The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-07
Big FITCHBURG MEETING.
Many Worcester Ladies
Present-A Number of
Notable Addresses.

| WOman's Club there were present Mrs.
Archibald McCullagh, the president,
Mrs. E. I. Comins and Mrs c. c. Bald
win, ex-presidents; Mrs. Nathaniel
Paine, Mrs. w. H. Coe, Mrs. J. H. Nc
Mullin. Mrs. Frederick j. Barnard,
Miss Barnard. Mrs. Gardner c. Whit
ing, Mrs. Justin Ware, Mrs. H. P.
Eddy, Miss Whiting, while the Home
Club sent Mrs. Horace Kimball and
Mrs. William Harding.
The Fitchburg Woman's Club enter
tanned the federation, and entertained
very handsomely, too as the delicious
and generous lunch, the decorations
and the general thoughtfulness and
cordially testified The meeting was
| held in the Unitarian church, which
was taxed to its utmost capacity, so
| that some ladies were obliged to sit
among the laurel and the Easter lilies
and red geraniums that almost con-
cealed the pulpit platform. In all,
about 500 women attended the two ses-
slons' of whom about 800 were visitors
from other clubs.
An organ prelude opened the exer-
cises at the morning session, after
which Mrs. E. M. F. Hartwell, presi-
dent of the hostess club, made brief
| address of welcome and was followed
! by the president of the State Fedora
ton. Miss o. M. E. Rowe, of Boston,
who. in her response, referred in APP
preciative terms to the work of the
Fitchburg Woman's Club in establish
ing and supporting a successful school
for household training. To that end
the members repubished a woman s
edition of The Mail, by which they net
ted $1,000. Copies of this edition were
distributed to the audience. And in
this connection, it may be added that
the ladies who attended the federation
Jared well in respect to gifts, for be-
side the newspaper mentioned above
copies of the official guide and register
| of WOmens clubs in Massachusetts and
of the New England Kitchen Maya
zine, with which Mrs. Richards is con-
nected, were handed about.
Miss Rowe was followed by Mrs Car
oline Stone Anterior of Boston, chair
man of the program committee, who
said: In asking you to give your at
tention to domestic economy, your
committee has not been deceived into
thinking they can settle this question
! in one day. 1t is because we believe
that in making the most of herself, she
can do best justice to her family. be-
cause with the help of modern machin-
| y a
| keeper, and still have time for other
work, that we have asked you to take
counsel this morning on this vital sub
| 1ect. [ see no reason why this prob
lem cannot be met with scientific treat
ment."
The domestic problem" was the for
NAL subject of the days consideration
and upon the program it was followed
by a quotation from Lucy NJ. Salmon.
no
the guide, philosopher and friend of the
conscientious housekeeper, as she was
| quoted by every speaker. The quota
ton, which served as a keynote to the
proceedings, was as follows:
For a reform in domestic service
moral revolution is everywhere need
ed. bringing with it to every person an
appreciation of his responsibility to all
connected with the employment.
whether employer or employee Re
forms begin at the top, revolutions at
the bottom. 1t rests with the men and
women of the so-called upper classes.
whether raised to their position bv
birth, wealth, intellect, education or
opportunity, to work out in the best
way satisfactory solution of the yex-
! ed question Of domestic service
Mrs. Charlotte BarrelI Ware of Bos-
ton was the first speaker, and her ad-
dress, upon AN experiment in do
nestle reform" concerned itself chiefly
with a detailed account of the experi.
ments in domestic training conducted
| by the Woman's Educational and In
dustrial Union in Boston.
With all the occupations that have
/ been opened in the past fifty years
there is still love of home-workine
among women. I remember that as a
little girl l was as proud of NV first
loaf as OF successful examination in
history, but in later life, with a home
| of my own, l have found that life has
many other sides. There is, for in
stance, the social side. We must
change for the better our treatment of
our servants.
There is an undersupply of domestic
help and an OVersupply Of other Wonl-
en- workers. Attempts to induce fac
| tory girls to enter domestic service
have met with little success. thanks 10
the longer hours and the treatment
which some domestics have received.
The better class of maids no longer go
to employment Offices but advertise
| Independently, although here in Mas
sachusetts these offices are conducted
very well. The WOman's Educational
and Industrial Union wants to create
a sentiment that it is in earnest in
closing these places and appointing
women on the board of inspectors The
| days are past when the neighbours girl
came in to help; her place is taken nv
foreigners. But let US realize that our
own household not so isolated as il |
may appear, but sustains moral and
economic relations with the rest of the !
world, and that whatever we do af- !
fects vitality every other household.
A readjusJment of household ex- |
| penditures was illuminated bv Mrs
Ellen H. Richards of the Massarbu- |
sets Institute of Technology. who
spoke in the suggestive and sensible |
but not dogmatic way characteristic of |
her. In opening, she disclaimed the
| possession of philosophy of the sinh |
ject, but said she hoped to lead others /
10 study the problem. Money" said |
she, lis spent for the merely animal |
wants, such as food, shelter and
clothes, and for the qualification of fine
higher needs, such as music, books |
travel. The human body is the most /
economical machine known; when in
the best condition it is at liberty To usa
about one-third Of the energy created |
in itself for other than animal needs.
that is. for the ideal things of life.
Now, it seems to me that we have
arrived at our present state of progress
through losing many Of the ideals
which lifted our ancestors above ,vba+
we call drudgery. What does home and
the family stand for in our ideaIs9i
We strive after eternal show. but we
hide the facts of our kitchens and
dining rooms, and guests become a /
bother. Oaughter.) Are we ashamed
of our daily life? 1t looks so"
Mrs. Richards next took up the yari-
Gus kinds of expenditure in a family
About one-hah Of the income goes for
food, but it is possible to live ON nine
cents a day; for IS cents one can live