famous clergyman whose wife had been dead less than @ year was married to ¢ne of his parishioners whose widowhood had covered but a brief perfod. The girl re- porter wrote a model marriage notics, but she added to it these wordh: “Owing to recent bereavements in both families the wedding was a quiet one.” It was another connclentious girl reporter who wrote at the end of an obituary: “The deceased had few friends, but those he had loved him for his faults more than his virtues. It may be that some of you editors be lieve ‘theré pever existed a first-class woman reporter. Some of you had ex- periences slmilar to that of an eastern ed- Itor who sent a girl reporter out to inter- view a millionaire just returned from Bu- rope. The city editor was very busy when the girl came back to the office. “Would Mr. Raliroad Magnate talk?” he asked. No," sald the girl, and then she went to her aBsk, where she began to write a letter. Half an hour later, when the city editor had a slight breathing space, he went to the girl's desk to inquire, * road Magnate at his home?" the girl. “Why wouldn't he galk?”’ asked the city editor. ‘He was dead,” answered the girl. “Dead!" shrieked the city editor. “When did he die?" ‘“He died of heart disease about flve minutes before I rang the bell,” replied the girl, looking up from her lettef. The city editor forgot all his traditions of politeness, He swore, for the millionaire’s death meant a depression of the stock market and the half hour would have given him a chancé to scoop his con- temporaries and to scare the fnanciers. Plea for the Hditor. But although by instinct a girl reporter may not know a news item when she stum- by a man editor. The trouble nowadays 1§ that most editors gre overworked and a few. have the time or patipnoe pecullar quality of tact which stande the ‘of long hourk of work, weailness and depression of spirit, themsin- honorable standing in A profession Y little money and less fame to those ‘who choose it'for thelr vocation, but when a woman has been admitted to the pro- fession what is her work? ' What 1s she best fitted to do? In what of writing does she excel? Is there anyt! she can do_better than the men who are her com- petitora? All these guestions are still be- ing asked even though there Is hardly a metropolitan newspaper office that does not employ the brains and energy of &t least mwquhnld’oruumnm Confines of Her Sphere.; ‘The city editors who object to what they call the petticoat invasion have & way of ““We want all reporters. ‘We do not want girls, Whom we cannot ask to cover fires, murders or political conven-’| tions"—just as it fires, murders and polit- leal conventions were of more importance than women's club mbetings, educational conferences and a hundred and one. things that go to make up & newspaper. There 1s no doubt that girl reporters could cover fires, murders and politics, but no chival- rous, right-minded editor would ask them to do what would place them in embarrass- ing positions. It waa only last week that one aspiring young creature who had suf- terly effort appeared the words “The en- tire stoek af dry goods whuld have been little girl with the ‘only those whose footing, it may be workers en the press }l it it ig THE OMAHA _DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 1903. ness of wit wers eliminated from stories and plays. It Is true that what has been sarcastically called the feminising of liter- ature may have reduced its strength, but it is & question whether there has not been & corresponding gain in delicacy and jdeal- ity. Fifty years ago newspapers were pub- lished for men. Housewives were content 1o hear of the doings of the world second- hand from their husbands. Politics domi- nated all else in interest, while the stock lists and financlal columns had conspicu- ous places. From the moment that the un- knowns editor gave tatting directions a place in his columns, women began to scan the newspapers. The soclety column soon made a direct appeal to them, and now every practical, far-seeing editor knows that his hold upon the public depends largely upon his abllity to win favor with women subscribers. I¢ the newspaper s re- colved into the home it has an established place in the community, It is no longer dependent upon precarious support. Inas- much as the proprietors of department stores and other advertisers make a direct bid for the trade of women shoppers, the newspaper that reaches the Jargest num- ber of housholders is the one that can charge the highest rates for dlsplay ads. The newspaper is the mirror of the times. and since women have begun to take part in the business, commercial and profes- ‘slonal nctivities of the world, it is of course natural