The Portland daily press., 1896-10-16
MAINE CLUB WOMEN.



department into all women's clubs, say
ing that the cultivated intelligence
which Is the direct outcome of the wom-
ans club movement is greatly needed
IN all matters pertaining to the science
OF homo and all that pertains to home
making. suggesting the great variety of
SUBJECTS from VIII ich to choose, all por-
tanning to the domestic Problem" aud
giving scope for the keenesr mental re-
search and intellectual vigor.
Mrs. Hamilton read an open letter
from Mrs. Eliza beth Boynton Harbut of
Illinois, president of the National House
hold Economic Association-and then in
rFoduced Miss Anna Barrows of Frye
burg, editor of "The American Kitchen
Magazine.
Miss Anna Barrows followed Mrs. Ham
ilton. as a speaker in the same line, but
she designated her work rather as
"Home Science" than "Eoo nomics."
Miss Barrows is charming young
speaker and has rapidly made Ia name for
herself as an authority on this subject.
Miss Barrows spoke in part as follows:
MISS BARROWs'S PAPER.
Anyone who can look even back years
will agree that household affairs COM
mand more attention than in the past;
that 1t ia now recognized that no part of
our every day life can be neglected il
we are to have strong bodies and clear
heads. Further progress in this direction
is shown by the position accorded to this
group of subjects in our schools. They
are finding place not only in mission
work and in the grammar schools, but
in the high schools and colleges.
For while educators looked doubtful
ly upon this departure in the schools,
fearing it would lower standards towards
teaching trades. Today it is admitted to
afford an opportunity for the practical ap-
plication of all sciences that such In
struction is necessary to harmonize
divers elements and preserve our ma
tional life.
The field is broadening constantly.
Sewing and cooking were the first
added, interest IN the laws of sanitation
and hygiene, the construction and care of
house and the adaptation of the prin-
ciples of art.
Last June an exhibition was held in
the Manual Training High school in
Boston showing what might be taught
regarding the care OF wood work, the
selection Of furnishings, eto.
But it is ths club movement which is
to do most for the progress Of this move
ment. Ten years ago it was in its in
fancy. We were fortunate in Ehaving
women like Mrs. Hemenway, and Mrs.
Quincy Shaw, who were ready to use
their abun dance to show the pu blic that
such instruction is feasible, for we are
learning the force gained by working to-
gether, and the woman's club is reoog-
niZeda as power in moulding public
opinion. The clubs have gone the rounds
of literature, history, music and art and
Hv.di rAo% 4
relation to the home and now they are
attacking the problem of home life.
Now will ii be strange If as they Study
these subjects they may become inter-
ested In the larger question of municipal
housekeeping. Sometimes the whole club
decides to devote one or more meetings
to household economics and again in
larger clubs section holds regular ses-
sicns throughout the year. 1t is not al
ways desirable to supply special leader
to conduct such meetings, for the in
diyidual members do not always do their
own duty. A small collection of reliable
reference books and a we'll arranged pro-
gramme not too elaborate in detail will
prove sufficient for one winters work il
the mem berg are Rally. interested in the
subject. When club begins to compre
hend the extent of this subject it viii
not be satisfied until these branches are
Dab into the school. A moderate oontri
button from each member of the clubs in
pur large cities would assure the support
II schools of household science. On us
lesss great responsibility.
Mrs. White and Miss Rioe gaverthei
Two duets put down for the afternoon
programme, and sang most charminRly
ado you hear what the birds say" Cow
en-; "Hark to the mandolin" Parker.
Mrs. George @. Frye of Portland reat
q most interesting report of the histor,
of the Maine Federation ,and as Main
was the first state to be federated in thi
league, we can feel that "Dirigo" ha
question.
In the course of her remarks, Mrs
Frye ssid
Portland has the honor of heing tb
birthplace of tho first Federation o
clubs, the Women's Literary Union
wbich TeJoices as hostess today, having
been organized and at work one year pre-
vious to the existence of the Genera
Federation, and true to our state : motto
"Diris <" 1t also gave birth to our State
Federation, twenty-one having sine,
been organized. The official mem bers o.
the General Federation from Maine, wht
hbbenUeu bU6 uEsG COuuCil m6eUluR
Orange, N. j., were from the Women'l
Literary union. They were sc impressed
with the helpful and suggestive inter
change Of thought, women being presen
from almost ever section of the country
that in June, 1892, Charlotte Emerson
Brown, that magnificent leader of the
National Federation of Women's clu bs
was invited to be present at reception
given by the president of the Literary
union, at 296 Congress street, where Mrs
Brown was asked for an opinion upoI
the advissbility forming such an or
ganization. To this she gracefully
asserted, aud stated sthat sh,
could think of nothing NOR,
ideal than a state Federation. organized
in harmony with the General Fsderatlon
thence we see that this body, the Main,
State Federation of Women's alubs, is
indebted directly to the Woman's Liter
AIRY union of Portland, the first fedora
tion of clu bs and Indirectly to the Gener
al Federation for its existence.
Mrs. Helen B. @. Beedy of Farming
ton was chosen chairman of this pre-
liminary meeting, one who had presided
over many club women IN their girlhood
and these more than ever are realizing ir
their review what thorough lractioa