The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-05
WOMEN'S LITERARY UNION.
Holds Its Annual Meeting Saturday
Afternoon.

officers Elected for the Notwithstanding
Reports Made-A Desire for a Club
House-SchooI Decoration.
The annual meeting of the Women g
Literary Union Was held in Pine street
church on Saturday afternoon, and
much important business was transacted.
The president of the union. Mrs. Annie
o. Clarke, read her graceful address to
the mem bers, thanking them for their
interested cooperation in the work. and
Lad special WORT to the reporters.
Mrs. Clarke expressed herself az hearth
ly in sympathy with the movement re-
Gently taken up in the union for
school room decoration. She men,
honed with much feelingg the names Of
the five women who had passed ON to
the unknown land.
The report of the present years work
was by the recording secretary, Mrs.
E. E. Moore. The secretary said that
there were four new Corners to the exc
cutive board last year. and mentioned
as the special noteworthy events of the
past year the Field Day at Old Orchard
and the meetings of the Maine Fedora
tion, both Of which were pleasant memo
ries.
Mrs. Bagley, as corresponding secre-
tary. reported the addition of IL clubs
to the union, and an increase of 1876
members. Mrs. Bngley spoke of the
sad duty she had been called upon to
assume in writing letters of coincidence
to the families where relatives had died,
who were memb ers of the Union. She
also mentioned having written a letter
to Mrs. Croly, who is writing history
of the club movement, giving her little
sketch of the union. and closed with
many thanks to the members who had
always been so ready to assist her.
/ Mrs. L. J. Brown, as treasurer, gave
only her condensed report, showing a bal
ance on hand of $97. 81, which was SUBJ
scribed to be the auditor, Mrs. Whitman
Sawyer.
Mrs. Abial NJ. Smith, as chairman Of
report of the various charming singers,
who had added SO much pleasure to the
"open meetings." and mentioned the
generosity of some of the ladies who
had subscribed extra money, in order
that the musical numbers for the Fed
Grafton might be worthy the occasion.
Mrs. Smiths report was accepted
with the amendment of a rising vote OF
thanks to the chairman, who had assist
ed so delightfully."- as accompanist.
The next ia order of business was
the report of the way and means c0m-
mittee which rather electrified most of
the audience. as it contained recommen-
dations of q very interesting character.
This ways and means committee repre-
sents the prospective idea of a club home,
and Mrs. Eta II. Osgood, it's chairman,
after reporting three stated meetings OF
the committee, and the sum of 1892. 70
in the Maine Savings bank for this OBJ
jeeot, then made the rather startling
announ cement that the house 81 Spring
street could be bought at very reason
able rate for club house, and if the
union decided to do this, friend offered
to give $1,000 towards the fund. Words
of encouragement and interest were
spoken by several of the ladies, but the
motionEfnally prevailed to call a spec
ial meeting of the women of the union
for Saturday, the 10th, at O'Clock and
that IN the meantime the subject should
be we'll discussed among the various
clu5 s. So the report was accepted sub
ject to future discussion, and the same
committee were re-instated for the COM
ing year.
Mrs. Josiah H. Burnham, as chairman
Of the school room decoration committee,
gave very delightful report Of the
work done during the year. Mrs. Burn
ham spoke of the mingled feeling of cour-
age and despair which faced the conf
mittee at the outset, but helpful and
sympathetic responses had lead them on.
Tbe!frst action of the committee had
been toaaget the consent and cooperation
of the school committee in this matter
which was soon obtained, and next ways
and means for raising money. The
nucleus of the fund was gained by hav-
ing the charming lecture from Mrs
Palmer, and the subscription list did the
rest, 80 at present the amount in the
treasury is little over 5000. The third
plan was to have a definite scheme so
that the decorations might be in har-
mony. and certain sorts of pictures ohos-
en- for the differentssgrades. Mrs. Burn
ham closed her report with the fact
that the school board had been heartily
in sympathy with the work. Through
this superintendent request has been
made that the pictures be hung in Re-
ception hall for pub lic inspection and a
formal presentation made to the city.
Mrs. Burnham's report was accepted,
and the same ommittee re-appointed.
Next in order was the amendment to
article of the constitution In regard
to inserting the clause educational
work" between intellectual advance
ment and mutual benefit" Mrs. Clarke
stated that at the last delegates meet
ing the spirit had evidently been In fav-
or of the amend ment, at least the ma
{or;fu than votod for A. RI ha carriad IN