The Portland daily press., 1898-03-11

Portland presented greeting from Mr''
L. D. NJ. Sweat of Portland, state chair
man of the Washington Memorial uni
versity, begging for their earnest co-ope-
ration in lending their aid to establish
this university, in which women were TO
have equal rights with men.
Mrs. A. FL. Ellis of Fairfield. had
word to say for Travelling Libraries,
and of the good seed which they must
sow through thu state.
The president, Mrs. Briggs, told the
ladies something of the candidates for
the presidency of the General Fedora
tioD, who are Mrs. Alice Ives Breed Of
Boston, Mrs. Platt of Denver, and for
Clark horse" Mrs. Tod -Helmuth Of New
York. Mrs. Briggs wished the women
to take the question home, ms SO far the
Maine delegation was not pledged to any
candidate
Recess for dinner soon followed and
served.
The Question Box which was the
first matter of interest at the afternoon
meeting, came up Immediately after the
reading of the minutes. and in answering
the various questions, quite little dis
cussion was brought out among the ladies.
The first one, on the influence of the club
in the home, naturally received only a
favorable answer, but with the next, in
regard to the omission of the club reports
at the annual meeting, there was some
difference Of opinion. Many Of the ladies
felt that the club reports Tuade the most
interesting part of the meeting, while
some of the others felt that the necessity
of this personal testimony had now gone
by, and the time might be spent more
profltably.
The next question, "How can we best
maintain high standard in Kindergar-
ten," was answered by Miss Snow of
Bangor, that to keep this standard it was
necessary of course to have highly trained
teachers. ssand always keep to that. Miss
Snow added, very pertinently, and her
testimony means something from her
many years experience in teaching, that
the permeating influences OF the Froebel
5y0bo1A lb 1911 1IOA uAo llop Pl AA4AoAy
grade to the High school.
Mrs. Osgood Of Portland and Mrs.
Marsh of Saco, both had strong testimony
to give of the helpful and stimulating in
fuence of the kindergarten. Another
question was as to the advisability of dis
oussing questions of moral and social re-
forms at the annual meeting. and the
general feeling seemed to be there was no
objection to discussing such questions.
but 1t might not be advisable to take
general action, which would too rigorous
ly bind each individual member.
Then followed slight discussion in re-
gard to the best way of conducting Cur
rent Events club, after which the general
topic for the afternoon was introduced,
that of ''The Travelling Library"
In the absence of Mrs. Pepper, who
was appointed at the last year meeting.
to represent the Federation at the hearing
before the library committee of the state
dent Of the Federation also present at the
hearing gave the report Mrs. Porter
said she wns proud of the club women
who spoke SO well and to the point, SO
much so that the attitude Of the library
committee changed from one of indiffer-
ence to real favor. Among the women
who spoke that evening were Mrs. Osgood
of Portland, Mrs. Kenrick, Fairfield;
Miss Conaer, Fairfield; Mrs. Pepper,
Waterville, and Mrs. Hunt of Augusta for
the women, with Prof. Little, Superin-
tendent Stetson, Mr.. Mayo, Mr.. Weeks
and Mr.. Carver, the state librarian for
the men. Mrs. Porter read a clipping
from the Kennebec Journal, which stated
that this hearing was one of the most in.
teresting of the session. Unfortunately,
however, owing to objections from some
of..the members the discussion of 1t was
indefinitely postponed. Furthermore,
Continued on Second Page.