The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-12
Society for the Aid of
Women Travellers.
AN HUB INSTITUTION
The Rest Tour Association
Does Much Good.

The little silver scallop shell pin Of
the Women's Rest Tour Association Ia
known in many countries besides our
own for there are few of its mem
bers who are not travellers. Although
nearly seven years Old the association
goes on it's quiet way without seeking
the notice of the general public, while
anxious to be of the greatest possible
benefit to its members, writes CON
tributor to the New York Post. 1t has
been defined as a bureau of informaS
ton aiming to furnish women VINO
wish to travel for purposes of rest and
study with such practical advice and.
encouragement as shall enable them TO
do so independently, intelligently, and
economically. 1t has been called also q
pass-it-along society, as n1emhte e
are especially asked to place any
knowledge that they may obtain about
places or methods of travel at the dis
posal of all other members. The asso-
citation thus becomes a cooperative
scheme with a well-definad aim.
When it was started, in January 1892,
the association had As members and
S30.69 in it's treasury. At its last annual
meeting it had 575 members, more than
tages, both tangible and intangible, to
offer its members. Among the tangible
advantages are the handbook of trav-
el, "a Summer in England" a library
of local guide books, the Elizabeth 0.
Robbins Memorial library of Baede-
kers guide-books which are lent to
members who wish them for use on
their travels; a foreign lodging list
and an American lodging list. Then
no m
Scrip, which appears at irregular in
tervals, and gives much information
about travel abroad, and the associa-
ton always has a supply of foreign
stamps on hand which members may
buy.
Every woman who joins is informed
that she is expected to give as well as
to receive, and thus when travelling she
keeps her eyes open for things that
may be of advantage to other women
\ likeiy ito travel in the same direction
+ The Post box" of the Pilgrim Scrip
receives and answers questions OF
members who may live hundreds Of
miles away from the place of publica-
tion and from each other. Some mem
bers enroll themselves as Correspond
ing members" and stand ready to be
consulted by those who need advice in
anything relating to proposed travels
A list Of companions and chaperones
is found to be helpful, and the recon-
mendation of the association is a guar
antee of the character of the names on
the list.
The finance committee of the asso-
citation has the care of the travel
ing fund, a part of the reserve set aside
to provide vacation trips for women
greatly in need of a change of scene,
who otherwise could not afford it. The
system of consuls established by the
! association is also as important as it
is unique. "Consuls' are persons resi-
dent abroad who are willing to advise
members in cases of doubt or difficulty
An effort has been made to include as
many reliable physicians as possible on
the list of consuls, and the information
on this point alone is worth much more
than the price of membership 7a2"
After an initiation fee of one dollar
| the membership fee is one dollar year,
and it is surprising how much has
been accomplished with this seemingly
slight revenue. Much less would have
been possible had the association been
less fortunate in it's officers. Miss A.
G. Murdoch and Miss M. G.. Reed, the
secretaries, have not only served with
out pay, but have given much time to
the work. The same may be said OF
the other active officers The editors Of
the Pilgrim Scrip, Miss Alice Brown
and Miss Louise Imogen Quincy, have
kept it up to high literary standard
Or late years, 1t has been thought
wise to have an office, and the Wom-
ans Economic and Industrial Union Of
Boston has allowed the association the
use OF q room on certain days, free Of
expense. The headquarters of the so-
ciety are thus in Boston, where its
chief officers live, although the, annual
meeting is always held in New York,
a tot sp, BOD
But the association itself is in no way
local. It's members are from every part
of the Union and from Canada. Those
who pass through Boston can meet
some of the officers at the club rooms
each Thursday afternoon in the season,
and on the first Thursday OF each
month an informal social meeting 10
held, where travels are discussed and
photographs exhibited.
Though the requirements for mem
bership in the association are simple,
applicants are expected to conform
strictly to them. Any woman Is in
vited to apply for membership who
can offer her name in the required
spirit of cooperation and sympathy.
She must present letters Of INTRODUCE
tion from two members, and must sign
a special membership form. Besides
the membership fees, the association
has in it's seven years of existence re-
ceived gifts from friends exceeding
$4,000 in amount. 1t has also lent and
given a somewhat smaller amount
than this to women who could not at
ford to take a European trip unaided
A new undertaking of the last year
has been the effort towards the estab-
fishing of a Rest Tour House, a lend
ing house." to be owned by the asso-
citation, but to be lent to groups Of
members at low rental. At the last
annual meeting a Boston physician
who has been a friend Of the associa-
ton from the beginning presented $500
towards this end. The membership in
cludes many school teachers, to whom
a house Of this kind would be a great
benefit, for it is to be furnished and
maintained as much like a real home