The Portland daily press., 1898-09-30
Maine CLUB WOMEN.
Yesterdays Session Of ths State
Federation.
ADDRESS By THE PRESIDENT MRS.
BRIGGS.

Reports OF the secretary, Treasurer and
Other Oficers-The Past Year Has Been
= a Prosperous One for the ClubS-Ac-
counts of the Denver Convention.
upEcIAr TO THE PnEss.I
Brunswick, September 29.-The morn
ing exercises OF the Federation, Eheld in
the Congregational church, Brunswick,
opened with selection by an amateur
orchestra of young girls and boys, who
played the overture to "The Poet and
Peasant" with much taste.
Prof. Henry L. Chapman gave the invo.
cation in his dignified and impressive man
ner after which Mrs. Byron 8. Stevens as
president of the Saturday club of Bruins
wick, extended most warmly the word
of greeting to each and every guest.
Mrs. Briggs responded very graciously
to the cordial welcome Of Mrs. Stevens,
SAYING that she wished the members of
the Saturday club might realize how
admiringly they were regarded by each
visiting member.
Mrs. Briggs then asked very pertinent
~, if the women Of the Federation felt
that they were doing in their clubs the
best possible work. Since her visit to
Denver, Mrs. briggs had been. moresim-
pressed with the .vastness of this organi-
cation of the Women's Federation. The
object of the organization is for The
broadening of women's influence in the
home, and Mrs. Briggs felt that the stud
les for that purpose should be of prac.
tica1 nature, as for instance in household
economics and child study. Mrs. Briggs
then spoke very forcibly of the need of
money to extend tho work and hoped the
women would give generously. AS tie
work accomplished we can point with
pride to our effective educational COM
mittee, the scheme for the travelling
libraries. school room decoration and viii
lage improvement societies as some of the
result growing from club influence OF
the Maine Federation.
Mrs. Briggs, in.conoluding, was much
affected in thanking the members of the
Federation for the kindness which they
had always shown her. AS for the exc
cutive board, Mrs. Briggs felt there had
never been a better. or more happy set of
advisers, adding: "We are about to
commence a new year. Let us mingle
some of the practical problems in to our
work, and fit ourselves for life of in.
creased usefulness
Then followed the reports Of the corre-
spending secretary, Miss Nellie Marston
of Monmouth; the treasurer, Mrs. B. f.
Eaton of Skowhegan, and the auditor,
Mrs. W. r. Clifford OF Skowhsgan.
Miss Marston reported that she had
written between three and four hundred
letters and she suggested that when
clnb members we're delinquent in hav-
ing their papers on time, there should
be fine demanded for non-appearance.
Miss Marston also suggested that in
writing her, more careful attention should
be given to details, to facilitate the pre-
paration of the programmes and year
books, as for instance In giving the pre-
fixes Mrs. and Miss. addresses, etc., in
order to issue accuracy and dispatch in
correspondence.
Mrs. Eaton. as treasurer, reported
balance of Si47.07 to the credit of the Fed
Grafton.
Owing to illness, Mrs. Henry F. Dowst
was unable to be present to givelher re-
port as state chairman OF the General
Federation. Mrs Briggs then calledsupon
Mrs. W. H. Newell OF Lewiston, to give
the report of the bureau of reciprocity.
Mrs. Newell had an enthusiastic word
to say of the usefulness of this depart
ment of the, Federation work and she paid
a great compliment to Miss Inez Blanoh-
ard, her predecessor. who. she said. had
made the office. Mrs Newell also spoke
of the wonderful insight which the.pres-
ident, Mrs. Briggs, had shown in bring
ing tout certain members of the Fedora.
ton who have contributed such able pa.
pers to some of the meetings. Mrs. Newell
stated that SO papers had been in active
circulation, and she felt that there should
he more cooperation from other clubs
Miss Martha F. b. Halves of Portland
gave vocal solo, "Lete,'' by Chami-
made. and her voice rang out charmingly
in this beautiful selection.
Mrs. Frank B. Clarke of Portland gave
very interesting account of her impress
sions of the Denver biennial, and she
was most enthusiastic over the oordiality
and ability of their western hostesses.
and tho method which was displayed in
managing and arranging the large visit
ing delegation.
Mrs. Clarke told several amusing ex-
periences, which she had in Denver, and
felt that the cordiality manifested
among the women of the different states
was the hest results of the meeting.
Mrs. Clarke told of one woman from
Georgia who, when she found Mrs.
Clarke was from Maine, said very hearth
ly: II want to shake hands with you.
think it quite time that Maine and
Georgia joined hands" That spirit, Mrs.
Clarke felt, prevailed through all the
,,,aetip0S and a1thouoh the New Eng.