Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1912-1916

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something which places him ahead of all others”.

Emilie T. Massey’s selection was, “A Rosary of Joys”, by Annie Johnson Flint.

“There are so many sorrows in our lives, Oh, let us take the little joys we find And thread them like a string of pearls, To count them o’er and keep them all in mind.

A day of sunshine when we looked for rain, A sudden birdsong when the skies are gray; The first frost painted leaf that flutters down, The breeze that blows some vexing thoughts away;

The sleep that bears us from toil and care, And gives new strength to meet the day’s demand; And oh, above the rest, the faithful friends Who always love and always understand.

Yea, life hath many sorrows for us all, And hearts grow faint with long-continued ill; But let us clasp our rosary of joys And hold them in our dear remembrance still.”

Harriet I. Lea had a single good paragraph entitled, “Happiness”.

“Laughter is not only contagious; it is inspiring and among the minor moralities it holds a high place. We may question the right of any man to by gloomy since there is always more light than shadow in every life. But, surely, we must assert the duty of happiness because it effects the common life. A happy person makes all around him happy. Nor is it difficult to cultivate this grace. With wide-open eyes the sensible man can certainly see enough to make him glad. Nature in all her beauty; the sunlit landscapes on the pages of the history of the past life; the friends, the daily comforts of God’s love, are enough to make one ashamed of grumbling. It is well for us to know, and it can be frankly spoken, that the cross, complaining, gloomy man is as bad for the moral health of a community as the thief or the drunkard.”

Anna Gilpin Hickok, who spends part of every

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year in Texans, told us by request, some interesting things about rice and cotton culture in that great state. She said there were many flourishing clubs for women in a town of 10,000 inhabitants.

Sallie R. Janney gave selections from a delightful book by the Rev. Oliver Huckel of Balto.

“Through England with Tennyson”. This introduces the reader to many parts of England associated with the loved Poet Laureate, from his birth place at Somersby, Lincolnshire, in East England, to the Poets corner in Westminster where he rests, fittingly near the graves or memorials of distinguished men who have left the world richer than they found it. Albina O. Stabler’s excellent little sermon was upon the small things of life, which too often, are allowed to upset us, because they are so trivial. Where there are cares there is peace.”

“The unnecessary worry is the thing that ails us all, The dread of dropping something or of hearing something fall The fighting off a trouble that the Lord may never send – We want to think more often of how much He is our Friend, And then the chance to worry will be lost so far in cheer We won’t have time for worry or for trouble or for fear, For anyhow the worry doesn’t mend the case a bit, It’s the facing care with courage that we need to settle it.”

It was thought to. be the hope of every man to reach Heaven, but we all have a Heaven on Earth to-day in the beauty of Nature in the Spring time.

At this point we digressed after our pleasant old custom, to have an experience meeting upon salads. The bitter green dandelion was placed very low in the list, and water-cress near the top. The latter, if once planted on the banks of a stream, unless too severely pastured off by stock, will grow by the bushel, literally, with no more attention in year’s time.

Sarah T. Miller’s clipping was upon “Prayer and Therapeutics”. Like “Sharley” in “Queed” with regard to the word “hedonist” we retired, later to look up the latter word in the dictionary, as it had never been used in “Belmont” before, and found that it meant “The Science of Healing”, hence. Prof. James’ (of Harvard) statement that in prayer spiritual energy

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which otherwise would slumber, does become active and in certain environments, may contribute to recovery of the sick”. Dr. Hyslop of Bridewell Hospital, London, says, “Of all hygiene measures to counteract disturbed sleep and depression of spirits, I would undoubtedly give the first place to the simple habit of prayer. Such a habit does more to clean the spirit and strengthen the soul than any other therapeutic agent known to me.”

Sarah F. Willson told us that the man of the stone age had corn, wheat, barley, rye and oats, not only all these but a recent discovery among his remains, proves that he could have regaled himself upon buckwheat cakes as well. Rome and Egypt had incubators in very ancient times, or rather eggs were hatched in piles of manure kept warm. An English traveler in Egypt during the 16th century describes the simple incubator, adding he should never have believed it if he had not seen the chicks hatching out before his astonished gaze. One of S. F. W.’s small sons had tried the experiment, with one egg in a flower pot of manure upon the front porch, but his mother had ordered the removal of what was fast becoming a nuisance, before his plan had been tried long enough to prove anything.

