Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1912-1916

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finding the result to be satisfactory he patented the idea himself. Women frequently, as in this case, when occupied with a large family and the necessary duties, contrive things that will be a daily help with no thought of return.

Estelle Moore also asked for receipt for preserving yellow tomatoes, - Emma Stabler’s preferred.

Eliz Stabler read us a beautiful poem “Silent Life”, in part as follows:

“We lead two lives the outward seeming fair And full of smiles that on the surface lie The other spent in many a silent prayer Put thoughts and feelings hidden from the eye. The Silent Life, not those we love may share Though day by day we thrive to draw them close Our secret chambers none may enter there Save that one eye that never seeks repose.”

Mrs. Shoemaker told of her very useful fireless cooker, on one occasion enclosing her dinner in her cooker before moving to another home, when the moving was over the dinner was done. Rebecca Miller told of the origin of “The House by the Side of the Road” in a very interesting manner.

May Thomas attended mtg. of Fed. of Woman’s Clubs, pledged to improve the Rockville Fair, so they may have better side shows. They were anxious to have a parade of automobiles, all lady members asked to wear badges. The liquor question on the grounds to be looked into, the officers of the Fair giving this thing entirely in the hands of the women.

M. E. T. also read of a bureau of information, where busy Club women may go for assistance on any question in regard to a Club Program, - also gave us “The Club Woman’s Decalogue”, - “Thou shalt set no other club above thine own – Thou shalt not worship any false ideals, - Remember thy Club day and be prepared. Honor thy Club Members, - Thou shalt not murder the King’s English – Thou shalt not covet empty honors – Thou shalt be present at every mtg. Thou shalt not set thyself

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above thy club sisters, - Thou shalt not at the last moment write thy paper.

India Downey read of a lawyer who asked a witness what a miracle is, - the witness not knowing, the lawyer asked, - “Should a man fall from the Twelfth story of a bldg. 3 times, and be saved each time what would that be?” The witness promptly replied, “A habit”.

Ellen Farquhar gave a very interesting little talk of her trip to Calif. to the two Exhib’s, - the beauty of the country, equisite flowers & fruits, far exceeding the wonders of the Exhib, as wrought by man, in her estimation. We were sorry she felt she could not continue at greater length, much she saw being too wonderful to tell. One place she mentioned had Pop. 47, speed limit 101.

Elma Chandlee told of Bump, a meter for measuring bumps in the road, and also of birds as sentries, - parrots, and many times sea gulls hearing the approaching aircraft before the sound is detected by the ears of men.

Hallie Bentley read most amusing items from the papers of school boys. I copy a few, - “The German Emperor has been called the Geyser” – “Shakespeare founded ‘As You Like It’ on a book written by Sir Owen Lodge,” – “Geo. Washington was a land savory”, - Geo. Eliot left a wife and children to mourn his genii.” “Franklin provided electricity by rubbing cats together. “Henry VIII was very fat besides being a non-conformist.” “Tennyson wrote a poem called ‘Graves Energy’.”

Margaret Moore read a poem, - “A Lovely August Morning”, -

“The head of life is ringing in the golden land to-day, The lovely August meadows have so many things to say The meadows of Old Maryland, in their glory and their light, Wait the harvest moon to crown them when she swims the azure night.”

Fanny Snowden read us of the manufacture of bay-berry candles at Cape Cod, their candles being much sought after of late years. “A Bay-berry candle brings luck to the house and gold to the pocket.”

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The Gospel of the Pyramids read by Virginia Steer was of much interest. Sarah Miller read a hospital story, - also wished to hear of a cook, - after which we adjourned to meet with Sallie R. Janney, Sept. 2nd, 1915.

Eliz. C. Davis, Sec’y protem

716th mtg. Brooke Meadow 9-2-1915

The afternoon of 9-2-1915 found us assembled at the interesting old home of John H. and Sallie R. Janney. Our guests were Cath. H. Janney, Ethel H. Janney, Eliz. Hogg, Mary A. Gilpin, Beatrix Rumford, Edith B. Farquhar, Roberta Allen, Florence M. Bentley, M. Eliz. Moore, and a bevy of young people who waited on the various tea tables most assiduously.