that to a certaln extent they should mould journalism to the forms most pleas- ing’ to thelr fancy. Helps to Yellow Journalism. It is a moot point how far women may bo held responsible for the illustrating in- novation, but it is patent to all who con- sider the subject that the two-column half- tone and the color phge lure mald and matron to a perusal of a current history as it is published morning and evening. Women, alas! must be held largely re- ponsible for yellow journalism which gained a popularity now happily diminish- Ing because it published snamelessly de- scriptions of many things the knowledge of which should be withheld from respect- able wives and daughtérs. Yellow journal- fsm has done Incalculable harm to the professional standing of newspaper women, for it has encouraged young and thought- less girls to do sensational writing that is a disgrace to legitimate journalism. For- tunately the public, which after all has a great deal of common sense, has. discour- aged the employment of chorus girls as dramatic critics and divorcees as special writers on topies relating vo love and mar- rlage. “fhe actress who has figured in a scandal, or many scandals, s not now sure of a chance to describe how she uses the rabbit's foot or the powder puff. Serl ess a Requisite. You may think that the newspaper woman takes herself too serfously, but if she is to amount, to anything she must be- lleve In herself{ and In her proféssion. She must have a pride in what she chooses to call her “career.” This pride of profession —a pride that refuses to aamit any defeat ~was amusingly illustrated not long ago at a meeting of & woman's press club. You know, a rule, only amateur writers be- long to women's press clubs, but this pa ticular organization did have a minority of working members. It was decided that & program made up of reading from re- Jected manuscripts would be entertaining. ‘When the fateful evening came the presi- dent, ' who was a hard-wérking soclety ed- itor, explained that she would be the first to confess herself the possessor of a re- Jected manuscript. Accordingly she read a tauching little love Story that had jour- neyed to fourteen magazine editors and had come home travel-stained and dog- eared. The members of the club applauded vigorously. Then the secretary called the name of Miss Jones, an independent pen woman. Miss Jones arose to remark In a still, small voice that none of her manu- scripts had ever been sent bacK. Bhe sald this without a , blush, Miss Robinson’ name was next called. She announced that she never wrote an article unless it was ordered, so of.course she had nothing on hand which she could read. Miss Brown's name was called. She told the audience that she néver wrote unless speclally In- #pired, and explained, that when a woman puts her soul into her writing it has that vital quality that is sure to win a place on the printed page. The secretary called fif- teen les and heard the same story from all the ejub members. None except the president had ever suffered the humiliation of having her return postage utilized. The situation had become embarrassing te the officers of the woman’s press club and highly entertaining to the guests who had begt invited, when suddenly from the back of the room rose a white-haired womdén, the third vice president of the organiza- tion. There was a twinkie fn her eye and @ smile on her lips when sald: had a rejected manu- She paused a moment. “The truth is that I have never written anything but cook-books and as I am my own publisher, I am always sure that everything I write will be accepted. Until the last mail yesterday, I thought I would be unable to take part In this program, but & contribution I sent to The Ladies' Home Journal came back to me. I will read it: cupfuls of sugar, a small cupful of » two cupfuls of flour, a half-cup of water, the yolks of five eggs, the whites of four eggs. Beat the butter to & eream, add the sugar gradually, and then the eggs well beaten, Bake in a mod. erate oven and when cool frost” Th mombers of the women's press club lookdd uncomfortable. They waited for. a few minutes during which the gray-haired woman paused to take breath. “You see," #he explained, “I forgot the baking pow- der, and I suppose that is why 1 have a Tejected manuscript.” It is recorded that the men who were guests on this occasion were rude enough to laugh long and mer- rily. The members of the club have not yet decided whether the third vied presi- dent s really a humorist, What & Woman Can De. It has been the habit to accept women's work In & more or less condescending spirit. The fact Is recoguized that:the woman re- porter Is not a potential managing editor or publisher. Her limitations