The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-24

delightful aSeoczAs1on8 were formed With
woods and Sea and sky, and arm friend
ships cenented in sympathetic kinship.
The cleaning Of the sheils and the drying
Of the sea moss Was something they a.
ready well undsrstood, y lille the arrange
nenss Of the shells in boxes vas original.
tending 20 develop . taste for ornament
and design.
For the exhibition the club accepted the
loan OF specimens from outsiders, and the
result Was . collection which well repre-
sented the natural curiosisiss Of the island
and its surroundings.
The exhibition Was IN event It was
held in the central haIl Of the boiiding.
where they had their club room. Music
was contributed. Coffee and cake we're
provided by the mothers and served BY the
girls, Who are honorary members.
The club room was . beautiful sight,
with its walls hung with Indian mats and
il scarlet covered tables, on which were
spread the delicate shells, the starash and
the spiked urchins. Several moro am
bilious members exhibited their treasures
In show cases or cabinets The rooms
were crowded and great enthusiasm
aroused among the citizens. Who have
since furthered the efforts of the club in
every way. After the exhibition o cabinet
was presented them which had once been
used by the city for ssats fair. A build
ing has been given them for the club, and
O stove and . hanging lamp for winter
evenings.
With the money raised they desire to
purchase books on natural history, but Is
collecting is almost impossible during the
rainy winter weather and their school
duties already confine them long enough
to their books they have decided to spend
some of the money for games and to give
an entertainment and raise more money
for books.
The collection Of curiosities Is Of scarcely
more interest to them than the formaltties
of these business meetings. where they are
becoming familiar with parliamentary
usages and regard themselves as only
less important than the city council.
They meet once . week, and have adopted
q cor stitution, written out for them by
Abstractor Beard. They enjoy lectures
on natural history from Mr.. Amos Bow
man, the founder of Anacortes, aud les
sons in shell cleaning or taxidsrmy are
offered them.
Dues Of cents . month have been In
stituted, and for disobedience to the regu-
lations q fine Of cents for the first
offsnse, 10 and Is for the second and third
and expulsion as the final penalty does
much to establish quiet during the formal
sessions. Outside of these they are per-
mitted perfect freedom and liberty to
make all the noise consequent to an mex
tinSuishable how OF animal spirits. Never
did there seem to be happier company
than the singing, shouting set Of boys
who greet my coming with rounds of good
natured applause on every Friday even
ing. The janitor is changed every two
weeks, but the demands made upon the
school, render It almost impossible
for them to keep their play
house in rigid order. They do not,
however, seem less happy for this.
and little hewers of wood and
drawers Of water show . capac-
ity for scrubbing and window wash
ing when necessary. that is surprising to
one who has not been long in this land
as yet so little under the dominion of the
hired girl.
Their ambition is to have the club room
decorated with the treasures of sea and
land, a happy center of association, where
may be unfolded to them the meaning Of
another world, filled with the won
ders Of fairyland, and attainable
through adventure and study. The
thirst already awakened in them
for knowledge of the things they love
and cherish is the strongest appeal for
help in their efforts, and while they play
they are elevated and purified by the deep
est lessons of mother nature, who amuses
while she exalts them.
BERTHA MONROE RIcKorY