The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-28
CLUB WOMEN MEET
THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION OF
THE MINNESOTA STATE FED
GRAFTON.
SURVEY OF THE WORK DONE.
THIRTY CLUBS HAVE BECOME FAC
TORS IN THE UNIFYING PROC
ESS THIS YEAR.
FIFTEEN FROM THE TWIN CITIES.
Report of the Interesting Session
Reception at the Commercial
C2ub-PrOgramme for Today.

The third annual convention Of the
Minnesota Federation of Women's
Clubs opened yesterday afternoon in
Park Congregational church. There
was a large attendance notwithstand-
ing the faet-tefta set NJ tIlne wore Ter pref
test autumnal smile wherewfeh 10
coax the ladies out of doors. From SO
many points Of interest it is difficult
to select the chief, but 1t is safe to say
that among the most interesting
features were those reports and papers
which gave glimpses of the character
and scope of the work done in the fed
Grating line. The corresponding sec
rotary, Mrs. A. w. French, read
vivid, vigorous and interesting report
on the years work, showing that
thirty clubs had joined the federation
during the year; that among those en-
rolled since Oct. 26, st. Paul and Min
neapolis come first, with eight and
seven respectively; that with the
eighty clubs now on the register the
total membership Of the federation is
200. Mrs. French also made a rapid
survey of the work done by individual
Grafton had kept in touch with the
general federation and various state
declarations by exchanging reports.
The paper was full of other good
points.
The papers which gave specific ex-
preston to this vigorous unifyfng,
centralizing tendency among club
women were those on Town and Coun-
try Clubs" and RECIPROCITY Among
Clubs" by Mrs. w. B. Fowler Of Still
water, and Mrs. II. G. Theopold, re-
spectively The work of the Town and
Country clubs is particularly interest
ing since it gives play to the distinc-
lively American spirit of a democratic
unity. Mrs. Fowler, in her paper, de-
scribes the working methods Of these
clubs. She told how some maintained
rest rooms, Of which the women from
the country might take advantage
while they were in town; how some Of
the clubs were sending literature out
into the country homes and how
others were going still further In hold
ing periodical sessions where town
and country women discussed together
subjects historical, political, literary
and archaeological
The Rochester club was dealt with
in detail, as it is an example Of
successful town and country club-one
which has maintained in connection
with it's rest room, lunch room ana
for a part of the year, a kindergarten
and sewing school. That the club has
the hearty support not only of the
women, but also of the business men
of Rochester, was evidenced by some
highly commendatory articles taken
from local papers When women are
seeking out their sisters in country
homes in order to bring them within
the enrolling and broadening inf1u-
ence of club life, let no one say that
American women are trying to develop
the class spirit.
A sprightly discussion on methods Of
promoting a fraternal feeling between
town and country clubs followed the
paper
Mrs. Theopald's paper on "Recipro-
city Among Clubs was read by Mrs.
Edgar H. Lloyd, of the Travellers club,
of Faribault. In this address the eff
forts at centraliZing the forces and
systematizing the studies of the
various clubs through a reciprocity
bureau was dealt with in an able man.
ner. The feature of literary interest
was the paper on Club Journeys" writ
ten by Mrs. A F. ingalls,, and read by
Mrs. F. S. Allen, of Dodge Center. The
burden of thought in the discourse per-
haps rested in the following extract:
Should you desire specific direction
for foreign travel consult Lord Bacon's
essay on travel, and 1 fear too often
the mention of travel means foreign