The Daily Texarkanian., 1899-04-24
ARKANSAS FEDERATION OF WO-
MEMS CLUB.

our people would be pleased to
know something of what women do
in their clubs, ] avail myself Of the
privilege of the columns of your
paper to endeavor to give them a
possible conception of the great
and good work that has been dene,
and the determination on the part
of officers and members to carry on
their work to yet more satisfactory
conclusion.
However, must begin at the be-
Cunning, where Mrs. Skeen and my
self armed with our credentials as
representatives of the Derthick
Music Club, left home for the
Ridge City Helena, on the banks of
the Mississippi. The misfortune of
not making connection at Clar-
endon, caused us not to reach
Helena until Wednesday morning.
Our disappointment was almost
forgotten in the kindly welcome ac-
corded us by the reception commit
tee, Mesdames. Wilkes, Shinault
and Wiley. Be it the face, the
hone, the business house, the as
sembly hall, anywhere the eye rest
ed, welcome" greeted yeu. Ten
o'clock Wednesday morning the
delegates assembled within the hall
of the Woman's Library Building.
A more noble type of womanhood
as gathered there, you could not
find, were you to search the four
quarters of the world. Snowy locks
wreathed the sweet faces of many,
while near her sat the maid upon
whose heart care sat as lightly as
dew on the rose.
From the grandmother to the
sweet girl-woman, every face told
the same desire of developing the
moman, the girl iHto higher type
of womanhood, whereby they would
become better wives, better moth
ers, better swcethearts. In truth
to be "a perfect woman, nobly
planned to warm, to comfort and
command" But | must on with the
doings of the convention, wish |
had the words at nay command to
paint for you the scenes as Mrs.
Jerome Pillow of Helena, one of the
queenliest women, and president of
the Federation, surrounded by her
officers, stood before the repre-
sentatives Of A. f. W. G, and de-
clared the second annual session of
that body open. Then | felt my
heart beat faster, prouder, because
! was woman, and a member OF
that body. The welcome address
by Mrs. H. c. Rightor, of Helena,
was indeed a brilliant effort, breath
ing in every line the noble desire
for higher ideals of womanhood.
The cordial welcome extended SO
generously will live long ia the
hearts of the visitors. The response
by Mrs. Dale, of Arkadelphia, was
a rare piece of wit and humor.
From the moment she was intro
duced to the conclusion the house
was hers. Mrs, Jerome B Pillow,
the president, addressed the con-
vention, During the address a
breathless silence reigned. From
first to last, her expressions breath
ed on the desire of woman to learn
how to prepare herself for the
various duties that must be hers
in the battle of life, Dsclaiming
all desire to infringe upon the
rights" of our gentleman friends.
If mistake not thirty-tive clubs
were represented; Literature, mus
ic, art, self Improvement, bachelor
girl clubs, household economies,
were freely discussed. From every
report made, other clubs culleC
good ideas, which would enable
them to bring about more salts
factory results in the future, TIC
say Just what club life of women
means, would be this, to create the
twentieth century into period,
which as long as this world shall last
shall be regarded as a period when
woman considered herself a free
agent, who could sustain herself
when the "article" called husband
was net among her furniture, Should
kindly providence place this greatly
to be desired at her hreside, then
her ambition must be to become a
worthy companion, a noble mother,
devoted wife, a true friend, a
sympathizer, helper for the needy,
thus filing the realm God intended
that she SHOULD, Here 10 the con-
ventiou Of the A. f. w, G, she can
learn many ways which will be Of
untold good to her in her upward
progress, would that the doubt