Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1926

Tanglewood January 7,1926. 827th Meeting.

The first meeting of the Association of Tanglewood with Anna Nesbitt and Helen Hallowell as hostesses met on January 7, 1926 at the usual hour for its 827th meeting. (The Association met at Tanglewood in 1888 when Sue Thomas held a meeting for Grandmother Lydia Thomas.) After a delicious luncheon Mariana Miller called the meeting to order after the social interval.

Mary Tilton, Treasurer, reported $10.90 on hand, and thanked members for their promptness in paying dues.

Mary Nichols was absent – no report on Education.

India Downey – no report. Home economics.

Mary Tilton reported many unusually good contributions to Social Service League for Christmas.

Martha Farquhar, Resolutions – no report.

Margaret Jones – absent – no report on Legislation.

No special committees and no unfinished business.

Estelle T. Moore for Margaret Bancroft gave a full and interesting report of County Federation Meeting. She spoke of the Public Library advocated for which a larger fund is needed. She showed us a sample of the Public School Book Plate for Montgomery County schools, designed by a boy and girl of the Kensington School. Ten thousand (10,000) copies are to be made and given to schools.

No action taken on letters read.

A meeting announced at Bethesda, January 15, in interest of Kindergarten, bring lunch and coffee will be for sale.

No report on State Federation.

Nothing to be done for Endowment Fund.

The Secretary was asked to write a letter of love to Cousin Ellen Farquhar regretting her absence because of illness, and expressing our hope for her speedy recovery.

Next meeting will be with Mrs. Nichols.

Anna Nesbitt gave as the hostess’ sentiment lines from Robert Louis Stevenson. “Give us to wake with smiles. Gives us to labor smilingly. As the sun lightens the world, so let our loving kindness make bright this house of our habitation

Julia Hallowell asked if anyone could tell her why some of her hams and shoulders were spoiled. No help given.

Florence Bond read a love letter of Whittier and told of his love affair with

Elizabeth Lloyd of Philadelphia which lasted all his life, and was very beautiful.

Ellen Haller and Elza Thomas both recited very lovely verses-the latter from Whittier.

Hallie Bentley gave an interesting account of the woman who made a few bayberry candles and sent them to friends-now has a big business and employs a number of helpers. Mrs. Bentley also recited a parody on "The Old Oaken Bucket"- which had some advantages over frozen water pipes, as it never "froze in the well!"

Fanny Iddings read very amusing verses of a sore thumb which was such a source of satisfaction and pride to the small owner that his brother became so envious he threatened to cut a toe for his own glory.

Martha Farquhar read of the highly educated co-ed who after marriage had no time for anything but scrubbing, baking, etc. "Ain't Education Grand?"

Estelle T. Moore read from the Literary Digest. Jesus said "I am the Light of the World." "Do we realize that the Light is the bloom of the rose-the green of the tree--the blood in you and me?" Estelle did not get any advice as to plowing her garden. The co-operative plan for her and two neighbors did not seem quite a success as two men were unable to hold a plow, and the other who owned the horse could not always be counted on when wanted.

India Downey read "That Old Sweetheart of Mine."

Rebecca T. Miller read of the greater profits gained by a hotel in Cincinatti by selling candy instead of running a bar and turning the grill into a cafeteria.

Mary Tilton read for herself and Margaret Bancroft an article on the wisdom of "Minding one's own business."

Sarah Adams asked, "Who makes husk mats now?" Allan Bowie-near the Manor Club was suggested. Husk mats are very fashionable at present.

Elizabeth T. Stabler has tickets to sell for a Cantata to be given on February 22 in Washington for the benefit of Friendship House.

Emily T. Massey read Charles D. Warner on the ways of plumbers which seem not to be worse now than when he wrote, as they seemed as willing then, as now, to talk as well as work "by the hour."

Emily Coulter-No one makes a living by attending to other people's business, except lawyers.

Volunteer contributions being called for, Hallie Bentley, at Edith Gillikin's request, recited "Bingen on the Rhine" as rendered by a school boy.

