The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28

She was active at Boston in organizing
and served upon the board OF the
New England Woman's Hospital for
women and children for many years,
enjoying the fellowship of Its no.
ole men and women. Among these
the since famous DR.. Zakrjewska, who
had been her guest in Cleveland by
we'll "a mem Der of that highly endowed
Blackwell family of New York, whose
brother Henry later married Lucy Stone.
Mrs. Severance was deeply impressed
with the need of organized fellowship
among thoughtful women of all classes
and creeds. Hsr enthusiasm and the
sym pathetic actionof friends in Boston
and vicinity resulted in the forming, in
1868, of the celebrated Mother of Clubs,
which shared this honor, perhaps, with
the New York Sorosis, the New England
Woman's club of Boston. of which she
was made first president, serving as such
until 1872, when Mr.. and Mrs. Severance
spent two winters in Tennessee and in
Washington, d. G.
While president, a committee, of which
she was q member, with many other
more wise and witty women, as she
says), had various lively .gartheringr in
the interest of more healthful and con-
venient dress for women. The results of
their symposiums, were given in practical
and most amusing shapes to the club.
Able papers were read on the topic in w
rIous church vestries. In this way. the
interest of pastors, physicians and the
community was enlisted. Headquarters
we're esta blshed by the community COM
mites for the sale of the garments in
vented by Them and thus began the first
organized effort at dress reform in this
country.
Mrs. Severance never has relinquished
the hope Of seeing the advent of less cum .
bersume and more healthful clothing for
women, and laughingly says The BIZ
cycle 10 proving more powerful lnflu-
ence toward this than all the dress re-
form com ittees Of the last half CEN
fury"
The members of the New England club
rendered n brilliant reception to Mrs.
Severance on April 81. 1875, befure her
departure from Boston for California,
where her two sons already were, and to
which state reunion OF tue family and
the glowing account of the climate" in.
duced the parents to go. There were
present Mrs. Julia Ward Howe the second
president. still in Office: Miss Elizabth
Peabody, Bronson Ailcott and his daugh-
ter, Louise. Mrs. Livermore. Lucy Stone.
arrisn, James Freeman Clarke and many
other of the men and women CT Boston,
honored for their intelligence, but most OF
all for their NOBLE, fearless advocacy OF
all lines of work for the welfare of the
race. With hearty appreciation, they ac-
knowledsed their gratitude TO Mrs. Sew
erance for what she had been to the club,
and to an even wider circle, by her zen
thusiasm for humanity and by the ex-
ample of her life and character among
them. Mr.. Alcott and Mrs. Livermore,
after expressions OF regret at losing their
friend and fellow philanthropist, said
that they could better spare her when
they thought il was to send her out as a
pioneer, among her western sisters, in
the line of club and other work for the
cause Of woman kinu.
Mrs. Ednah D. Cheney, still august
1850 one OF the active and influential
mem bers and councillors OF the club, then
presented to their honored guest sat of
II vols) all that had been published at
that timc) of Edward L. Pierse's Works
of Charles Sumner. "a farewell tribute of
esteem and affection, from the members
OF the New England Woman 8 club. as
stands written upon the fly-leaf of vel. |.
by the hand of its president, Mrs. Julia
Ward Howe.
On rising to respond Airs. Severance