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planned, the state superintendent was asked to appoint a committee to draw up a statement covering the desires of the members of the club and of the needs for further means of instruction in agriculture, which statement should be presented to the chancellor of the university, with the request that the university, if possible, find a means of assisting the club in carrying on the work.

     The courses in agriculture and domestic science were very popular with those attending the institute, especially with county superintendents. These courses were given at the University Farm in the Stock Judging Pavilion and Home Economics building. The average attendance at each of the sessions was 120, of which 38 were women, 45 were county superintendents, and the others were city superintendents and others in attendance at the institute.

     The state institute dinner, served in the Home Economics building, Wednesday evening, was a pleasant social affair and was participated in by 124 members of the institute.

     We feel under obligations to the University of Nebraska for making provision for these courses. These who took advantage of the work thoroughly enjoyed it end received instruction and experience which will help them very much in the encouragement of the work in their respective home communities.

      Nebraska has a reputation for sending good delegations to the National Education Association meetings. The distance of the meeting place from home appears to have little effect on the number attending. At the 1903 meeting in Boston, Nebraska was represented by a large delegation. At the 1910 session an even larger number were enrolled.

     In order to provide for the greatest pleasure, convenience, and profit of those who expected to attend the Boston meeting, a Nebraska delegation was organized under the direction of the state superintendent. The itinerary included stops at Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Providence, New York, Old Point Comfort and Norfolk, Washington and Pittsburgh, the object being to visit as many of the Important centers of interest as possible and at the same time combine a variation in the way of water travel, which would add to the interest, enjoyment and comfort of those who come from the great rolling plains of Nebraska.

     The Nebraska party numbered 101 persons on arriving at Boston. A considerable number of other persons, who found it necessary to go

earlier or later, or for various reasons to take the shorter or diverse routes, joined the delegation at Boston. The state superintendent, who personally conducted the party, asked the members to furnish him material from their notebooks from which he might form a composite general review of the trip. The response was so generous that he found it impossible to even read a great deal of the copy, and he was compelled to ask his secretary, Miss Jennie B. Adams, to edit it for him. Extracts were taken from the reports in such a way as to form a chronological account of some of the most interesting observations and experiences of the party. In a few cases more than one account is given of the same experience or trip, because of the different view points and particular observations and experiences of the individuals. This will account for an apparent repetition occasionally. Many excellent reports were received too late to be included in any way. No one report was used in toto. The numerical notations at the beginning of paragraphs indicate the authorship. See the key at the bottom of the page. We have thought this report worthy a place herein because of its bearing on the value of such excursions from an historical, geographical, and cultural standpoint. Each one reporting was requested to exercise care in all statements in order that the report might have informational value. It is sometimes the case that Information given by local authorities Is indefinite or inaccurate. This will account for any slight inconsistencies in statement that may be observed.

      Persons signifying their intentions of joining the panty were given specific instructions as to rates, itinerary, suggestions as to baggage, what to wear, amount of funds required, and other matters needing attention in planning for a trip of the kind.

     It may not be amiss here to mention the substantial way in which the members of the party showed their appreciation of the efforts of the state superintendent to make the trip an enjoyable one. This took the form of a dinner set of Haviland china decorated In gold. It will ever be used with pleasure and a certain degree of satisfaction in having served so appreciative a party.

     ⁷ In planning for this trip the four members of our party from Osceola decided that two things were very important: First, the

amount of cash needed; second, what to take with us. We finally decided one hundred twenty-five dollars would cover all necessary expenditures. I may as well add that it did, too. Next, we decided that the suitcase should be as light as possible; therefore we took no extra dress, and left at home everything we thought we could possibly do without. We took no parasol, for which we were always thankful. Tuesday morning found us on time at the depot. Arriving at Lincoln, our first duty was to find Superintendent Bishop and get our tickets. He had already reserved our berths. We then bought traveler's checks for the money we did not wish to carry as cash. These we found very convenient. Having all these preliminaries settled we felt ourselves ready for the start.

