Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-09

| tary. Mrs. Vesta H. Cassidy: treasurer.
Mrs. Hardin W. Masters, and audit Or.
Mary II. Weeks; committee on finance.
Mrs: w. T. Garter of Pennsylvania, Mrs.
II. W. Fuller OF District of Columbia. Mrs.
w. +. Holtzman, District of Columbia
Mrs Masters, Illinois. and Mrs. James Nc
Gill, District of Columbia: committee on
education, Mrs Bourland, Illinois: Mrs.
Heller, Nebraska: Mrs. Cassidy. Maryland:
Mrs. McGil, District of Columbia: Miss
Carrot, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Shriver Mich
igan, Miss Wheelccb and Mrs. b. t. VIM
cent, Colorado; committee on philanthropy,
Mrs William Burnham. Pennsylvania; Mrs.
Alice Robinson, Maryland; Mrs. Elizabeth
Patton. Illinois; Mrs. Almon Hensley, New
York: Miss Jane Adams. Illinois. and Mrs.
Joseph Shaw, Lowell: committee pro-
gram. Hrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson, New
York: Mrs Hearotin, Illinois: Miss Mary
L. Butler, Illinois; Mrs. Francis Foard
and Mrs. William Lowe. Georgia: commit
tee On literature, Miss Burt. Mrs. Sangster.
Mrs. Carriage and Miss Sarah Arnold Bos-
ton;, executive committee, Mrs. Burnham,
Mrs. Pettigrew and Miss Richards.
Close of the Congress.
The congress closed Saturday night with
a mass meeting, which was somewhat in
formal in character and therefore interest
ing, musical and literary features of great
excellence being literally introduced The
subject of kindergarten work gave Mrs.
c. E. James opportunity to tell an instruc-
tive story about it. She explained how
classes should be organized and the sys-
tenn of instruction best to be followed. and
created something of a sensation by firmly
expressing her belief that the average grad
uate of woman's college was no more
fitted by education to become a mother
than the average factory girl.
Mrs. Eliza N. Alexander illustrated
how easy 1T was to amuse children by re-
citing a nursery story. using a brush and
bottle of ink to depict its scenes, and de-
lighted her audience with her unique man.
ner.
Need of Sensible Nurses.
The need of intelligent nurses proved a
most attractive theme for Mrs. Harris of
New York. The nurse, she said, had the
power in her hands to mold the child S
character, to fit it for its place in the So
ciety of the future; consequently it is of
the greatest Importance that she should
exert over the little ones the best Gull
tured and refined influences. The tendency,
however, of intelligent women, she said,
was to avoid the care of children. Thus
the task fell upon those unqualified and
unfit for the work. She advocated kim
dergarten for the instruction of nurses in
the methods of dealing with their charges.
The Chinese minister, WI Ting Fang,
who occupied a seat on the stage, was pre-
scented by President Birney and made a
pleasant speech, in which his witty sallies
caused much merriment. He cordially in
dorsed the mothers movement and con-
graduated the congress upon its good work.
Prof. Leo Wheat, the distinguished plan
list, played a medley of national airs, which
the big gathering cheered to the echo, all
singing the stanZas of America when he
sang several selections during the even
ing most charmingly, and Miss Julia King
the Boston elocutionist, again showed her
wonderful talent in several recitations. A
n aha ~ aor -as
read by the author, Miss Alice Lee Moque,
and after Miss Janet Richards had impart-
ed some valuable suggestions to the fu-
ture work of the congress the sessions were
closed With benediction pronounced by
Prof. Theodore Seward.
Natural Query.
Very naturally the question will now be
asked, What has the mothers congress
accomplished 1t is a little early for this
question, because the work is in its in
fancy, but it is lusty and able to answer
for itself. Mrs. Birney, the faithful presi-
dent of the organization, feels proud of the
work accomplished, and encouraged to go
on with the arduous labors for another
year.
I'VE did not expect immediate results"
she said, flor the work is SO far reaching
that it did not seem possible that we could
accomplish anything to speak of in one
short year, but 1t seems as though the har-
been the returns. Mothers clubs, child
study clubs, kindergartens, sewing clubs;
indeed, societies of every kind and charac-
ter that are helpful to women and chill
dren. have grown out of suggestions made
In the mothers congress of a year ago. 1t
seems as though the whole wide world Is
interested in the mothers work.
But then why shouldn't it be?' she
asked, with one Of her gentle smiles. THE
hand that rocks the cradle does rule the
world, after ALL trite though the saying
may SEEM and scoffed at as it is by the
advanced thinkers.
Good mothers rear their children to be-
come good men and women. There are sad
lapses, 1t Is true, but those are the excep-
tions that prove the rule. Many of the
splendid women who are working with us
have reared their children and sent them
out into the world TO do their work. but
they, do not feel that their own life work
is ended There are homes less happy than
their own have been; less fortunate I'm
many respects; mothers whose hearts are
right. but whose education has been limit
ed; whose opportunities have been circum-
scribed. They love their children, but ",
the bitter struggle for existence the little
ones must be neglected. We whose homes
have been happier, whose opportunities
have been richer. hope, from the fullness
of our own great love and tenderness, to sc,
organize our ranks, so extend our efforts
that the neglected mothers and children
may get the benefit"
Matron Gives q Reason.
There has been much. quiet fun poked at
the mothers who attended the congress
and the question has been asked why SO