Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1896-1900

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were paid to her life and character and the hope expressed that others would emulate her shining example in always bringing or sending some contribution to The Association. Adjourned to the Cottage.

Mary Bentley Thomas sec.

1/20 1898 The Association assembled in the pleasant long parlor of The Cottage. Mary Osborne and Albina O. Stabler were in Baltimore, Ellen Farquhar in Wilmington, Eliza N. Moore and Mary G. Colt in New York all of whom were missed from our miniature Sorosis. Guests Harriet Jackson, Martha S. Townsend, Hannah B. Stabler, Carrie L. Brooke, Cornelia N. Stabler, Helen Lea, Carrie M. Brooke, Mary E. Gilpin, Mariana S. Miller, Emma and Alice T. Stabler. The sentiment of the hostess was " We are too fond of our own wills. We want to be doing what we fancy mighty things, but the great point is to do small things, when called to them, in a mighty spirit" As our meetings always exemplify the line " Variety's the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor" it did not shock any one that the homely topic of lamp wicks should be introduced immediately after the fine quotation above. We were advised to soak the wicks in vinegar and sew a piece of canton flannel on rather than to renew them frequently. Hannah B. Stabler said she would experiment and report. " He Careth " had been selected by both Anna F. Gilpin and

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Mary E. Moore the concluding stanza of which shall have a place here.

" Let all who are sad take heart again We are not alone in our hours of pain. Our father stoops from his throne above To soothe and quiet us with his love. He leaves us not when the storm is high And we have safety for he is nigh. Can it be trouble which he doth share? Oh, rest in peace, for the Lord does care".

Carrie S. Brooke, who although not a member invariably and acceptably contributes when she joins us, read " God's Message", a beautiful poem and an extract from Margaret Bottome - "He gave and he forgave" a legend of a saint who asked the boon of doing a good deal of good without knowing it himself. Elizabeth G. Thomas had brought verses by her friend Mrs Oldes of Wash. upon the incident of her childhood, seeing from afar her father standing in the doorway on her return home, in the dark, and the comfort it gave her.

The next contribution treated of a practical religion which should project the honey moon into the harvest moon which one member thought was the kind she would like everybody else to have.

Cornelia N. Stabler read " Perfect through suffering". She spoke of the loss to Baltimore in the recent death of the philanthropist Joseph Elliot of that city. Harriet Jackson as

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substitute for Lydia G. Thomas who was not able to attend gave us, "In thy House" an excellent scrap urging us to address and keep our spirits that visitors viewing our inner life should see only beauty and order. An incident in Raphael's life was read by Mary P. T. Jackson. The artist in some need at an inn painted some guineas on a wooden table in his room and the landlord allowed him to depart in peace. A wealthy English tourist appeased the rage of Bonifacio by offering to buy the table for much more than the amount of the board bill. M.J. also read of the temperance Divine, John Ritchie, who in telling a party of rowdies that whisky was their worst enemy was reminded how he had a few minutes before expounded upon "loving ones enemies" to which he replied "yes but you need not swallow them". We were told of the wonders of the dead Letter office where 6000 letters are handled every day and of the marvellous work of the "blind clerk" Mrs. Patty Lyle Collins, whose sole duty is to decipher addresses that no one else has been able to read. In the museum are to be seen an alligator a Hindoo Idol, a human scull and a base ball mask with many other extraordinary articles not generally considered mailable.

Sarah T. Miller favored us with a graphic story "The Ram Cats Kittens" illustrated by Lillie Hallowell, and a very good cat tale it was.

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Margaret S. Hallowell's article was about Queen Victoria's cradle afterwards used for all her children and now being rocked for the happiness (or misery) of a third generation of royalty. Alice T. Stabler gave a history of the coronation chair of England whose stone seat according to tradition, was that upon which Jacobs head once rested. Sarah E. Stabler read "The little Knight" a boy pedler who picked up his heavy pack before the car stopped so as to get accustomed to his load. The moral being that it is best to pick up the right things of life promptly and get used to doing them.

Admirable extracts from Ella Wheeler Wilcox and from Stevenson, were given too long to quote entire and single verse would be too slight a sip. An allusion to looking on the darker side brought out an anecdote of Rebecca Russell who on being asked at the age of 100 years why she had so few wrinkles replied that the probable reason was because she did not make herself unhappy with either dismal retrospects or forebodings.

The question of the establishment of a laundry in Sandy Spring was thoroughly ventilated, eight or ten women present expected to patronize it if the cost were not much more than having the washing done at home. The secretary had called the chapter from "What one woman thinks" entitled "The domestic hunting ground" which seemed to

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be very amusing. The writer was very witty in the vain search for daily papers and small articles of wearing apparel which delight the "legal male mind" and she believed men were much better suited by nature to discover unknown continents and obscure scientific facts than to run to earth the elusive collar button or the ubiquitous note book.

Some environs statistics of the daily consumption of pie in cultured Boston came next and then the rules of a new society "The Don't Worry Club" a few of which shall find a place here.

Cultivate a spirit of gratitude for daily mercies. Realize worrying as an enemy which destroys happiness. Help and comfort your neighbor. Forgive your enemies and conquer your averseries"

Our dear friend Martha S. Townsend expressed her pleasure at being with us on this occasion.

Adjourned to Cherry Grove

Mary Bentley Thomas Sec.

Cherry Grove. As if to make amends for the drifting snows and piercing wind of the previous meeting at this place, 2/24/1898 was a beautiful winter day and a happy company assembled at noon in the homestead whose doors seem to open of themselves to all sorts and conditions of men , women and children.

Our guests were Carrie L. Brooke, Ellen Stabler, Kate D. Shoemaker, Mary Magruder, Edith Warfield and Mary E. Thomas. Our hostess offered this sentiment -