in their respective denominations — the heads of the theological departments. One community can rarely boast of two men of such gigantic intellectual and moral strength and their influence can not be estimated by mortal man. Waco has furnished two governors of Texas, two judges of the court of civil appeals, one attorney general, besides giving citizens to state departments and many minor state offices. Texas is a vast territory, but she is only allowed two United States senators — Waco furnished one of these for twenty years, who served his people faithfully and his record is open to the public.
Waco proved herself a quarter, or perhaps a half century ahead of the times in having literary clubs composed of both men and women. The first was known as "The Teachers' Reading Circle" in 18S5-86, composed principally of the teachers from the public schools and presided over by Judge J. N. Gallagher, city superintendent at that time. It did not survive the second summer. The second organized in about 1890 was known as the "Waco Shakespeare Club" and was organized by one of Waco's most gifted and charming girls. Miss Eddie Graham (now Mrs. George Coates of Abilene). The membership included the most cultured young girls and professional men who were in Waco society at that time. Removals from the city and one or two epidemics of matrimony finally caused the demise of the club, and most of the women members who still live in Waco were absorbed in the various clubs for women (and the men, loyal "club husbands" in most instances). The period of three or four years that it flourished marked an epoch in Waco's social history and I have heard one of the best informed of Waco's women say, that in the forty years she has lived in Waco there was never a set of young people who were the intellectual and social equals of the young men and women who composed the first "Waco Shakespeare Club." There are many persons in this town who do not know such a club existed, but its influence will last nevertheless for the women were broadened and the men made better and purer by this association. There was an intellectual community of interest established in reading and discussing together the masterpieces of literature, that could never be obtained even by the same individuals in the ordinary social intercourse of the card party, reception or dance.
Waco is the home of the Texas Floral Association, the first and largest of its kind in Texas. Its influence has been marked in cur civic improvement.
Waco provided the first president for the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs in Mrs. Edward Rotan, who was elected at the first convention of fifteen clubs called to meet in Waco to organize a State Federation, the call having been issued by the Woman's Club of Waco. So Waco is also the birthplace of the Texas State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in May, 1897.
If I commence to enumerate the women of Waco who have made reputation in literature, music, educational and philanthropic work, and the splendid women who have helped in her upbuilding, I should have to start a new volume.
GREATER WACO; A GIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE.
To sum up, while we confidently anticipate a "Greater Waco," we will recall just a few things that have happened within the
