Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1927

Mary Robison told of the Juvenile Court in Rockville which is doing such good work under Judge Robert B. Peter.

Roberta Adams asked if any one had had experience growing water lillies in a tub? Several had seen it done. Edith Green told of growing them in a kettle.

Helen Farquhar said she wanted to thank the Association for giving her membership.

Elizabeth Stabler--read extracts from Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essay on Friendship. She told of a visit to the duPont green house.

Hallie Bentley's selection was the reading of Kipling's "If" followed by a parody "If" a woman can keep long hair.

Fanny Iddings continued reading the letter started at the last meeting--a most interesting contribution.

Rose Gilpin--Question--What to do with bulbs that were forgotten last fall? Put in the ground as soon as possible--move bulbs as soon as they are through blooming.

Mrs. Pierce--from "The Rose and the Ring"--She also told of grapes served from the vine at large dinners.

Pattie Farquhar--a variety of selections--The Good Samaritan-- The Spirit of evening etc. The Message to Garcia attained a larger circulation than any other article during the time of its Author.

Elise Hutton--A little child's garden each flower of which gave a message to the child.

Amy Hutton--William Lyon Phelph's "As I Like It" depicting this as the age of informality.

Edith Green a little verse.

Mariana Miller read from the old minute-book of meetings at Fair Hill--White Cottage--and Sherwood in 1867. Question: Where is the silver tea strainer left at the meeting house about a year ago? Rebecca Miller has it.

Emily Massey--Love a friend while he is still alive--a worth-

while article.

Rebecca Miller--a joke on bride who got her electric wires mixed so that the Radio was covered with ice, and the refrigerator was playing jazz. Question: What is the best way to finish hard-wood floors? Use Johnson's liquid wax or had wax rubbed in well.

Mrs. Massey asked what to do with a floor of wide boards? Use oil and wax.

Anna Nexbitt asked Is any one going to town tomorrow who will take one of the nurses? She read from an almanac compiled by Issac Briggs in 1799, the ways of a true husbandman.

Mary Tilton suggested that we sent a message to Helen Hallowell telling her how much we have missed her.--All concurred.

Elizabeth Stabler moved that Mary Reading Nichols be made an associate member. Motion duly seconded and carried.

Others present were Polly Shields--Verids Riggs, and Lottie Farquhar.

Meeting adjourned.

Margaret Elgar Sherman Jones, Secretary.

Membership - 70th Anniversary - May 1927

Sadie Adams- Sallie Adams - Roberta Adams Margaret Bancroft - Mary Tilton Hallie Bentley Mary B. Brooke - Edith B. Green Alice Farquhar- Helen Farquhar Martha Farquhar Mary Gilpin - Emily I. Massey Julia Hallowell Elise Hutton - Amy Hutton Mary Hutton Fanny Iddings Sallie R. Janney Margaret E S Jones - Mariana Miller Rebecca Miller Estelle I. Moore - Margaret G. T. Moore - Helen Moore Anna Nesbitt - Helen Hallowell Mary Nichols - Mary Reading Miller Mary Scott Elizabeth T. Stabler Alice Tyson

(Written perpendicular: Honorary Member - Mrs. Sophia A. Peirce - 102 years old Oct 16 - 1926 - Miss Hallie Lea)

AVALON May 5th, 1927 839th Meeting.

70th Anniversary The 839th Meeting- and the 70th anniversary meeting, of the Mutual Improvement Association was called to order by Rebecca Miller at 3 o'clock in the afternoon 5th mo. 5th , 1927.

The minutes of the last meeting at this place, Avalon, were read and the minutes of the April Meeting were read and accepted.

The next meeting place wth Hallie Bentley at "Sharon Cottage".

Sentiment of the hostess, Mary Gilpin:

"I see not a step before me As I tread on, another year But the past is still in God's Keeping The future, His mercy shall clear. And what looks dark in the distance May brighten as I draw near."

Mary Gilpin said she thought that this place "Avalon" is the only home in the neighborhood where meetings of the Association have been held regularly since its organization seventy years ago. The Secretary was asked to look it up and to find out if Hadassah J. Moore was a charter member if so, then "Plainfield" may share this honor with "Avalon".

Emily Massey gave such excellent advice: "The greatest joy in life is the joy of service, the greatest power in the world is the power of love, the greatest rule in the world is the Golden Rule and the greatest war in the world is the war with ourselves."

"He, who meets sorrow without bittering and is not coarsened by prosperity; who is defeated, but fights on, or is triumphant but remains humble; who carries the hopefulness of youth into the deepening shadows of age, and when the sun is setting is confident of the morn, this is the man who has lived well."

Mary Scott gave a beautiful poem on Old Gardens by Charlotte Newton.

Alice Farquhar - Chesterton on mixing tea and coffee - representing England and the United States. His conclusion being that they should not be mixed but that each should stand on his own.

Madge Moore read for Alice Tyson of a panic in London in 1797 and for herself of the memorial to the oysters that have been sacrificed for pearls.

Mary Brooke read of gold and diamonds from Egypt in 128 A.D. Question --- What will remove the deposit in tea kettles? Perhaps lime might.

Mariana Miller read old minutes of 1876, meetings at Prospect Hill, Cherry Grove, and Caroline Scotts.

Elizabeth Stabler contributed a very encouraging poem, "Begin Again"--She recommenede S.O.S. for cleaning aluminum utensils--can be procured at A & P, Saniatry, Barger & Ross etc.

Edith Green read extracts from letters written to his wife by her great-great-grandfather, Isaac Briggs, written in 1804 and telling of some of his trips while he was Surveyor General.

Annie Kirk said that Issac Briggs was the most brilliant person who was ever born in this community, and this brilliant streak can be traced in many of his descendants.

Hallie Bentley read what she called several scraps.

Corrie Brooke related a little circumstance in connection with Issac Briggs showing his distaste for publicity.

Huldah Janney-- a manuscript "Knit 1, Purl 1".

Margaret Jones--an article on "Being Led", making a plea for individual thinking and individual action.

Rebecca Miller--Breeding of Canaries in Norwich.

Lucy Moore gave some receipts for the prevention of birds pulling up corn.

Others present but without contributions were: Hallie Lea, Helen Lea, Emily Coulter, Florence Wetherald, Sarah Kirk and Mrs. Boyd.

The Treasurer's report showed $17.90 on hand, $15. in Social Service Drive.

No reports from Committees on Education, American Home, or Legislation.