are so sharply defined that it Is taken for granted she must always remain in the ranks and never obtaln a commanding pesition, yet more and more woman proving her ability to perform exocutive duties. In the United States there are several who are serving as Sunday editors on great news- papers. Many are reading ocopy for the magazine supplements. It is a common thing nowadays for a girl reporter to re- leve her, city editor by assuming the re- sponsibility of looking after certain depart- ‘ments more or less irksome to the masculine mind. As literary and dramatic critics women have done brilliant work. In the future more of them will win distinction in the line of criticlsm. Long ago they would have attalned to greater things If it had not been for the fact that the most R R i isiif i gk ‘Madam |zl President: Until yesterday I was one of the | ! day raising its standard and conditions are changing sp that in the future there will come a time when It will offer the men and women of large alms and great talents adequate rewards for thelr services, The golden day is even now dawning. When its full light has come the newspaper workers will be tralned speclalists. The editorial writersgwill be men and women WHo have prepared for their special de- partments just as the university professors are educated for thelr special chairs. To & great extent these conditions exist now, but the general editorial writer who has & smattering of knowledge on many sub- Jects is still doing his worst on various newspapers. It is no wonder the disease of writers, thought cramp, is prevalent In every city of the United States. When the Good Time Comes. In the golden day of future journalism statesmen will think it worth while to write about politics, the clergy will discuss ethical problems and physicians will give sclentific opinions—not as Sunday feature writers and as casual contributors—but as regular- ly employed members of a newspaper staff. Then the newspaper women will come into thelr heritage. They will no longer be ex- pected to manage beauty departments in which they are compelled to use thelr cherished literary talents in writing direc- tions for removing freckles. They will not find It necessary to contribute fashlon articles unless they are modistes and have made, a study of the art of dress. They will not have to write soclety i{tems unless they have chosen to belong to the world of the {dle rich. Only now and then will they be assigned to do what the city editor sar- castically designates as the little Lucy stories—the storles which set forth the vir- tues of charitable, old ladies and goody, ®00ds children who take Sunday school prizes. In the golden days of future journalism, edch newspaperwomah will be able to write about the things that engage her best thoughts. Then her earnestness will be rightly directed. What she writes will be in the nature of expert testimony. She will h the privilege of presenting the subfects of vital importance to the mothers of the land in such a way that all the world will listen respectfully. 8She will hold her talents as sacred legacies and she will make the most of her opportunities to touch the public heart and to influence the public mind. Women of the press will attain the highest recognition because then as now they will be indebted to the newspaper men for help, for encouragement and for instruc- tion. Then as now the profession of journal- ism will be pre-eminent for its fair treat- ment of women. Then as now the editor and the reporter will be types of the highest and truest American because they hold all women who work with them as members of their own families—because they give the 8irl who writes for the press the tribute of respect and reverence. RELIGIOUS, Dr., E. E. Smiley, who has resigned as resident of the University of Wyoming, as accepted a call to the Congregational church at Ithaca, N. Y., as its pastor, He will assume the pastorate about October 1. The death of Pope Leo has caused a de- lay in the consecration of Rev. Charles H. Colton, of New York, as bishop of Buffalo, but arrangements have now been perfected and the consecration will take place in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, on the 2th of August, The Hawalian committee of the Women's Hofi. Misslonary soclety has decided to bulld a home for Japauese women and chil- dren at Honoluln, to be known as the “‘Su- lgm:." lll 1s rlmd P:.?l?l argely self-supporting ready for occupancy . The London Mission, the Presb; lan Mission and the American Board Mission I pekihy " The Dullding Tor the proposed B ullding for the: , medical Ils will be turul-hod'? the London , and each mission will fur- nish a er. It is believed that the unfon In medical