Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1896-1900

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discover and note that neatness reigned in that beautiful garden, that the variety of foliage and blossom was most unusual, that even the vines were conformable and neither straggled aimlessly in air nor made unasked a wilderness of roots around their support, that weeds were not, that soft green grass framed the beds, that the plants were unfirmly vigorous and that there would probably be no break in the well ordered procession of bud and bloom until November's blast shall mow down the last brave chrysanthemum and gentian. Last but not least to the eye of the thrifty housewife were rows upon rows of most promising early and late vegetable standing like body guards beside their brilliant relations, each enhancing the attraction of the other and all forming a striking object lesson of what intelligent labor and exceeding energy can accomplish. Adjourned to the home of Martha Holland

Mary Bentley Thomas sec.

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7/29- 1897, found the Association in session at the hospitable home of Martha Holland with a good attendance of members and the following visitors Harriet T. Kirk, Virginia H. Steer and Florence H. Riggs of Phila. Belle W. Haumene of Pa. Sarah Needles and Janet M. Palmer of Baltimore, Elsie P. Brown and Mary Porter of Washington, Mary Nicholls of Texas, Sally Matthews of Howard Co. and Mary Holland. The sentiment given by the hostess was

"Where the world needs workers, be there Where there's wrong, there make right, Where there's need, is thy mission Home or foreign, day or night"

Mary E. Moore, who had an unusual press of home duties recently was excused.

Ellen Farquhar read " Things we ought to know" which gave a number of practical hints among them being the statement that powdered soap would exterminate roaches, and hot alum water other vermin. Eliza N. Moore had a pretty sketch of Jean Ingelow, whose death has called attention to her true levity, notably. "Songs of Seven" and "High Tide on the coast of Lincolnshire". The modest and sympathetic nature of Miss Ingelow endeared her to all who knew her. E.N.M. also read an article on " Poetic Queens" which awarded the palm to "Carmen Sylvia" Queen Elizabeth of Romania It would seem that the wearing of a crown does not prevent the writing of much verse some of which is

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decidedly above mediocrity, Margaret S. Holland in "Victoria's Regal Right" straightened out the somewhat tangled relationship of English royalty past and present and explained how the crown naturally reposed upon Victoria's braided locks and poke bonnet instead of upon the perukes of several uncle Dukes. This was followed by verses of Eugene Fields " My Playmates" full of birds, and flowers, and country byways, and little folk, which recalled childhood and anured by school house to memory. We were told that Miss Field was reading her fathers poems to pleased audiences in the large cities. Lydia G. Thomas gave us an incident in the early life of Florence Nightingale, her first patient was a favorite dog whose life she saved by formenting its bruised leg for hours.

Elizabeth G. Thomas contributed " A Southern Woman's view of Colorado", a most favorable showing of the practical working of Woman Suffrage in that state and a short piece called "The Worlds good and bad" which claimed that the daily press was responsible for our too low estimate of our brother man in the aggregate and assured us that people are better than many of us suppose. Virginia Steer read "The unseen Toilers" containing the fine thought that the humblest occupation has in it materials of discipline for the highest Heaven. Mary S. Osborne brought us a short story, given her long ago by Lucy Fawcett of an old colored woman, " Thanksgiving Ann, who practised what the called "systematics in givin"

Sarah T. Miller recounted her impressions of

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Sam Small whose home spun oratory may reach the masses where a Minot Savage would possibly not strike the key note, but whether such speakers are capable of making a lasting impression was doubted by some. S. T. M. gave in addition selections from "Reflections of a Married Man" dealing in an amusing manner with the haps and mishaps of everyday life. Mary Potter favored us with a poem "My little Neighbor". Sarah E. Stabler's offering was a lovely sermon in rhyme "Sometime" teaching resignation in accepting losses secure in the knowledge that the purpose of the Infinite would be finally revealed and all things work together for good eventually. The secretary gave a short description of the wonderful George jr. Republic, in New York State, whose citizens ranging in age from seven to seventeen years come from the slums of New York City and govern themselves surprisingly well. She also asked each person present to describe some curiosity peculiar to their home or farm and the list was -- At Oak Grove a gold mine working in 1845; At Cherry Grove the big chestnut tree and the corner cupboard of rare red china; At Mt. Airy several ancient tombstones and a pear tree that has borne fruit since 1807; At Harewood the original Sandy Spring; At Clifton a curious pile of rocks and according to the generations of children a ghost named "Betsy"; At Norwood the long boxwalk; On Belmont farm a ditch some 3/4 miles in extent cut to try an

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experiment in irrigation some 75 years since; At Cloverly the tremendous spread of an oak and what is thought to be a pre-historic stone mill. It is hoped this list may be extended later.

Eliza N. Moore one of a com. appointed to prepare a memoir of our late beloved associate and teacher offered a brief paper which was accepted with thanks as a fitting and beautiful tribute to the life and character of one who did much indeed to make our society successful and valuable.

As usual the article will be copied in this book. *

After the exercises the whole company repaired to the flower garden which contained a remarkable bed of caunas, a splendid verbena and an unusual variety of fine foliage plants in the most thrifty condition. The poultry too must have honorable mention. Adjourned to Oak Grove.

Mary Bentley Thomas Sec

* For obituary of Hadassah J. Moore page 62