Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1912-1916

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of the world, as he only had 22 men, all told. in his party of insurrectionists.

Emma E. Bond, by request, gave us some interesting impressions of her late stay in Minneapolis, the city itself, handsome and progressive, and the absence of policemen proves the orderly character of the many Scandinavians who have settled there and become valued citizens. “The Rotary Club” composed of women, has 100 members, each of whom represents some business, trade or profession only one being admitted from any vocation.

Florence M, Bond paid a warm tribute to a neglected genius in an article upon Prof. Langley, the inventor of the aeroplane who was ridiculed beyond measure at first, when owing to a trifling imperfection, his machine failed to fly and it was placed in Smithsonian as a curiosity. When the Wright Bros. made a success of his model with a few alterations they gave him much credit, and recently his old machine made in 1903, has been taken out, tinkered up a little and induced to mount in air near Washington.

Ellen Farquhar read a lovely poem by Eliz. Akers Allen, “Little Feet”, -

“Two little feet so small that both may nestle In one caressing hand, Two tender feet upon the untried border Of Life’s mysterious land. Oh! Who many read the future? For our darling We crave all blessings sweet, And pray that He who feeds the crying ravens, Will guide the baby feet.”

Rebecca T. Miller had some remarkable instances of the comparatively new doctrine of Municipal Control of Public Utilities, which has worked especially well in Kansas. Women serve as guardians of cities with marked ability. One policewoman in Topeka, had not only aided young girls and children by the score, but she had persuaded quarrelsome neighbors to settle their difficulties, out of court in a great many instances, and had only arrested

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5 people in a whole year; her motto seems to be the old adage, “Prevention is better than cure.”

India Downey gave an amusing story of a rich old New York merchant who was accustomed to have a drink of fresh spring water every morning. On an inclement day, his coachman refused to go for the same and was ordered to bring the carriage to the front entrance, then told to drive the waiting maid and her pitcher to the spring, return with the water, and put the team in the stable!

Mary E. Gilpin brought us the history of the establishing by Jacob Riis, in Mulberry St. N. Y. of an immense Flower Mission in 1888. He had brought from the country an armful of wild flowers every morning for some time, and finding the demand exceeded the supply, he concluded to call public attention to the fact that the poor children of the city were delighted to have even a few daisies and that if others would aid him in furnishing the flowers he would have them distributed from Mulberry St. opposite the Police Sta. The result was blossoms by the wagon load, and a corps of volunteer workers, aided by the Police, made many sad hearts brighter.

Mary Magruder brought a number of attractive cards giving us a hint of the two beautiful Expositions she had so greatly enjoyed in Calif. last winter and spring.

Margaret G. T. Moore had a pretty rhyme on “Contentment”,

“A bit of blue sky with a cloud sailing through A bright dash of sunshine, a posy or two, The song of a bird as it sits on a tree And the laughter of children, from over the lea, The scent of the hay, as it dries in the sun, And the smell of the earth where the plow share has run, The knowledge if God in his Heaven above, And the glory of having some good friends to love.”

Fanny Snowden amused the whole company by relating a story of how The Library of Congress impressed her laundress. Christy had seen “The Ave” and the 7t St. stores, but the rest of Washington, except at long distance, was unknown to the naturally bright woman. She seated herself in the Library and gazed up and

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down with wonder and awe, then said, “It never could have been made with hands” it must have been spoke finished”!

Eliz. C. Davis read of “The Eng. School of Gardening” established by Lady Wolsey who has been made an Hon.member of the London Gardener’s Club and is the first woman on the roll. The girl gardeners have been usually from the middle class, but their leader is trying to interest woman of higher education.

Mary T. Bond borught a tribute to the oratorical gifts of Emerson, who had a fine musical voice and his education was said to be perfect.

Wendell Phillips also charmed his audiences not only by the matter, but the manner of his speeches.

Albina O. Stabler had a little poem which appealed to the many grandmothers present, we are sure, so it shall be preserved for a future generation, possibly, - “Seats of the Mighty”.