     ⁵ The Nebraska party for the Boston N. E. A. left Lincoln Tuesday, June 28th, 1910, at 4:30 p. m. Three coaches were reserved to accommodate the members who left Lincoln and Nebraska City, together with the teachers who joined us at Omaha, so that no one had to contend with thet (sic) indescribable bug-bear, the upper berth.

     Much credit is due our leader for his unceasing and impartial efforts to promote the comfort and pleasure of each member, and we will long cherish the memory of his unselfish efforts in our behalf.

     Mr. Bishop was ably assisted by Mr. H. C. King, County Superintendent of Otoe county, and City Superintendent Martin of Nebraska City, Mr. Thomas, President of the Kearney Normal School, and City Superintendent Stoner of York, were also willing assistants. It would be impossible to find another party of equal numbers so graciously and harmoniously conducted.

     ⁶ Just out of Lincoln, our leader, the "Bishop" of our souls, as we came to think of him, because of his never-failing watchfulness in our behalf, began to count and locate us, a duty he faithfully performed from that moment until our safe return to Lincoln, July 19.

     At our headquarters berth, the Nebraska University pennant and several others were fastened up, and college pennants otherwise indicated the school home of various members of the party.

     ⁷ Leaving Omaha we crossed the Missouri to Council Bluffs. So far the way was familiar but from this point all was new to many of us. We went south from Council Bluffs through a beautiful strip of country,--the bluffs on our left and the river on the right. At Pacific Junction our course turned eastward. We found the country very hilly. The crops were the same as in Nebraska, except that we saw more fields of timothy and clover, and fewer alfalfa fields. Orchards were numerous.

     At Red Oak, the Otoe county delegation of 28 joined us. We now had three cars of Nebraska people.

     When. we awoke in the morning we were at Galesburg, Illinois. This part of Illinois looks ever so much like Nebraska except that hedges are numerous. As we neared Chicago we noticed the trees were larger and there were more of them and that much land is used for raising tame hay. We reached Chicago at 8:05 a. m. Wednesday.

     ⁵ The leader conducted his party through the narrow, crowded thoroughfares to the Federal building and postoffice, where the names of the streets, and the cardinal points of the compass are beautifully inlaid in the marble floor, just beneath the dome of the building. From here he led us by a souvenir postal card store, where we hastily snatched a card to send to mother.

     ¹⁶ After leaving the ticket office most of the Nebraska City people went to Marshall Field's large department store. We went through many departments, spending most of our time in the art galleries. The art galleries consist of ever so many rooms, where we saw many beautiful paintings, some of high value. It was certainly an attractive place for a lover of fine paintings.

     ⁶ Some of the party walked to the lake front and watched, with a crowd of bystanders, mounted troops of artillery practice on the old bed of Lake Michigan. The lake is being pushed farther and farther from the shore, because of Chicago's greedy commercialism. Here, as a party, we received our first epithets, being called at various times, "You teachers," "a show troop," ,"M. E. S. S. picknickers," etc.

     ⁶ Walking to the elevated station, we experienced our first delightful sensation of climbing stairs, and "get your nickel ready," so that we might be ground through the iron gate, which is an "open sesame" to him only, who drops in a nickel or a ticket, unless perchance you happen to be a "Bishop," then you may pass back and forth at your pleasure, with your ticket in your pocket. As we rode through the tenement district, we caught a glimpse of how the other half lives in Chicago--rickety old stairs on unpainted hovels; old dry goods boxes, broken-down dray carts and rubbish of all descriptions; unsightly "ads" such as "Drink Moxie," "Smoke the best cigar," "Budweiser Beer," etc.; washings out on the back porch or the yard; a little child plucking a red geranium, or an old woman stroking a skinny cat. This ride filled one with a desire to transplant these people from their congested districts to the country where the fresh air, the green grass, and the twitter of the birds would replace the city's closeness and din. In the park, mothers were seated with sewing in their hands while 'their children played about them: working

men, too, were lounging at full length asleep upon the grass; picknickers, and sightseers alike, all enjoying the blessings of the park, free of charge.

