Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1896-1900

117

Our hostess said she wished the Association had met on the 23rd instead of the 24th because that was Queen Victoria's birthday and she read a glowing description of the inspiring ceremonies at Windsor and an editorial which treated of the nobility of the woman rather than the mighty sovereign. Victoria was said to have outlived 19 of our Presidents coming to the throne when Andrew Jackson was at the White House.

Sarah Stone and Martha Holland were excused. Caroline Scott read a short poem part of which was caught-

"Keep out of the past, it is lonely and barren and bleak to the view, It's fires have grown cold, its stories are old Turn, turn to the present and new".

Elizabeth Scott told of the curious custom of saluting a passing cat at an army post in India by the superstitious native soldiers. Ellen Farquhar have a cute letter from a little girl in Tenleytown Md. to Rudyard Kipling and his apt and courteous reply to his young admirer. She also read a poem contrasting the woman teacher who could not vote with the toper who could. Mary G. Colt had an interesting article treating of the manner in which children perfectly blind are being taught to cook, the results were remarkable when one considers the handicapped condition of the pupils. Carrie S. Brooke said she had brought something upon the vexed servant question which would seem to have not two sides but seven occasionally. A cooking class was formed by enthusiastic reformers in a poor section of New York City , but scarcely anybody attended to learn while a class in the manufacture of tissue paper flowers was popular. May this not have been due, however, to the unlovely surroundings of these poverty stricken women who naturally turned

118

to an accomplishment which might beautify their homes, rather than to the cook stove where there was probably little to cook. Elizabeth C. Davis read Alfred Austin's birthday ode to the Queen saying that if it had not emanated from such a high source she might have thought some lines too long and some too short. Most of her hearers apparently shared her estimate of the efforts of Alfred the less who if he had not experienced the ill-luck to succeed the greater Alfred might have been more highly appreciated.

Margaret S. Hallowell gave from Friends Intelligencer a beautiful memoir of our former valued member Mary Willis Kirk: eight of her pupils were present and most of them recalled some pleasant incident of schooldays at old Fair Hill or testified to the sterling worth of character of their departed teacher.

Sally Bond said she hesitated to give a little domestic scrap next but she finally told us of the value of a cleaning powder known as "Gold Dust", it was especially good for lamp chimneys and soiled paint. Margaret S. Hallowell advocated giving children pets and inducing boys to cultivate flowers as a softening influence. A very suggestive essay read by Mary T. Bond declared small farming a refuge from poverty and deplored the fact that so many of the working class make no effort to thus enhance the beauty of their homes as well as the comfort and health of their families. Sarah E. Stabler's selection "Too little Rest" was a plea for the mother who was said to be more valuable as a counsellor than as seamstress or cook, and women were urged to attempt less and thus achieve better results in important directions.

119

Sarah T. Miller favored us with a graphic account of the recent Suffrage Convention, at Grand Rapids, from the ready pen of Alice Stone Blackwell. This was supplemented by the secretary who had found much to interest her in the many things going on as well as in the helpful encouraging gathering of women from all over the Union. Elizabeth G. Thomas had a single verse,

"Seldom can the heart be lonely if it seek a lonelier still, self forgetting, seeking only empty cups of love to fill".

Louisa T Brooke's clipping, also short, was upon making the best use of individual ability, "Not what a man can do but what he does is the measure of his value. An engine of one cat power in motion can accomplish more than a 40 horse power standing still".

The sec. read what is said to be the best Club Poem extant by Mrs. Sara Palmer-

"What is a womans Club? A meeting ground For those of purpose great and broad and strong, Whose aim is towards the stars; who ever long to make the patient listening world resound With sweeter music, purer, nobler tones. A place where kindly helpful words are said And kindlier deeds are done; where hearts are fed; Where wealth of brain for poverty atones, And hand grasps hand and soul finds touch with soul. Where victors in the race for fame and power Look backward, even in this triumph hour, To beckon others toward the shining goal.

"What is a woman's Club? The fabric of a dream

120

Touched with an altar coal and made alive, Instinct with hope for those who toil and strive And wait to catch that joyous day's first gleam That ushers in a better, freer age, When right for one shall be for all the right; When all together in life's [recoil?] and fight The war for right and truth shall bravely rage".

The gardens were visited and we found fair promise of beauty and plenty. The ancient box alley was admired, alike, by those who had traversed its green lane many times and by the few who did so for the first time. Elizabeth G. Thomas informed us it was planted by Philip E. Thomas who rented the place, then called "Pretty Prospect" from about 1812 to 1814, the war having induced him to seek a quiet home for his family. We have heard that on his departure he remarked- "land in Montgomery Co. is like some kinds of religion the more a man has the poorer he is". Adjourned to Plainfield

Mary Bentley Thomas Sec.

6/29-1899

The Association gathered at Plainfield, several members were absent from indisposition, one was attending a wedding in Baltimore and another was in Germany on her way to the North Cape. Guests were Hannah B. Stabler, Margaret G. T. Moore, Pattie R. Stabler, Mrs Duble, Bessie Miller Wright, Pattie T. Farquhar, Clara A. Moore and Mary A. Gilpin. Mary E. Moore's sentiment was "that which we are - we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily". Ellen Farquhar said as one of our

121

number was to visit Norway shortly she would read of that "land of pure delight" where the traveler sees no loafers, no beggars, no big hotels: a more unconventional place it would be hard to find. This article she supplemented by an amusing story of a Boston baby whose language was that of a Harvard graduate very nearly. Pattie K. Stabler, read "Neglected Heart Chances", we must live and learn but the trouble is we don't always learn soon enough to value those nearest and dearest while they are on earth. Elizabeth G. Thomas gave an account of a remarkable girl of 13 named Mary Antin who recently came to America from the Steppes of Russia and is now astonishing both teachers and pupils at the Boston Latin School. As her chief talent seems to lie in the direction of authorship she will doubtless be heard from later in these columns. E. G. T. gave in addition two prize essays, of 100 words a piece, for and against emancipation which appeared to convince every woman present that her previous opinion was correct. Louisa T. Brooke brought another incident in Helen Keller's marvellous educational career. She has been permitted to examine the statuary in the Boston Museum, by touching the figures at will with her sensitive fingers, a step ladder being used when needed. The perception manifested by this rare girl astonished even those familiar with her former achievements. Mary G. Colt gave "A Chance for old ladies" a matrimonial advertisement by a man of 80 yrs. On being currently dissuaded from venturing into such dubious matrimonial ways she disclaimed all personal attentions of such character