Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-21
BENEVOLENT LADIES.
The Fourth Meeting OF the Doreas So
eIety,

htcr-a personal friend OF the retiring Sec
rctary, having taken umbrage at what she
considered the Society's shameful treatment
Of her coadjutor, had resigned her con-
ncction with the organization, not for
mally, for a woman never resigns or accepts
an Office formnlly,-but by affirming
to s1ycrnl Of its members in private,
that she didn't want anything more to do
with the nasty thing-so there :" With
its ranks thus decimated, and q drepress-
ing sense of trouble yet to come,
the Dotcas Society assembled on a bleak
Thursday in March, in the parlors OF the
hospitabe Mrs. BogweI
The hum Of conversation was 30 low, when
Mrs President Crane struck the table with
the under side of her fst, that the crush OF a
large and valuable sea-shell falling of upon
the floor was distinctly audible. so deep
was the sense of apprehension that the ladies
came Immediately to order,-a thing never
heard of before in meeting OF the gentler
seq. Only the mournful click, click, of the
broken pieces OF sea-shell, as Mrs. Bogwell
gathered them into a plate, broke the
silence.
"Ladies," said Mrs President Crane,
"this is a solemn and important occasion.
The deliberations Of the present meeting
will probably decide whether the Dorcas
Society Of Bloomington shall continue its
stormy existence, hoping for quiet port
and calm anchorage by-and-by, or shall
founder here and now in the mid ocean OF
trial and disappointment. We are still I'M
organized; we have lost two OF our most
trusty and faithful officers there is a spirit,
am afraid, Of dissatisfactiOn-not to say
Of DIr 1hnrg m
winter is rapidly passing, and we have not
relieved the suiferings the thnly clad poor of
| this village to any very great extent. will
admit that we have motto and-and
"A President bnt that is al we have
left"
A. this iuncturc, Mrs. Squires interrupted
| the remarks Of the President, with motion
| 20 the effect that the motto OF the society
| he read but the motion was over-ruled by
spontaneous signs Of disapprobation on the
| par. OF the other ladies present, and the
President continued her remarks:
''As was saying, ladies, we have nothing
| but a motto and a President left. Now the
question which comes before US to-day, and
| which will decide whether we sink or swim,
| survive or perish, is this-shall we elect new
| oGicers to ill the places of our departed
sisters. or shall we forthwith adjourn sine
Dorcas Society in Bloomington"
II move you, Mrs President, that we
| elect new Secretary :" exclaimed Mrs.
| Zenas Skinner. There was a moments
pause, and then somebody seconded the mo-
| ton.
"Irs parliamentary, you know whs,
pered Mrs Skinner, to her next neighbour so
| loudly that she could be heard in the re-
molest corner OF the room, -"lvs parlia-
mentary to nominate first the one who makes
motion"
''Is that Z" asked the Presidents with
un expression Of deep concern and alarm,
glancing around the circle of ladies.
Seems to me it is" said Mrs. Watkins,
sadly. II have dim recollection of having
| read or heard something of the sort"
Mrs. SINNERS face gOwcd like a Lake
Champan suuset 81 call for the notion
she cried.
"Well, ladies', SAID Mrs. President Crane
| "it is moved and seconded that we elect Il
new Secretary. As many Of you as will so
order, please raise the right hand About
two-thrds Of the hands came up. at is 50
ordered Nov whom will you nominate for
SecretaryY
Mrs. Skinner looked sharply and OMNIBUS
| ~ around the circle, as much as to say,
Now if you don't nominate me, ladies, I'll
raise such "A row rs was never heiru OF IN n
parliamentary body before
Il nominate Mis-. skinner said faint
voice from under tie mantle-p piece. second
| the Nomination., sald onolhcr rant voice
| from the corner.
Nus Skinner ia nominated to ill the
place IT Secretary in the Society" said Mrs
| Prcs,Gtrl Crane. AS many If you as will
SO oder, please raise your right hands. -
| The same twnlhirJs show Of hands came up
| again, Mrs. X.aa- SINNERS quickest and
highest If I'll. Mrs Zeuas skinner is
| cleo cd"
Mrs. skinner rose, her face hcaming with
smiles, and with little bows OF acknowledge
melt right and left, threaded her way TO the
Secretary's table Here she proudly seated
herself aud drew forth an extensive collect
| ion Of hers, pencils and papers, which
showed that the result OF the election had
not been altogether unexpected, on her part.
Selecting a -sharpeued Faoer, she laid a
sheet Of fo0lscap before her, and proceeded
| to chronicle her own election.
| 1T will now be in order 10 elect new
| Vicc-prcsident," said Mrs. President Crane.
Whom viii you nominate 2
| Mrs. President" said Secretary Skinner,
laying down her pen, aud rising with dig
nifty Il would renominate a lady not pres
ent today who, | think, possesses moro
qualifications Tor president thau any
other lady IN TINS town, inasLhuch as she ha'
becu twice divorced, has had lots of scanda
attached to her name, anu II there are any
other vices peculiar to our sex, Is not so In,
as | nm aware, destitute OF any one oil
| them"
For shame" exclaimed the whole society
with one voice. oil,
| Il should JUST Ike 10 Nuow WY
screamed Mrs skinner IN the midst OF the
tumult. Mrs. President, appeal 10 you
is not that the popular derivation ana mean
| ing OF the word Nlce-preslucnt
| No, it is not! :" replied Mrs. President
| Crane, decidedly.
| "Wcll, | should just like to know what 1t
| is derived from, then : inquired the
Secretary. Can you tell Inc, MIS-. fIeS'-
dcntH" ,.,