work will greatly benefit direct itle work. o 4 Rev. Sanford Olmstead, the Episcopalian bishop of Colorado, I8 noted for the skill with which he can collect money for char- ity. Here is an Instance of Bishop Olm- stead’s as o collector. He call on a man one day who was well-to-do, but somewhat close. He asked for money for some worthy charity, and the man sald: “T'd give something gladly, but the fact is ith me In —$300 that I've 'You trust God with your soul,” sald shop Olmstead, “but yowre afraid to trust him with your funeral, eh?” This comment ined the bishop a generous contribution. ‘There are three famous churches in New York city which are open every summer day In the week from early morn till dewy eve speclally for the benefit of visiters. One is the Roman Catholic cathedral on Fifth avenue, the second Grace Episcopal church at Broadway and Tenth street and the third is Old Trinity on Broadway, at the head of Wall street. Not a day pases that hundreds of vieitors do not visit these tamous churches simply to study the ma, ine figures and scenes on the great stain lass windows. There are two in Grace church on the th side which entrance the beholder. All those in the Cathedral are of famous characters mentioned in the Bible and are worth travéling miles to see. Some of the scriptural scenes deplcted are un- rivaled, it is said, even In the churches at Rome. In the cathedral there have been placed, 100, quite recently some magnificent statues, herolc, size of saints. sl When the great Episcopai cathedral of St. John the Divine was projected about ears ago the promoters did not fix nite date for its completion. It is ,000,000 and is to rank with St. Peter's at me both In size and archi- tectural splendor. Although work has been going on steadily for the past five years only one of the four Tren arches that are to support the central dome is completed, And The contractors say that the whole structure may be finished in another half century. In another week the great col- umns which are to l:rrrl the dome will be hauled to-Morningside Heights, and for the next six months or more the site of the cathedral at One Hundred and Tenth street will be one of the show places of New York. Visitors will have an opportunity of seeing the largest single columns of granite ever d in position in the United States in their various stages of erection. They cost $20,000 each. it THE GIDDY WHIRL. James Brasil and Mrs. Turner of Cashion, Okl have ere: record_b: being married three times in one day. first sought the probate judge er, and as there was a contest over Ahe office they got both candidates to marry them. Not feeling satisfied as to the legality of the ceremony, they returned to Cashion and were married again by a minister. Bugens MoCarthy. old, ran for fali and was elected, This o the efforts of Miss & M. sehool. teacher, who made & personal ca Vass of the district in support of Mr. Me- y and went with him on his speaking Goodwh will mpend. th ne spend_the Albany, the wife of Eugene M: Something of a sensation w created in soclal and poiltical circles in Dallas, Tex., when It became known that former Goy- ernor F. R. Lubbock would be married next W Lue Scott of Abliene. . who is only 23 years bly in New York last ‘weal vernor of Texas and was with n Davis and John H. at the close of the 3 ‘Trajnmen on the Terre Haute division of the Chicago & klli{n Illinols were much Must G $110 hand carved three sec- tion bookcase, special for Monday v B0 $1 Flemish oak _sideboard, special for Monday..36.50 $165 three-plece bed room in . Flémish oak, dresser, chiffonler and dressing ta- ble, special for Monday, three pleces 80.00 $%0 Flemish oak buffet, e- clal for Monday ... 45.00 $6 Flemish oak sideboard, special for Monday..41.00 $%0 three-plece bird's-eye ma- e room sult, bed, resser and washstand, special for Monday..38.00 $28 bird's-eve maple ladies’ writing desk, speglal for Monday . 1300 $22 bird's-eve maple ladies’ writing desk, special for Monday.. 4 8.5 special pleces $78.50 sot for for leather $20 bird’s-eye maple dress- $98 four-plece for Monday, 33 leather chalr, spectal for Monday ... ...18.60 $22.7 pantasote leather special for Monday . @ leather seat dining chalirs, special for Monday for the set e 39.00 $2 large arm Wonday . $24 large arm o onday $27.50 pantasote leath A special for Mohday..16.60 $94 solid mahogany set of (6) dining chairs, design, over stuffed spring Monday for the set. 50 00 All goods that we did not dispose of in our Half Price Sale will be cut still deeper in price for a final clearing. They must go Monday, so come - early. greatest values ever offered in furniture. All goods will be shown on main floor. of the bargains. They won't last long at these prices:— Undoubtedly the Note some $4.50 rattan reception chalr, special for Monday ...8%8 $6.00 rattan reception chalr, special for Monday .,.818 $4.60 bed room chair, s| a1 for "Monday. «ooseoe. 