The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-28
TEACHERS CLUB MEETS
Social Meeting Last Night at
Crescent Hall-Programme
Of Exercises.

There was a social meeting of the Jer-
sey City Teachers Club in Crescent Hal
last night. The large ball was taxed to
its utmost capacity. Many of the guests
had to stand in the Railways and vesti-
bule. An excellent programme had been
prepared. There was but one disappoint-
ing feature of the meeting. Miss Elizabeth
Allen. who was to have addressed the
teachers and their guests on her fight In
Trenton for the Retirement Fund bill,
was too i'll to be present. The other
speaker was Miss Cecilia Gaines. she
made a stirring address on Woman,
and quite naturally had a great deal to
say about the Federation of Women's
Clubs. She said that she had expected TO
address only teachers and was surprised
to find so many outsiders, particularly
men, present. She thought it was not a
bad idea, however. that the men should
hear what she had to say about women
Woman she said, has always done
her share in the work of the world
Woman was the first farmer. and she has
laid the foundation for every great art
and industry the world has known. she
was the first miller, the woman riding to
the mill being the subject of one Of the
proverbs. She was the first cook and she
invented all the implements necessary to
cooking, including the large pots of stone
and iron. / believe that it remained for
man in his wisdom to add the leg to the
pots. Woman names all the utensils used
IN COOKING. IN spite OF all lnlS WOflleil
nave never known until lately the value
of organization. Each thing they have
done has been in isolation. Each woman
in the past has stood alone. 1t was some
twenty-five years ago that women began
to realize the value of organization, but
it was not until seven years. ago that
they founded the great organizations
known as celebrations. The Federation in
Teachers Guild of Newark has Joined
it recently. | want you TO know about
it." Miss Gaines then explained the OBJ
jectS of the Federation, describing the
travelling library, which it has secured
for use in the country districts, and the
work of the town Improvement societies.,
which have secured for many cities beau
tiful parks and clean streets.
Speaking of the street cleaning work
She said that there is a fine field for
the women of Jersey City in that line.
She explained that the women of the Fed
Grafton are very much interested in the
preservation of he forestry OF the STATE
and the preservation of the Palisades.
Continuing, she said:-"Women preserve
the ideals of the nation. 1t is ours as far
as possible to create standards in Soci-
ETY. today. Perhaps you don't realize that
it is the women in our State and other
States that I'LL the asylums. Farmers
wives. more than any other class, fill the
insane asylums. 1t is because they have
nothing TO keep their minds active. If
the average woman in this country has
no mental activity and too many of the
women in society have their activities
spent in the wrong direction, the teach
ers are apt to have their mental activi-
ties too much along ore line. l haye
been very much surprised to find how lit
tie teachers know of things outside of
teaching which one would think they
should be interested in. Eighty per cent.
of our teachers are women. One hundred
per cent. of the mothers in our land are
women. With one hundred and eighty
per cent. on our side we ought to do
something"
The following excellent musical and
which refreshments were served:-InStru-
mental selection, Messrs. Cox and Wood
burn; vocal solo. Mrs. Ella Flummer
Shaw; recitation, .The Blacksmith" Miss
Florence Carrick; song, Three Old Maids
of Lee Misses Hartman. Richie and
Whipple; solo, Mrs. Ella Plummer Shaw;
recitation, After the Battle" Miss
Florence Carrick; instrumental selection,
Messrs. Cox and Woodburn.