The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-29
KEYNOTE OF WoMEN'S WORK
AT Yesterdays FEDERATION
MEETING WAS THR Co-oPERA-
TION OF CLUB AND HOME.
EVANS ADDRESS
Is Broad Review of the Years
Work by an Observing and
Thoughtful Woman.

and see how we women conduct tnen-
selves in convention? 1t would sure
ly put a quietus upon any fears that
the rapid growth of women's clubs is
a menace to the home; for just as the
men, in political session, carry on
their discussions largely along the line
of business and material welfare, so
the addresses and discussions of these
federation women center about the I'M
provement of the home life, through
the broadening and elevating inf1u-
ences eXerted upon the mother by the
club life. 1t is sight good to behold
when several hundred women conduct
themselves in public conference, which
is born of vigorous intelligence, and
still retain the grace ard charm of
gentlewomanhood. The features Of
general interest of yesterday mornings
federation session We're the papers on
Municipal and Town Houseclean-
ing" on Literature as a Fine Art"
and on Value of Historical Work to
Club Women" AS there is not room
for sufficiently copious selections from
all papers to be indicative of their true
character and worth, a brief statement
of the trend of each address viii be
given as correctly as it was possible
to secure it. The morning session
opened with paper of vigorous dictlon
and logical arrangement by Mrs. A. E.
Giddings, president of the Philolectians,
of AnOka. The speaker argued that it
was eminently fitting that women
should participate in municipal and
town housekeeping, since they
had received excellent experience along
that line in the home that the work
of cleaning and beautifying the town
and municipality should be done in a
businesS-like manner, as a business
investment, since it had a direct in
f1uence upon the value of real estate;
that interest could and should be slim
ulated in preserving historic land
marks; that this was especially practi-
cable among school children; and final
ly, Mrs. Giddings put in a strong plea
for the preservation Of forests by set
ting aside large tracts of land for their
perpetuation. Suggestions, questions
+ and answers followed thick and fast
upon the able address. While Miss
Greve's paper upon Literature as
Fine Art" changed entirely the trend
of thought, there was no ebb of inter
est, for the discourse was a compact
and forcible exposition of the doctrine
that literature is the highest form of
art, since it is the art Of. bringing be-
fore the mind all: forms of human
knowledge; that literature should not
be made an end in itself for the very
simple reason that it is not an end in
itself. but like allatrues and noble art,
a means for the broadening and up
T lifting of humanity. Here again the
opportunity of general discussion the
women quickly improved to Bring be-
fore the conNenticn many helpful sug-
gestioEs as to the study methods of
literary clubs. The last paper of the
morning was on the Value of Histori-s
cal Work to Club Women, = written
and read by Miss Is. e. Kenyon, of
Minneapolis. 1t was an able argument
for the application of historical expert
ence to current questions History"
she said, lis but the, written lessons
which humanity has learned in the
hard school of experience and which
we can learn and apply to the prob
lens of today; lessons which will help
those who study to estimate, classify
and use the apparently perplexing
facts of current history"
Mrs J. C. Buchanan, Miss Clara
Dunn and Mrs. Perry Gribben were
appointed committee 10 count the
| ballots, taken on the informal vote
A hint Of the probable reelection of
Miss Margaret ]. Evans, of Mortified,
| as president was given when, mem
Der asked for information regarding
the rule of the society at the present
time governing the reelection of Of
ficers. and how many terms might be
served.
In answer, the secretary replied that
the tenure OF office rule was stricken
out last fall, and that there was no
limit to the number of terms an Of
ficer might serve. The announcement
was received with applause, for it
seemed to be the universal wish that
Miss Evans be reelected.
The afternoon session opened with
a full house, and interest and eXpac-
tation were marked on every counte-
nance. After a selection by Miss
Hopes Mandolin and Violin club Mrs.
| W. c. Masterran, of the Saltwater
| Woman's Reading club struck the
note for the afternoon in her paper on
Reciprocity Between Cub and Home
Mrs. Masterman pointed out how the
club life and lessons could be and We're
being brought into touch with all the
phases of the home. and how, on the
other hand. the home spirit exerted a
refining influence upon the club. The
two papers, through which the interest
of the assembly reached a climax, were
| those on Housekeeping and Home
! making" as science and as an art,
the first by Mrs. George Rufiey, of
Duluth. and the second by Mrs Chan
| ming Seabury, OF the ST. Paul New
Century club. Mrs. Rufey, in treat
ing her subject as a science, gave trib-
ute to the women as club members and
club leaders, but left the iaurels with
the women who were good housekeep-
ers and homemakers. She also drew
a distinction between housekeeping as
a theory, which is but a fad and
housekeeping as a practice, which is
a natural and intelligent growth. Mrs.
Charming Seabury's paper on House
keeping and Homemaking as an Art
was in itself a work of art, strong in
argument, winning in appeal and poet
ic in diction. The burden of her
thought was that the secret Of home
making are patience, endurance the
ability to conceal the drudgery of
Housekeeping, and, over all, to throw
the Frightening influence of gentle
humor. The last two papers of the
afternoon were on THE Work of Moth
ers' Clubs" by Mrs. Thomas Yapp, of
the ST. Paul Down Town Mothers
club. and on Household Economics
Its place in Women's Clubs by Mrs.
Bowen, of Minneapolis. Mrs. Yapp
gave the history of the mothers clubs
and the character of their work, and
Mrs. Bowen dwelt upon the necessity
of systematic instruction in household
economics After a brief discussion of
the papers the ladies repaired to the
parlors, where they We're rendered a
reception by the Plymouth c. L. S. c.,
and were served with dainty refresh
ments. Those who received the guests
and presented. them to the president,
Miss Margaret ] Evans We're: Mes