8D alr, $2.25 solid l;lk dining them, special f 4.50 $10.60 arm oak chair, special for Monday .. --5.00 $8.25 oak leather seat eh.\-}v. parlor ' sult, four 50 special for Monday . 8 large arm chair, special for s e 'fhn fonday ....... $17 ladles' arm chalr, special for Monday .86 $19 full upholstered leather rocker, special for Mon- $16 Sleepy Hollow pantasote upholstered chalr, special for Monday ............ 8T8 $120 full size brass bed, spe- clal for Monday ....62.00 35 olld brass bed, special for Monday 550 $43 bird's-eye maple dresser, special for Monday..22.80 #15 solld_mahogany window or plano seat, special for MOnARY ......roeneinr: THO $24 solld oak bed, special for Monday 1200 two of Monday for ... $1683 two-plece sult, daven- port and arm chair, uphol- stered In very fine fabrie, special Monday, 2 pc 90.00 $18.75 tapestry couch, special for Monday ,... 1.7 $1450 tapestry couch, ] for Monday ”‘a $8_velour couch, speclal £ Monday ~87s $38.60 thre-plece den . met, rocker, arm_chair and ta- ble, special Monday.19.00 7850 set of (7 mah clal Tor Monday ... 8,00 mak r chalr, Chippendale special for Orchard & Wilhelm Carpet Co. $500,000 I[N PRIZES of $5.00 each ‘will be given to the School Children of America, School Children’s Competitive Advertising Contest No. 1119. This sketch was made by Lida La Follette, age 11, Bancroft School, Omaha, Neb, ‘We give a cash prize of $.00 for any drawing of this character which we accept and use. All school children can compete. Full instructions will be found on inside of each package of -See, telling what to do to get the prize and how to make he drawings. A Flaked Wheat Food of the very best quality, in full sized packages, usually sold for 15 cents, and yet Retailing for 10 Cents This revolution in the food business has been accomplished by the intro- It is better than any other food at any price, and the people have quickly recognized Our enormous mill, the largest in'the world, with its im- proved méchinery, enables us to produce a superior full weight duction of Bgg-O-See. this, package at this lower price. Up hill and down dale, Butter is made ineveryvale AndifNaney Cook is @ good girl. She sha Il have some c.ofleenm%.‘ten, And a big dishof Egg-O:See, ASK YOUR GROCER FOR THE GREEN PACKAGE. If your grocer does not keep it, send us his name and 10 cents and we will Address all communications to Battle Cree k ‘Breakfast Food Co.. Quincy, Iil send you a package prepald. "RACINE COLLEGE (GRAMMAR SCHOOL |§ ““THE SCHOOL THAT t MAKES MANLY BOYS” ‘ ts Slndmu{-ucnm“&" Eofogs juat = or flirllly. 8Boc! and A&, | Por Boys of 5 Yo 17 Years Old. . Ilwstrated Cetalogus seat o0 application te Henry Douglas Robinson, Warden ~ Racine, Wis. KLBALL HALL vy Leading School Conservat.ory o inent {nstrue. of Mucte and atle Avt. Sixty qminent in "‘“'“‘1’:« w.:!rllnl‘:s flh.‘i‘ fifir-kf%“ 3 ¢ limi s Black Hills Hot Springs, the delightful summer resort and natural sanitarfum of the West, is eastly reached by the complete train service of the Chicago & North-Western Ry. Special low rates in effect from Omaha and all points west, daily during the summer season.’ Fast daily trains with through service of Pullman sleeping cars from Mis- souri Valley and frec reclining chair cars from Omaha. Leave Omaha daily at 3.00 p. m., reach- ing Hot Springs the next marning. Summer rates are also In effect dally iyl W booklets and maps, with Pbich will e prsmptiy upon w €. CHEYNEY, Geners! Agent ¥ 1401-1403 Farsam Se ’ SGHOOL of OPERA SCHOOLS, Chicago Musical College Eestablished 1067. DR. ¥. ZIEGFELD, Presideat. College Building, 202 Michigan Boul., Chicago, IIL DRSSO B e s m’&”«'u d‘ 1 ever assembled in & Tog New Coliees Bulling iscing the Lavs Broot - | ‘exclusively to a musical institution. All Branohes of SCHOOL OF “Slg AOTII.“G ELOGUTION Wiodern Langua, BOARD OF MUSICAL DIRECTORS: Dr. Louls Palk Hans Von Schitler Wiltiam Castls Pudoiph Gan Dovries iph Ganz Bernbard Listemane Hart Conway, Disector, School of Acting SAURET—The world renowned violinist, will become a regular member of the College Faculty September ), 1903. Lessons now being arranged. 38th SEASON BEGINS SEPTEMBER 4. New lliustrated Catalogue Walled Free, LB, 2 Dr. ¥, Ziegteld NORTHERN STEAMSHIF COMPANY Steamer North West leaves Duluth Tud Y Buffalo. Steamer North Land leaves Ch‘l‘d‘moy-t“‘aw Dm 'g.l( daye for Buffalo touching at intermedigte ports. Close connec- | made ev“"fi"' zhmdel m..ulo for New York, | M. er Agent, Buftalo, N, Y. H.' A CHERRIER, G. 80 Clark Birest, Chioago.