The age-herald., 1898-05-10
Echoes From the State
 Endarnfinn al Selma

feQeFdliOn al Stthid The delegates to the convention Of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, held last week at Selma, have all reached home. Each one has something enthusiastic to say of the generous hospitality of the club women of Selma, and something pleasant and interesting to tell of the work of the federation and of the individual delegates. It is the eoncensus of opinion that the fourth convention of Alabama club women 5ust adjourned, was the most successful and encouraging yet held.
 Mrs. Geo. B. Eager had so thoroughly impressed her own strong unsefish, intel Mobile, brings to the work a broad eultiva- lectual personality upon the federation as president last year that her influence for good had permeated the entire organization. Her successor, Mrs. Erwin Craighead. of Mobile, brings to the work broad cultiva- tion, a complete knowledge of and sympa- thy with woman's work in its various lines and intellectual strength that has placed her in the front rank of useful Alabama women. Mrs. Craighead for years has been identified with whatever has been for the uplifting of the interests of the state, where wonman's labor and a woman's in- huence could count for anything.
 Under her wise and considerate manage ment the State Federation will surely go forward along the highway of progress.
 The speech of Mrs Robert D. Johnston,
 
 tion, was undoubtedly the feature of the convention. Her plea that was brimming over with a magnetic eloquence, came straight from her warm, loving heart, and aroused the women notn.cg else has yet done upon the subject of the needed im- provements in the condition of the children of Alabama.
 Mrs. Johnston in her earnest desire to appeal to the hearts well as the minds of the women who listened to her with such Keen interest threw a aide her ms n 1r- script and in a few moments had electrified the entire convention with the fascination of pleading.
 She forgot herself completely and only re- membered shining, suffering humanity she became the glowing advocate of great principle. she begged for Tight. more light" and To- she has awakened Alabama to knowledge of the gerat caverns of darkness and despair that open at the very feet of the people.
 It is said that Mrs. Johnston was more surprised than any woman who heard her at the wonderfully enthusiastic effect that her brief speech before the federation made This fact but added to it's charm and force Her self-forgetfulness her sweet, tender womanliness, gave her an immediate hold upon the hearts of the women, while her burning passionate eloquence reached their inteilects and compelled a recognition of the strength and justice of the cause for which she spoke.
 The following communication, from one of the most intellectual and progressive women of Alabama, voices a disappoint- ment that is felt by very many other wo- men, that the proposition to assess the club women of the state for a noble cause failed of fulfillment: My Dear Mrs Ball. To my mind an ideal club is one which ac- complishes by organization that which can not be accomplished by individual effort. A step In tne right direction was taken xxrfa opa af tha o1Y,aa Ea5a proposed to assess each member of every club one dollar and forty cents for the In- Qustria school at Montevallo. Had Mrs. R. D. Johnston's ringing appeal for a Re- formatory for the white boy criminals of Alabama been followed by practical dem- onstration of the sentiments then expressed 1t would have done more to convince thoughtful and philanthropic people of the usefulness of women's clubs than anything they have yet succeeded in doing. Culture is and will ever be matter of distinctive personal effort and application.
 ''In state where there are few if any millionaires, the establishment of institu- tons such as Alabama needs must come from aggregated endeavor expressed in do- lars and cents Hence the conviction that one club woman would best demonstrate the earnestness and sincerity of their in- tents, in addition to beautiful sentiments and eloquent words, they give substantial evidence thereof
 My correspondent is eminently correct. Such a beautiful address as that delivered by Mrs. R. D. Johnston, before the Fedora tion at Selma, should have been like the blast of a bugle to rally to the causes ad- vocated by this noble wman, the influence and assistance of every woman of Alabama who loves her state and desires to see it lifted out of the depth of ignorance and poverty.
 The Federation has great future ahead of it If it becomes a vehicle for genuine growth and advancement, if it will substi- ute action for sentiment.