Rebecca T. Miller brought us a reminder that one hot afternoon does not bring summer, but instead of becoming impatient at the necessity for warm clothes and fires, let us brighten our lives by walks over the farm and enjoy the wild plants and trees.

Eliz. C. Davis commended the “honest garlic” as a piquant flavor, to be used sparingly. She then read a sketch of Luther Burbank who is believed by many to deserve the title of “Wizard of Calif.” If he has done no more than to transform the thorny cactus into an edible forage plant for cattle, that bears a delicious little fruit for humankind, he has accomplished a marvel.

Eliz. T. Stabler read a most interesting description of Santa Fe, The Pueblos and their inhabitants

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the Grand Canyon, and other wondrous sights for the Calif. tourist along the route to Los Angeles she traversed last winter. Her essay was so much enjoyed we regret not being able to give pages of it instead of this meager, but appreciative note.

Madge Moore gave a short story with the obvious moral, “Do not be too curious about trifles”.

Martha Holland told us that “Riches which do not bring happiness ought to be avoided, - he who lives on the verge of debt may be more contented than one who is wealthy.”

Ellen Farquhar’s article was strongly against strenuosity in managing children, and she seemed to think it was far better to lean to indulgence, rather than severity, in all cases at all times.

Estelle T. Moore introduced us very agreeably to George Westinghouse, the man who patented inventions by the thousand, - is best known by his merciful air-brake system for trains, and his having originated the Saturday half-holiday.

Mary E. Thomas read some amusing slips of authors, - “Marjory cast her eyes far out to sea,” – As a “Caster” old Ike Walton has nothing on Marjory. “Speechless with horror and loathing, I tottered, a helpless jelly against the jamb.” That mess was cleaned up in the next chapter! “He blew smoke rings through his half-shut eyes”. We have seen this done with the nose!

Alice Tyson caused a hearty laugh by a new recipe for feeding a baby, “Take the white of 1 egg, pour a quart of boiling water on it, and when cool give it to the child!” She also contributed a few excellent rules of conduct. “If you want to be loved do not contradict people even if you are sure you are right. Do not be inquisitive about the affairs of even your most intimate friends; do not believe any one is more happy than you, or that you never have any opportunities; do not jeer at anybody’s religion; do not repeat gossip even if it might interest your hearers”.

The Sec’y brought two cartoons she had enjoyed, one of South America “tipping up” so that it detached itself from the Isthmus of Panama, when Roosevelt stepped on land at Rio de Janeiro last

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October. The other was a distracted father, and citizen of Chicago being put through an exam, by his wife, daughter and the cook, as to the qualifications of a voter in his abiding place. Such questions as, “What are the bounds of your precinct?” “What residence is necessary in a ward to qualify a voter?” and “Please sir, do I lose my vote if I marry a foreign gentleman?”, had caused him to break out into a profuse perspiration all over his countenance which bore a look of agony.

M. B. T. also offered curious items and advertisements from an Alex. Gazette of Nov. 19th, 1840. A great jubilee in honor of the election of Harrison and Tyler was to be given shortly, and Robert H. Miller had received, “by ship Alexandria direct from Liverpool, 57 creates of earthenware mfg’d for him.” By next arrival he expects supplies of wares with “Harrison and Log Cabin” decorations from designs sent out to the Potteries by himself. (Whig!) Merchants will be supplies upon the Credit system at reasonable prices in time to celebrate the approaching triumph of correct principles.”

The name of Mary B. Hutton was placed upon the waiting list.

Adjourned to the home of Albina O. Stabler, afterwards changed to that of our old friend Jennie Holtzman of Washington, by special invitation, for the 2nd time. Owing to illness in the families of several members the first could not be accepted.

Mary Bentley Thomas, Sec’y.