The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-21
WOMAN'S WORLD.
ORIGINALITY or THE AMERICAN NEE.
DLEWoRK GUILD.

DLEWoRK GUILD.
Adelaide M. Anderson - For Beautiful
Arms - VIII shef - Pretty Betty Bliss.
The Daughters and the DANES Kitchen
Refuse she's . True Heroine.
"Only two new garments year, no
matter how small or inexpensive as
long as they are new, :" is the appeal
made by the district presidents OF the
American Needlework guild in drum
ming mp recruits for the organization.
This needlework guild is distinctly
new charity and is conducted ON q prin-
cipie different from any heretofore at
tempted in this city. The object Of the
guild is to furnish new, plain and suit
able garments to the deserving poor,
whether they be in the hospitals or i'm
their own wretched homes. The idea of
giving new garments is to raise the self
respect OF unfortunate people who so
frequently undergo humiliation In be-
ing obliged to accept castoff clothing
The headquarters OF the National
guild are in Philadelphia, where it was
organized nine years ago ON similar
plan to that organized by Lady Wolver-
ton and put into execution in England.
For time the work in this country was
confined to Philadelphia A branch was
eventually started in New York, and q
few weeks ago Miss Willard came here
from Philadelphia and organized the
third city branch of the National guild.
The meeting was held at the residence
Of Mrs. Horace Davis. Miss Willard,
who had been in correspondence with q
number Of the prominent ladies Of this
city, had her plan well outlined and ex-
planned IL in such q comprehensive way
that the ladies present immediately be-
came enthusiastic and organised local
branch OF the National guild before the
meeting adjourned Since that it has
continued to grow with surprising rapid
ity. Here it il the middle Of summer,
when, strictly speaking, all society is
ont OF town and most charities are tenn
porarily suspended. But this guild has
excited q deep rooted rather than q
spasmodio interest, which has grown
until IL has become q popular fad.
Groups Of ladies discussing the guild
and outlining plans for its extension
may be found any morning ON the We
randas OF the fashionable resort hotels
It Is recognized topic Of conversation.
The organization being nonsectarian
creates o more general and widespread
interest than would otherwise exist.
The work is planned ON simple yet
practioal basis. ANY one may become q
member by giving two garments . year.
A member obtaining contributions from
10 or more persons amounting to 90
garments may become director. The
city branches are divided into sections,
which are under the supervision Of a
president and several directors. Each
president is responsible for 110 gar
ments year. She pledges herself for
that number and must abide by her OBJ
legation.
It was feared this regulation would
be somewhat Of drawback to the sue
cess of the guild work in this city, for,
| while all the ladies were willing to con-
tribute two garments, few felt inclined
to assume the responsibility of 10 gar
ments. After the first three sections
were started and the ladies saw how
| easy it was to interest their personal
friends in the work their hesitancy van
ished, and one by one they consented to
become presidents until there are now
81 acting in that capacity for the same
number of sections.
Mrs. A. M. Easton was elected hon
orary president of the city branch, Miss
G. Gwin the president, Miss M. M.
Greer the secretary and Mrs. w. r.
Smedberg the treasurer.
One popularity about this charity is
its freedom from meetings. There are
no weekly or monthly meetings to be
attended and no after meeting little
gossips to be enjoyed The charity has
no social side, which makes its popular
ity all the more surprising. Once year
there Is a meeting at the time of distri-
button, but that Is all When IL comes
time for the yearly distribution, every
section sends I'm its collection. One Of
the down town halls will be hired for
the occasion, and all the garments that
have been donated by the guild mem
bers during the year will be ON exhibi-
tion, The public will be invited to at
tend and inspect the display. Mrs Eas-
ton and Miss Gwin, assisted by several
ladies, viii then sort over the articles,
do them mp in packages. label them and
direct an expressman where 30 take
them. Any section ID privileged TO sug-
gest 10 the committee where it prefers
having It's contributions sent There is
considerable labor attached to the distri-
button. but the ladies think nothing OF
their time and work, 80 interested are
they In alleviating the distress of the
poor. San Francisco Examiner.
Adelaide M. Anderson.
The good service rendered by women
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