The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-24

are parallel in their relationship-the
former doing for the nation what the
latter does for the state, and the indi-
vidual club chooses its relationship ac-
cOrdlng as Il cares or has been taught
to care for state. or for national CO.
operation or for both. A club that be-
longs 60 the state federation enjoys the
advantages OF It's immedi ate neighDor-
hood--one that belongs TO tie general
federation comes 10 know, or 10 know
about, new kinds of women, new ways
OF doing things, In short, we have u
national outlook as well as a local one.
The average club woman loves her
home club first and her interest In
neighboring clubs soon follows. This
natural nee a the state federation tends
10 fill. But the widest sufferable scope
of the state federation Is necessarily
limited. Massachusetts, women meet
Massachusetts women, Kentucky wO-
men meet Kentucky women, Colorado
women meet Colorado women, etc, and
anyone OF us Massachusetts women who
went 10 Denver knows that these three
states produce different types. With
the possible exception OF New York,
which is acknowledgedly cosmopolitan,
the different states or groups of states
are represented by distinctly different
women. TO escape that natural pro-
vincialism which the Eastern woman
as we'll as she of the South or West
is I'm danger of IL IS necessary TO meet
together, personally and not by proxy
and often enough to renew the inter-
change of fresh life before the last inn
preston has become effaced by the
home idiOsyncrasies We all settle in
10 ruts easily enough, with whatever
expanded outlook, and the happy mean
L stween that provincialism which never
sees anything quite as good as We
have In Bangor, and that restless dis
content which has no abiding place at
all, is, / believe. 10 be found I'm the BIZ
ennial conferences OF our friendly dem
ocratic general federation of Women's
clubs. The more clubs that can be rep
resented there the better for the clubs
and the federation"
Again, in referring 90 the argument
that the biennial is becoming so large
as To be unwieldy, Mrs. Shattuck Of
fers convincing proof OF the futility OF
this, and she further says with refer
ence To the future: "I believe any pos
sible future danger can be averted by
judgment in the admission OF newly
born clubs in the immediate locality
where the meeting is TO be held and,
II necessary. by excluding very small
and very new clubs; or by lessening
the representation If necessary. Any
of these expedients Is better than reor-
ganizing on the proposed narrow basis.
The business sessions OF our four BIZ
ennials compare favorably with those
OF any other national body doing it's
business on the same broad basis.
sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof; DO not cross bridge till you
come TO it,"
These arguments by Mrs Shattuck
are perhaps as broad and convincing.
and certainly as charitable. as any that
have been thus far advanced More
Ire ho t.. In, 20
speak upon these vital points concern
ing the great federation more clearly
and logically than almost any other
American club woman, save perhaps
Mrs. Lowe.
The great biennial. however. which
convenes next summer at Milwaukee,
will practically settle many questions
which are now the cause OF some un-
easiness i'm the minds of the leaders OF
the @. Il. " -
Among our Rhode Island clubs the
Coventry Woman's club still seems TO
be the only one i'm existence these
warm summer days. or this club we
have occasional glimpses which are al
ways a revelation OF the sunny side of
life. The annual meeting and evening
reception of the club which occurred
on Wednesday of the past week, is re-
ported u have beeg most successful
and delightful occasion. The annual
election of officers resulted I'm the
unanimous reelection OF Mrs. George
II. Corey as president. Mrs. Corey dur
ing her administration OF one year has
proved herself a most efficient. cour-
ageous and progressive officer The
club has materially gained under her
leadership. IT is a matter of gratifica-
tion. therefore, not only TO her consti-
tuency but to the Rhode Island state
federation that Mrs. Corey still re-
mains. and il is 10 be hoped will long
remain at the head or the Coventry
club.
Mrs. Corey is ably seconded in ali
her work by Mrs. Alfred Arnold. who
was also strongly supported and re-
elected as vice-presdent of the club.
Other officers chosen were Miss Myra
Anthony, recording secretary. and Mrs.
Ida Harrington. corresponding secre-
tary both of whom are honored MEM
bers Of the club. Mrs. Harrington be-
ing a past president Of the same.
The evening reception held in odd
Fellows hall. at Anthony, was a bril-
liant occasion. a very large number be-
ing present, including the husbands,
sons and friends of the club generally.
The decorations were unusually elab-
crate, consisting of palms. ferns and
potted plants i'm such profusion as to
tutlTNlN lIdllSloIui lnt StHeIdi dDptdE-
ance OF the hall. Orchestral music was
furnished by Johnson's orchestra.
Readings We're given by Miss Grace
Winnifred JOY OF Providence. and her
reputation i'm her chosen field is too
well known by Providence club women
to need any comment here. Suffice II
TO add that the club and their friends
were charmed by the subtle art which
characterizes all Aer work and distin-
gushes it from the general order.
Miss Forester OF Providence rem
dered several Soprano solos with ex-
quisite effect.
Mrs Corey's address Of welcome was
received with hearty applause.
The spread which was. Of course. an
indispensable element of the reception
was arranged SO that the large COM
pany were all seated around the fes-
tive board and lavish hospitality reign
ed supreme. During the reception hour
the receiving party was made up of
Mrs. Corey and the officers OF the club,
except Miss Anthony. who was absent
because Of recent bereavement.
The success OF the whole affair Is In
large measure due 90 the committee i'm