The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-25
w. H. n.
Anuuai Meeting.

Anuual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Woman's Tenn
perance Society was held last Saturday, The
meeting was opened by reading of scriptures
and prayer by Rev. Mr.. Fem.
The following officers were chosen for the
coming year:
Presdent-Mrs George S. Hunt.
Vice Presldents-Mrs. Eliphalet Merrill, Mrs. w.
+. Preble, Mrs Mussey, Dr. Devoll.
Corresponding Secretary-Mrs. Geo. E. TAYLOR.
Recording Secretary-Miss E. Senter.
Drectors-Mrs. NJ Bachelor, Park street cbnrob.
Miss BuzzeI, West End church; Mrs. H. Cummings
First Baptist church; MIS- Edwin Clement, St LIKE
church; Mrs. VIM. g. Davis Swedenborgian church:
Mrs Geo. f. Emery, Free street Baptist church Mrs
B. w. Eastman. Pine street Methodist church: Mrs
Phoebe Frye, Friends Society; Mrs j. j. Gilbert,
Law renee street church; Mrs. James Kinda Ii Chest
nut street church; Mrs Prentiss Loring, Mrs q. L.
Libby State street church; Mrs. Frank Moody. ST.
Paups church; Mrs. Lewis O'Brion. Wiiilistoonr
Chapel; Miss G. NJ Patten, I'd Parish; Mrs. Phelan.
Preble Chapel; Miss Caroline Porter, LIST Parish:
Mrs. VIM. Ruby, CooTed church; Mrs Ell p Storer
High street church; Mrs. Souhworth, Bethel church:
Mrs r Smith, Colored church; Miss Belle Tricky,
st. Stephens church; Miss A III. Waite. I'd Trniver
salist chuch; Miss b F. Whitney, Plymouth church:
Miss e. N. Webb Cong. Square church.
The Treasurer's report was given as follows:
oasn Teeeipas O6
expenditures .."....,............. $500 rs
Balance ""............."....".S1 1877 2S
sECRETARY's REPORT:
The record of this. the first full year of the
organization of the Woman's Temperance So
clety OF Portland, is one of delightful encour-
agement and promise, and this day we congrat-
ulate each other and the public upon our sue
cessful venture and achievement. One year
ago we had nothing but a standing organza-
ton and the bit of credit over our benevo-
lent effort on the Fourth OF July, when we dis
pensed coffee and other refreshments to stran-
gers and citizens abroad, with private invita-
ton to reformed men to avail themselves of our
hospitality on that day, number of whom had
generously assisted us in our preparation for
that work.
One OF the projects of this society entertained
at the beginn' ng and of first Importance was
that of Coffee House, but SO late as November
of the centennial year if the ladies could have
been discouraged in their cherished aim, or baf-
fled in their hunt for location the enterprise
would have been vetoed altogether or indefinite
~ postponed: but there were some who SAID
now if ever, and let the open question of its ex-
pediency be decided by experiment. The re-
suit is well known; the record of that expert
ment is a remarkable one, and the argument
from the, socety's standpoint. interesting.
NO udu Uc6A bUlu budb everybody
had failed with a temperance eating
house, that there had to be concession of
some Sort if only domestic beverage that the
business too was like some other industries
overdoue and that nobody was suffering for
our active interest and endeavor. The curious
history of this venture with its sudden popular
ity and steadily increasing favor could not be
written out in day, and the moral of its rec
ord is one to which but very imperfect justice
can be done. 1t has certainly been demon
tod hot tnn sa1n Of
made attractive by agreeable associations and
that with good management a coffee house
with ''ridiculousy low prices" may prove self
sustaining and profitable A poor man or
rich oae may have mug of Java coffee with a
delicate and nutritious roll and plate of beans
or dish Of soup served in spacious and ee-
CANT room with nice appointments, all fer ten
cents and going beyond this may suit himself
to larger and finer meal. Oar bill of fare
with fruit IN its season the daintiest lady
would not disdain, while the hungriest and
hardest working woman may make a substan-
tial and comfortable dinner. Exceptions have
been taken to some of the patronage which
from the first has distinguished the coffee
house. To gentlemen of society, land profession
al men and merchants as well as the represen-
tatives of all industries and classes, we take
this occasion to return our thanks We have
believed it TO be out of certain respect for our
cause aud faith in our simple expedient rather
than the pecuujary consideration that they have
favor have been worth a great deal. and we
have welcomed them every one if they could be |
suited with our very plain bill of fare aud I'M
professional service and method; there being no
estimate in our scale Of prices which would pay
for distinction in this line, we make no preten-
sion to it, A good deal of this service has been
voluntary, aud much of it necessitates the work |
of novices.
We PROPOSED no limitation of favor at the |
beginning. If we had invited only recognized |
n m mo loft Aon
ger OF becoming such, to avail themselves of l
this convenience, any one may see that our |
sphere of influence would have been a very |
narrow one. SO long as intemperance blights |
the fairest of well as other circles distinctions
seem idle enough. ''Why not do something for |
our own people said merchant to the Pres- /
dent OF this society, "our clerks and other /
young men?" Sure enough, why not? Shall we |
leave these to be educated by the Stops of the |
groceries and the more enticing strong drinks, |
served in sly brother fashion by business ca
terers here, while we pick up the strangers and /
aliens from the gutter? Not when one who has L
been distinguished among US has declared that /
had there been such place as this he should |
have been saved his delusiOn and fall, and au-
other. commenting sadly upon the ruin l
of three of his associates remarked |
that ale drinking at these lunch rooms |
had laid the foundation of it. The |
number of unfortunates we have saved gatiies |
our ambitious philanthropy. All classes have /
found their way to the coffee house, and to |
many it has proved place of decision and re- |
form. In cities where life is more intense and |
absorbing the food question is vital one. 1t /
is said that already not SO very far from here, |
the young women in stores have learned to sub |
stitute little brandy for the mean midday |
meal which cheap places offer-sinoe a COM |
PORTABLE and attractive one would Impoverisb i
them; and to us not even a thought of misery /
alleviated and straying ones recovered to their |
homes and society seems SO important as that /
of the prevention Of this evil, aud determining Il
the inclination of young people, building up /
their purpose with the positive and radiant l
side of the virtue of total abstinence, making |
pleasant rendezvous for friends of the cause |
working for the future as well as the present. |
We know the public is curious and more inter- /
ested about the serious facts which haunt such /
as devote themselves to the work OF reform in /
such connection as this, though these cannot |
easily be collected and paraded here. |
"Good deeds in naughty world don covet |
noteriety; but we give hint of this opportuni- |
ty and privilege. The first Stranger and patron |
who entered the coffee house on our opening, |
day was intoxicated aud came in to contend for /
the fashion of drinking, and came number of |
times that day worss aud worse. but was /
kindly considered ard something that was said |
with the influences following him determined /
his complete reform. 1t was happy omen /
and prophesy of the good work which has been /
of this place last winter to some reformed men |
who had very little work and who could secure |
here and nowhere else mug, of rich coffee /
and milk and sugar with roll or sandwich for /
five cents, served as il it were for our benefit, |
n,nt, l. IL %-I1