     ⁵ At 12 a. m. we left Chicago with two of the party missing. On returning from the Park, they had been misdirected, and reached the depot just two minutes after our train pulled out. When our leader saw that they would be left behind, he thoughtfully made all arrangements with the gateman to have them take the next train, which followed several hours later. To our great relief they overtook us about midnight at Detroit.

     ¹⁵ The party started for Jackson Park, but Miss Hanabery asked me to wait a moment while she got her umbrella from the car. When she returned the party had gone, but I proposed that we follow alone as I had been in the city before.

     We reached the entrance to the park just as the rest of the party were coming out, but were told we would have enough time If we hurried. We accordingly entered the park and walked along under the beautiful trees. After a time we asked a policeman the nearest way to the elevated cars, as we thought it time to go back to the city. He told us to cross a bridge which was ahead of us and then take the first turn to the left.

     We felt sure we were going in the wrong direction, though we were going as we had been told. We met an old man who was cleaning up the driveway and he told us to go back but we feared he did not know as well as the policeman, and kept on. At last we came to an entrance, but there was no elevated to be seen. However, we saw two policeman and asked them. They told us it was five blocks away. We inquired if there was any way by which we could reach the city more quickly and they suggested two other routes but thought perhaps the elevated would get there quicker.

     We were out of breath when we reached the station, just too late to catch a car which was starting.

     We got an express in a few moments, but were almost certain we could not reach the depot in time. We sat with our watches in our hands most of the time. I asked a conductor about where to get off. He wanted to know what time our train left and when we said 12:06 he very unfeelingly remarked, "You'll never make it. Train leaves in one minute." A lady with whom I was sitting saw we were in trouble. She very kindly gave us minute directions how to reach the station after we left the car and had me repeat them after her. She encouraged us to try any way and make all possible haste as the train might be delayed a few minutes.

     Bidding our new-found friend a hasty good-bye, we left the elevated

station and made a mad rush for the depot. We saw the track empty even before we were accosted with, "Are you Miss Jackson." "No," replied Miss Hanabery; "but she is," turning to me. "Where have you girls been?" was the next question, the official asked us in a stern tone, though his eyes danced and the man with him was unable to restrain his amusement. No doubt, we were an amusing spectacle, but just at the moment we were too tired to realize it. "At Jackson Park," was our reply; to which he responded, "You may return to the park; your train has gone." We told him we knew it and then we all laughed.

     He then told us that Mr. Bishop had missed us and made arrangements for us to come on the 3:30 train. We looked at the clock then and saw it was 12:10; only four minutes past the time we had tried to get to the station. But we had learned a lesson and after that were on time.

     As soon as the iron gates were opened and we were allowed to go in we sought our train, and tried to get on. There was a porter at each car door and we were sent from one end of the train to the ether, every porter telling us a different car was the one to take. We finally became desperate and said we were going to get on some where and we did and were finally on our way to Detroit.

     ¹² Nebraska is often spoken of as having a great deal of wind and dust. This may be true, but our state is not the only dusty state. After leaving Chicago we had to cross through northern Indiana, northeastern Ohio and eastern Michigan, and it was on this trip that I discovered there are other places in the United States besides Nebraska, where dust can he found in great abundance. It was so warm that we had to have the windows up, but In spite of the screens, it came in so thickly that at times the car looked smoky.

     The crops indicated that they must have been without rain for some time. Corn was only six inches high in the best of fields, although their clover fields compared with ours quite favorably. There is still a great deal of forest, although many trees have been cut down and in places the stumps have not yet been removed. Consequently the land is not yet used for farming, but covered with weeds. One of the ladles remarked that the fences looked as though they had been built in Lincoln's time. And it is true, for a great many rail fences are still found. But they also have barbed wire and woven wire fences. The pastures showed the effects from lack of rain and in them I saw small flocks of sheep grazing, but nowhere did I see a large herd of cattle, such as are commonly seen in Nebraska..

     ¹⁴ Before leaving our car the custom officers inspected our baggage by walking through the car, casting a glance at it, passing out

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© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller