- compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"Well, I like Kansas right well. Of course, some things are not just to my way of thinking, but that is nothing," — words from a lady named Rebecca Smith and written to A.W. Robinson, editor of the Valley Falls New Era, May 1888.
Mrs. Smith explained, "Mr. Editor, I am an old woman a' visiting in Valley Falls. I have been here about three weeks. My home is in Missouri, and my daughter lives there, and she takes the New Era. See, I thought if I wrote a letter for your paper she would see it and it would tickle her mightily to have her Ma writin' for papers. I go around a good deal and I mean to as long as I stay.
"Last week I had an invite to a woman's suffrage club; they was to have a Whittier lunch. I never heard of that before, but I didn't want to show my ignorance too much, so I never inquired anything about it, but I made up my mind I'd go and find out and maybe I'd get some new ideas to to tell our mite society when I go home.
"Well, I went and the women were all sitting around the room dressed up in their best bib and tucker and everyone had on a yellow ribbon. I expect that is the style. One woman they called Mrs. President began to talk about Whittier, a man that makes rhymes, you know, and she told where he was born and how old he is and a whole pack of stuff. I guess she is purty well acquainted with him; then she called on all the rest of the women and some read about him and some told scraps of history and some recited his poetry.
"I tell you they did give that old man a big send off and I made bold to ask a slip of a girl near me what they talked about Mr. Whittier so much for and she said, 'O, he is a great equal suffrage man!' and then some more pretty girls brought in the nicest supper and the tea was just splendid. I tell you, nothing lifts an old lady like a good strong cup of tea, and Mr. Editor, that was a Whittier lunch. I have learned that much."
Rebecca will continue to write letters to the editor relating her experiences in Valley Falls.
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30. Admission is free.
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