Mariane Miller read from the old minutes of the meetings at Leawood, Burnside and White Cottage in 1864.

It was suggested that some of the articles read should be longer.

Several members were absent, and we had a number of guests, three of them being new residents in the community - Mrs. Worst, Mrs. Hegeman and Mrs. Hurry.

Helen R. Shoemaker, Secretary pro tem.

February 4, 1926 The Maples 828th Meeting.

After a delicious luncheon and a very sociable social hour the 828th meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association was called to order by Anna Nesbitt at The Maples, Second Month, Fourth, 1926 at 2 P.M., Mary Nichols being our hospitable hostess.

The minutes of the last meeting at this place were read.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and with slight corrections, adopted. This correction was that a meeting was held at Tanglewood in 1888 when "Grandmother Lydia Thomas" was unable to have her meeting at her own home.

The Treasurer reported $15.90 on hand-twenty members having responded to dues.

For Education, Mary Nichols, Chairman, reported a Kindergarten meeting at Bethesda.

Home Economics-India Downey-no report.

Social Service-Mary Tilton read the report of the work done by the Home Welfare Committee of the Social Service League.

Resolutions-Martha Farquhar-no report.

Legislation-Margaret Jones reported that since the ruling on Kindergartens by the Attorney-General, it was unnecessary to try to pass Kindergarten legislation.

No special committees and no unfinished business; also no report from the Director of the Montgomery County Federation of Women's Clubs.

Margaret Jones reported having attended a very interesting meeting of the Executive Board and Council of Presidents of the Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs. She also reported on the Farm Home Equipment Survey which is being asked for from both General and State Federations. A committee-Estelle T. Moore, Margaret Jones and Helen Shoemaker-was appointed to meet with a committee of three from the Wednesday Club to work on this survey.

There was no new business.

Next meeting place-Ingleside.

Sentiment of the Hostess:- "Isn't it strange that princes and kings And clowns that caper in saw-dust rings And common folks like you and me Are builders of eternity To each is given a bag of tools A shapeless mass and a book of rules

And each must make, ere life is flown A stumbling-block or a stepping stone."

Mary Reading Nichols read us Edgar Guest's "When the soap gets into your eye" in her own charming style.

Edith Thomas urged that great care must be exercised in discarding clothing, etc.-though unsuitable-that is sent to the Social Service League, so that no one will be discouraged in giving.

Emily Massey's article on "Do We Wear too Many Clothes?" was very interesting; and stressed the idea that the body needs direct contact with fresh air and rays of the sun. A very good selection for the Association, but possibly best concealed from some of our younger generation.

Helen Shoemaker read of "Books that Live", and showed us a sample of the beautiful handwriting of Hannah Chandlee.

Martha Farquhar – a beautiful sentiment: - “Riches are not in gold or land, estates or marts the only wealth worth having is found in human hearts.”

She gave notice of a Y.P.B. entertainment at Sherwood and made a stirring appeal to help these young people.

Elza Thomas read form “The Use of the Margin” – Edward Howard Griggs – each page a sermon. “Concentration should be practiced this making life more worth while.”

Mary Tilton – “Real recovery in France” where 80% of the reconstruction is completed. France is determined to re-establish her finances.

Corrie Brooke – Editorial in the Baltimore Sun – “Delay in Disarmament”. She asked where to get the best fireless cooker. Pattie Farquhar has one with two compartments which cost $5.00. Anna Nesbitt has a very satisfactory one that cost $17.00.

Anna Farquhar read two poems form the Literary Digest – “Thrift” and “When You are Old”.

Julia Hallowell read of Paganini, the great violinist, who could win with one string after the other three had snapped.

Mary Scott’s contribution was about living Christmas trees given to five thousand people, in order to help re-forest America.

India Downey – “Friends” – the dearest gifts God gives to us.

Estelle Moore’s selection told of Mrs. Van Winkle’s work – of a detention house in Washington, D.C. where a second chance is given to those who have stumbled. She was told that Howard Thomas, Silver Spring, R. F. D. will do upholstering and cabinet making