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Clermont. con.

Elma P. Chandlee brought a book of poems by Edwin A. Guest
of Detroit, who has been writing regularly for use of the Washington
papers for some five years. Her first selection was “When Ma loses
her pocket-book”, which appealed to many present. The next offering
was a take-off on the censored letters during the war. Mrs. Malone
had received one, from Pat in France, who gave her so little information
she wrote one in similar vein, not telling him a single
item of family news so he could understand it.

Mrs. Janney gave us, by proxy, a vivid comparison between our
judgment of ‘the other fellow” & our own. When he takes
time to do things he is “dead slow”, but we are only deliberate,
When he holds tightly to his money, he is “close” but
we are provident.

Emilie T. Massey had a little defense of the criticized
mother-in-law which she said she should send to her
daughter Gertrude who is engaged in Social Service Work
in the South. Ethel F. Thomas contributed a
short essay upon raising boys, to encourage them to make
intimate friends of their parents & half the battle is gained.

Eliz. T. Stabler gave a description of our State Seal whose
motto is “Words are feminine” Deeds are Masculine” which
has been unfavorably commented on by some writers of late.

Mary E. Gilpin’s article deplored the ruthless destruction
of the prehistoric huge circles of rocks in England, to
use now in building homes. A valued former member,
Carrie L Brooke, visited Stonehenge, in England and
said it was one of the most interesting things she saw
there. Julia Hallowell had a short poem upon the old
subject – ever new, of “Home”. Sarah T. Adams
suggested we purchase a loose-leaf book for the Minutes,
soon to be copied & the motion was carried. There was
a lively discussion upon the “Bitter English crusade
in our Public Schools. All the mothers & grandmothers
present seemed to approve of the effort to eliminate
slang, & lurid words from the conversation of children. We
were informed that Eliz. Lizear received first prize in
English at Sherwood & Eliz. Meade the same for best
poster. The Sec’y read a Christmas card she had
received from an absent son –

“Now that travelling is easier,
Than in days of coach and four
Seems to me we might get together,