Alice Tyson’s ? excellent minutes of the preceding meeting were enjoyed by us all. The sentiment of the day was as follows: “Far out of sight While Sorrow still unfolds us, Lies the fair country Where our hearts abide; And of its joys is naught More wondrous told us, Than these few words, We shall be satisfied.”

Cath. Janney gave most helpful hints about the planting of fall flowers, - “For hyacinths at Christmas put some in pots now, - for early spring blossoms plant in the ground during Sept and Oct., hyacinths, tulips, crocuses, jonquils, and daffodils. If these are not easily obtainable the peony and iris have been so developed they are now among our most attractive flowers. The former should be planted at once 4 in. deep, in rich soil. The iris, frequently called flag, is one of the best plants for borders or long beds, and it has been so cultivated as to have many shades from white, brown, and blue, to light yellow and various combinations

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Tulips should be 4 in. deep; some of these above mentioned are hardy, but where winters are severe it is best to mulch well with straw. After all the flowers have been attended to, go into the garden with a quart or two of winter onions, pull the clusters apart and plant, in well-spaded ground, 3 in. apart, and 3 in. deep for early spring onions.”

India Downey read of a recent gift of Bibles from children of this country to Russian soldiers.

The value of remembrance was enhanced by passing though the hands of the heir to the throne and inscribed with his name and those of the donors. Edith B. Farquhar gave by request, extracts from a letter written by her son Carol, who has driven two autos all the way to Maine this summer. The last trip, in a Ford, was concluded by the ascent of Mt. Washington, and it’s still more perilous descent when most of the “holding-back straps”, or whatever corresponds to them, were out of order from such hard usage. The distance both ways, was 8 miles, and the experience “thrilling” to say the least. The owner of the car said $500 would not tempt him to do it again.

Estelle T. Moore read, “What is a city good for?” “In the country you know John Smith, his relations his home and his manners, but in the city you know John Smith as a banker who gives good dinners. You are part of the population and what the city wants is for you to do your duty as a cog that fits into other cogs. Individuality is not valued, - you are just part of the system. If you want to have a really good time go to a small town; keep the city as a condiment, not as a food.”

Sarah F. Willson sent a message to the Asso. that she would have to spend several months in N. J., attending to her cranberry bogs, and she requested the substitution of her sister Elizabeth Willson during her absence. This we were pleased to do,

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the Sec’y informed the lady of her appointment.

Fanny B. Snowden gave a description of the monstrous new Fidelity Bldg in N. Y. which 500 ft. high, covers an entire block, so much above ground and 50 ft below! 38 stories in all, accommodating 16,000 people with facilities for making a living in various ways.

There are 48 elevators and the management is just like that of a town in many respects, especially the fire and police departments.

Rebecca T. Miller amused us with a story of a Philanthropist who was lecturing to some children of the slums, and on asking them what she was doing, received the apt reply, “Buttin’-in, ma’am.” We were told that Two in One shoe-polish could be used satisfactorily to make a strip of white muslin with an inscription as was done for the recent parade at Rockville.

Martha Holland read, “The Land O’ Dreams” by Walt Mason who has often given really good poetry in prose style.

Pattie T. Farquhar’s selection from “Farm and Home” was a rhyming tribute to “Closets”.

Husbands were advised to: “Build them in corners, in nooks and in crannies, Wherever a closet may harbor or hide, And give to your Marys, your Kates and your Annies The big airy closets, their joy and their pride.”

Hallie J. Bentley’s contribution also in verse, was the plaint of a poor tired who looked forward joyfully to going to Heaven and doing nothing “for ever and ever.”

Elizabeth T. Stabler reminded us that the funeral of Orrin C. Painter of Balto. was taking place while we were in session, and she had brought the touching tribute of the Bentzt Bard that appeared in “The Sun”. The concluding verse seemed especially appropriate in view of the many good deeds of this gentle philanthropist,

“Kind life and noble, - so withdrawn from selfishness & show, His eyes will open in a dawn his soul will smile to know. And yet no brighter dawn t’will be, than he has brought to these Who’ve felt the touches of his cheer, and known his charities.”