The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-20
Mrs. VS.. Tilton of Denver Tells
of Wonders Accomplished.
Club Women Have Made the
Mountain City Noted.
ALL HELP IN WORK
No Lady Is Too Good" to BE
of Practical Benefit.
Crime Has Decreased Since Or
CARNATIONS Have Been Made.

ganiZatiOns Have Been Made.
Mrs. W. S. Tilton, an enthusiastic
worker in the Woman's club of Denver,
is spending a few days in the city. Mrs.
Tilton is well known in Topeka, having
made her home here a number of years
ago
Denver is the proud possessor of the
largest woman's club in the United
States and doubtless in the world, as
the United States is far ahead of other
countries in club work 1t is known
far and wide for the real practical work
it does, and for the vast strloeS II -
taking toward higher club life
The Woman's club was organized
only five years ago and the progress
81 has made in that time is marvellous
said Mrs. IiltOn to State journal re-
porter. AT the time Of organization
there was some difficulty about choosing
a president, but ii vas decided that
Mrs. Sarah 5. Platt was the one Wo-
man who would fill that important
office, and what the club is today is
largely due to her executive ability and
the wonderful tact which has made her
one OF the most popular women in the
west
Mrs. Platt held the presidency for
four years but at the last election posi-
lively refused to accept it again. Mrs
Plat has achieved national fame and
is now vice president of the national
federation and is travelling in the east
on club work. Her hobby, if it may be
called by so undignitied a name, is the
unlimited club, which, if thoroughly
established. will do more to broaden
and enlarge club life than any other
one thing.
Another thing taught and practised
by Mrs Plat Is that club women
should be good dressers; political, liter
airy and cub women have the reputa-
ton OF being 'doWdy,' and she thinks
the club women should endeaVOr to
do their part toward overcoming this
belief A good dresser is not always
the one who puts the most money into
her clothes.
There are one thousand names on
the membership list of the WOmans
club and more are added every month.
Each member pays an annual fee of
five dollars, which entities her to all of
the privileges of the club.
Last year there were seven depart
ments in the club, but this year it was
reduced to three as seven made too many
meetings.
The three departments are, Art,
Literature. Home and Education and
Social Science. in each of which is a
music committee, besides which there
are classes under the different depart
ments such as parliamentary law class,
dramatic art. city improvement society,"
sketching class, physical culture, and a
child study class
Each of the principal departments IS
allowed one hundred dollars a year with
which to carry on it's special work.
There is a club chorus of thirty voices
and children's chorus of fifty voices
both under special directors. There are
lectures on French Art, Psychology, and
Health and Hygiene. all of which are
free to club members without any addi-
tional charge
The special work taken up by the
Art and Literature department is club
extension These extensions of which
there are nine, are smaller clubs estab-
hshed for the benefit of the women who
are unable to belong to the Womans
club. The presidents of these extensions
must be members of the Woman's club
1 am president of the U. and l. club
which is named after the u and L
Flower Mission of Topeka: the mem ber-
ship OF the club extensions average
about twenty-five.
Another branch of work taken up by
this department is art in the public
school rooms. a speciality being made of
the kindergartens. Mrs. Tom Patter-
son whose husband is editor of the
Rocky Mountains News is chairman of
the committee.
The art distinctive of one special
country IS used and taught in each room
so that by the time a child has gone
through the grades it has acquired a
good sound artistic knowledge"
'kitchengarden, which means prac-
teal Homework. is q speciality of the
nome and education department. There
are classes in which cooking and all
branches of homework are taught and
girls who receive certificates from these
classes are always in demand. There
not attend during the day time, and a
finished demonstration from the Emer-
son college at Boston is in charge This
department has also opened free Ii
brary in the poorer part of the city; the
different club women take turns in
keeping this open each day
The Pingree gardens which are under
the social science department have done
an immense amount of good. BY their.
means. 1872 paupers families which had
hitherto been dependent on the town
were made self supporting. The chair
man OF this is a prominent woman all of
whose life had been devoted to society
until she Joined the Woman's club but
new her time is mostly spent in inspect
sng these gardens and getting ac-
quainted with the people in their homes
"A PIngree day was given at the club
house to which all the Pingree people
and their families were invited; stere-
opticon views of them were taken, which
were afterwards displayed to the hus-
bands and friends of the club women at
an evening meeting to show a little of
what they are doing. a woman's club
was also established by the social
science department in the district of
Parson Uzzel, a philanthropical man
who spends all of his time working for
the people in the Sums
What is called the River Front Park
was opened the tenth of June for any of
the poor people who wish to attend; this