“Of all the chairs of church or state, Bench, wool-sack, throne or what you will Tis written in the book of fate The high chair is the highest still.

Lolled in his office chair there sits The master of a thousand mills; Men toil or rest as he permits; Men fail or prosper as he wills.

Perched on the polished bench, where strife Cried to condemn or pleased to save Sits one, and blots the light of life, Or nods another to the grave.

But over all and over each Another sits who must be reckoned; The eternal woman comes to teach The first of men he is but second.

Yet hardly is her reign begun Till she must learn as she has schooled; For lo! there comes the helpless one And rules the ruler of the ruled.

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For chairs of church, or seats of state, Bench, wool-sack, throne or what you will, Are only relatively great The high chair is the highest still.”

Pattie T. Farquhar was advised to set out trees of Persian Walnuts from a nursery, since the planting of nuts may not insure a fine article.

Helen B. Lea gave some acct. of the activity of ladies in Rutherford, N. J. who are interested in Red Cross work, 1000 garments have been sent recently to the stricken people of Belgium and France many of whom are refugees in dire need.

Hallie J. Bentley’s selection was an acct. of the famous gilded horses which have so long adorned the front of St. Mark’s splendid church in Venice. Napoleon carried them off to France (Paris), in 1812, but they were returned in two years by means of a treaty, and have remained on their proud eminence in peace, more than a hundred years. Are said to be in a safer place, now there is danger from the heavens above and the waters below to poor distracted Europe. Estelle T. Moore contributed a brief poem on “Hunger”, not of the body, but of the soul, and a rich man’s face may indicate it as sadly as that of a tramp.

Ellen Farquhar thought it not too late to plant straw flowers “if the winter ever breaks.” Perhaps a note should be made here of the remarkable cool and damp weather which has prevailed for weeks in this vicinity, only 2 or 3 really warm days and scarcely as many nights so far. Those who attended the mtg. if the Co. Fed. agreed in praise of the fine women assembled and the interest manifested by all in united efforts toward local improvement.

A kindly motion was made and carried, to allow the Sec’y to offer her own little piece or pieces, first at every other mtg. of The Asso. frequently she concludes there has been so much of value presented already, nothing more is needed. She gave first a sketch of Chas. Y. Turner, once a poor Balto. boy, who longed to study Art. Now, with a fine reputation and

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large contracts for public buildings, he is Director of the Md. Art Inst. Despite his 62 yrs. and gray hairs he has the heart of a boy and says he intends to be a sculptor someday. Mural paintings seem to be his specialty, but such artistic talent would permit fame in almost any line of similar work, we believe.

Since 1882 he has had many honors bestowed by Academies and Expositions, and he excels in historical pictures. M. B. T. read some extracts from a letter written several years since by her cousin Edith N. Brubaker, describing one of her many trips to Germany, then a land of peace and beauty.

After a pleasant social we adjourned to “Homewood” 7-1-1915. Mary Bentley Thomas, Sec’y.

Homewood. 7-1-1915

The three sisters, Elma P. Chandlee, Annie M. Chandlee and Hallie J. Bentley, entertained the Asso. for the first time at Homewood on the afternoon of 7-1-1915.

Guests were Elizabeth Iddings, Mrs. Bradley, Helen, Harriet, Helen B. and Lucy K. Lea, Mary Muncaster, Margaret S. Jones, Fanny L. Dickerson, Mary B. Hutton, Mary A. Gilpin and Florence M. Bentley. The sentiment given by Elma P. Chandlee, was from Chas. Kingsley, - “Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do that must be done whether you like it or not. Proceed to do your best and being forced to work will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, and a hundred virtues the idle never know.”

E. P. C. ‘s second selection was a bright little poem on “Old Fashioned Things,” –

“There’s a charm about old-fashioned things Grandmother’s spinning wheel, her Paisley shawl, Her candle molds, her quaint old-fashioned rings. The tall old clock that used to guard the hall And we forget amid our new facilities That Grandma, in her day, was up to date