The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-11
WOMAN'S WORLD.
ORIGINALITY OF THE. AMERICAN NEE
DLEWORk GUILD.

0LENOr A1OlLO-
adelaide NJ. Anderson II For Beautiful
Arms WIN slie2 - Pretty Betty Bliss.
The Daughters and the Decentralization
Refuse-she-s True Heroine
ssOnly two new garments a year. no
matter how small or inexpensive as
long as they arc new, is the appeal
made by the district presidents of the
American Needlework guild in drum
ming up recruits for the organization
This needlework guild is a distinctly
new charity and is conducted on a 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 tho hospitals or in
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 castof clothing.
The headquarters OF the National
guild are in Philadel Dhia, where it was
organized nine years ago on a similar
plan to that organized BY Lady Wolver-
ton and put into execution in England
For 4 time the work IN this country was
-
eventually started IN New York, and
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 4
number of the prominent ladies Of this
city, had her plan well outlined and ex-
planned it in such a comprehensive way
that the ladies present Immediately be-
came enthusiastic and organized local
branch Of the National guild before the
meeting adjourned. Since that it has
continued to grow with surprising rapid
fty. Here it Is the middle of summer,
when, strictly speaking. all society is
out of town and most charities are tenn
porarily suspended. But this guild has
excited a deep rooted rather than q
spasmodic interest which has grown
until it has become a popular fad
Groups Of ladies discussing the guild
and outlining plans for its extension
may be found any morning on the We
r.sudas Of the fashionable resort hotels.
It is a recognized topic of conversation
The organization being nonsectarian
creates n more general and widespread
interest than would otherwise exist.
The work is planned on q simple yet
practical basis Any one may become a
member by giving two garments q year
A member obtaining contributions from
me- or more persons amounting to -
garments ray hecouie . director The
city branches are divided into sections,
which arc unlcr the supervision Of a
PRESIDENT and several directors Each
president IS responsible for 10 gar
l-.ents "a YEAR she pledges herself for
that n1mba- and must abide by her OBJ
legation.
IL was feared this regulation would
be somewhat 0f q drawback to the sue
cess Of the guild work in this city, for,
while ali the ladies we're willing to con-
tribute two garments, few felt inclined
to assume the responsibility of 10 gar
lnents. After the first three sections
Were started and tho ladies saw how
easy it was to interest their personal
friends in the work their hesitancy van
ishcd, 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. NJ. Easton was elected hon
orary president Of the city branch, Miss
G. Gwin the president, Miss II. II.
Greer the secretary and hrs w. r.
Srnodberg 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
mo social side which makes its popular
ity all the more surprising. Once a year
there il a meeting at the time of distri-
button, but that is all. When it comes
time for tho yearly distribution, every
section sends in it's collection One Of
the down town halls VIII be hired for
the occasion, and all tho garments that
have been donated by the guild mem
beers during the year viii be ON exhibit
ton The public viii 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 up in packages label them ami
direct an expressnan where to take
them Any section is privileged to sug-
gest to the committee where it prefers
having its contri buttons sent. There IS
considerable labor attached to the distr:
button, but the ladies think nothing of
their time and work. so interested are
they in alleviating the distress Of the
poor. San Francisco Examiner
Adelaide n Anderson.
The good service rendered by women
as factory inspectors is attested by the
A