The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-28
THE CITY ASSOCIATIONS.

We have now eight city associations of
which three have branches. The total
membership is 5,7GS an increase of 1,S+0
over last years report. An encouraging
feature is the increased number Of main
tanning members in some of the assocla-
| tions, showing the interst taken by the
women of the city and assuring regu-
lar source of support.
There are 1,554 of the members working
on committees, n large force of women
training for future active service in the
church as well as being of positive pres
| ent benefit. The work for which these
women have banded themselves together
! is shown in the reports of the various de-
| partments of the associations.
One thousand, five hundred and fifty
| four young women are in educational
| classes. and ass in industrial classes. Our
work is practical and touches the per-
sonal lives and homes of girls. That
| this is felt by the workers is evident from
! their reports of plans Harrisburg pro-
| poses to have a cooking department in
| their new building, Reading has just
| opened one, Wilkes-Ba considers their
! series of cooking lessons a most sue
! ccssful feature of last years work" Ian
! caster found their "sewing class very
| popular" York has her classes for sewing
and knitting, South Pittsburg. her
kitchen garden, while Pittsburg. our larg-
| teaching Of domestic science
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
Physical training is not neglected in our
! association. We claim to try to meet
! the needs of young women in their phy5l.
cal, mental and spiritual development,
( and so it is a part of our work to give
| opportunity for training of the body by
wisely directed exercise. Eight of the
associations have gymnastic classes in
which over 400 girls are gaining strength.
! This is a larger number than last year,
and other associations and branches are
hoping to have such advantages soon.
THE OUTING CLUBS.
Considerable interest has been shown
this year in outing clubs that combine
pleasure and exercise in a most helpful
| way. Nearly every association had some
! plan by which girls could gain healthful
! outdoor recreation under favorable cir
cumstances and good influence. Lancas-
ter and Reading had tennis courts; Scran-
ton had picnics In the woods and bicycle
| runs; Wilkes Barre, days at country
| homes, and other associations other ways
Of making happy holidays for girls shut
in by city walls and routine work
Connected with this summer outing idea
is the larger thought of rest cottages
For several years Harrisburg through
the kindness of a friend, has had the use
of country home for association men,
bers; Scranton, since its organization,
has always planned for homelike board
ing places fer girls, at low rates. at the
seashore or in the country; this summer
friend gave them the privilege of a
cottage in the mountains for a month
Lancaster association hired a cottage for
the special use of their association girls
So in these various ways 40 young wo-
men found restful vacations.
| The movement toward permanent
homes for city associations is one of tho
noticeable things in our history this year
In February, after a six months canvass
the Harrisburg association enterd their
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