The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-18
An Important Meeting To Be Held
Here Today.
A TALK WITH MRS. STEVENS AND
MISS SLACK.
How Mrs. Stevens Spent, Her Visit in Eng
Iand-Lady Henry Somerset's Novel
village OF Duxhurst-The Jubilee
Procession Seen from Mansion Hnnse


in both the Worlds and National
associations. 1t will be attended by Miss
Frances E. Willard, president of the
Worlds W. G. T. o., Miss Agnes K.
Slack, the secretary and Miss Anna A. |
Gordon, the assistant secretary of the |
Worlds organization, Mrs. L. NJ n |
Stevens, vice president-at-largs of the Ma
Lente Stevenson, corresponding secretary
of that body. AS Miss Willard is presi-
dent of the National society as well as
the larger, each will be represented by
three of it's general officers at this meet
ing. The matter Of chief Importance to
be considered Is the arrangements for the
worlds convention at Toronto and the
will be held in October, that at Buffalo
following the Toronto gathering. 1t is
the work OF arranging for the great con-
vention which brings Miss Slack to
America at this time. The worlds con-
yention will begin October % and con-
tinue its sessions through the Goth. On
Sunday, October a. Lady Henry Somer
set will preach the special convention SER
mon. Miss Willard will deliver the presi-
dents address on the morning of the 23d.
The convention will be preceded by a
banquet to be given to the delegates on
the evening of the 22d. Some of the no
table speakers at this convention, besides
Lady Henry Somerset and Miss Willard,
will be- Lady Windeyer of New South
Wales, Mrs. Kirk, Victoria, Australia
Mrs. Frances Griffin, Cairo, Egypt; Miss
es Vincent and Cummins, Australian
organizers; Miss Marion Milks, Chile;
Mrs. Walduck, Tasmania, Australia, and
Mrs. Shaen, vice-president B. W. T. A.
Many Z of the distinguished visitors to
the convention in Toronto will go from
there to the meeting of the National
gathering in Buffalo. The officers of the
National union at today's meeting, be-
side the work on the programme, will
consider the affiliated interests of their
organization such as the woman's tenn
pie in Chicago.
To reporter of the PRESS last eve-
ming, Mrs. Stevens talked of her visit to
England and told many interesting things
about her stay in the ''tight little isle"
She said that she had found England
"a pleasant place ford the traveller and
had received many kindnesses while
there. While Mrs. Stevens went abroad
largely for rest and observation, she ad-
dressed several large meetings in differ
emit parts of England besides speaking at
the receptions, rendered her. In this con-
nection Miss Slack said that as far as
she could recall, Mrs. Stevens is the only
American woman, except Miss Willard,
to whom the United Kingdom alliance
has ever rendered reception. "The
United Kingdom alliance added Miss
Slack, ''is the society which Neal Dow
called the strongest temperance organi-
cation In the world I" While in England,
Mrs. Stevens made her headquarters at
some time in Yorkshire at the home of
Mrs. Clay, Miss Slack's sister
Lady Henry Somerset was also guest
of Mrs Clay during Mrs. Stevens's visit.
In London, Mrs. Stevens was guest of
Mr.. Bedford Slack, and others. Mrs.
Stevens was entertained at Eastnor castle
by Lady,. Henry Somerset, and she also
spent some time at Blackpool, the Lam
cashire summer resort. Mrs. Stevens
spoke particularly of Duxhurst, the viii
lage in Surrey which Lady Henry Somer-
set has built for the accommodation of
inebriate women. Here the women are
quartered in cottages, not more than six
in "a
houses are of the kind which would be
attainable by the unfortunate women
who occupy them il they become respect.
able members of society. In this village
at Du1hurst there are many little homes.
but there is nothing of the institution. ,,
Lady Henry Somerset, who has an estate
nearby, has nevertheless erected a cottage
for her own use during her visits to
Duxhurst. 1t Is typical English cot
tage with it's roof of thatch, but in it
there have been entertained many of the
foremost people Of the British Isles. One
day four duchcsses lunched there. waited
on only by one OF the women who was
then one of the benefciaries of the boun-
ties Of Duxhurst. Here too the ROYAL
commission during its Investigation of
the question of the methods to be pursued
in licensing places for the sale of liquors.
were served with luncheon ON the ooca-
sion of their visit to Duxhurst. and it
was the remark of one of the members of
this commission, which is composed
largely OF brewers, expressing his pleas
ure at finding place SO well suited to its
purpose as Cuxhurst, which caused Its
founder to say in reply that he ought to
be pleased with 1t since he was one of
those who made Unnecessary.
Mrs. Stevens also spoke of the Queens
jubilee. On the day Of the great parade,
Mrs. Stevens and Miss Slack were among
the guests at the Mansion house, the
official residence of the Lord Mayor, and
of course had exceptional facilities for
seeing all that there was to see. When