The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-02-23
CLUB FOR FARMERS WIVES.
tablished I'm Burlington, Kan, by
Wives and Daughters of :
Business Men.

Compassionate sympathy for others
is at the bottom of new woman's in
novation out west. The wives and
daughters of business men in several
Kansas towns have inaugurated a
movement that has endeared them to
the wives and daughters of the farm
ers. In dozen or more of the county
seat towns of the state ''rest rooms,"
or clubs, have been provided for the
accommodation of the women who
spend one day each week in town
shopping. Burlington, in southeast
ern Kansas, was the first town to in
augurate this popular resort. The
Lady Somerset club is known far and
wide and during its existence for the
past six months Burlington merchants
have extended their trade over into
the territory which heretofore patron
lied other towns. The merchants of
Burlington fitted up the Lady Somer-
set club as an experiment. They
Joined in appropriating sufficient
sum to keep the club running and by
arrangement the wives and daughters
of the Burlington merchants take
turns in looking after the comfort and
pleasure of country women.
The popularity of this resort may be
attested by visit to the room any
day, but especially on Saturday, the
market day. AS enc enters the broad
doorway the word welcome" in club
colors, white AMI yellow, suspended
from the ceiling at the farther end of
the room, greets the eye and gives an
assurance of its sincerity. A highly
polished stove with bright coal fire
makes comfortable this homalike
place. A large center table with it's
pretty cover, embroidered in white
and yellow, the handiwork of a men,
Der is covered with books, magazines,
papers and fashion plates.
The women of the Burlington club
do not forget the children from the
farms, and so have provided picture
books for their amusement. Several
easy and restful rocking chairs are
grouped about the room.
A couch and prettily draped Dress
ing case ornament the room. Pictures
are here and there. A set of shelves
nils up another corner and shows a
variety of homemade articles. Some
enc has constructed a most wonder
fui screen which divides the room
This screen is covered with the in
ev.tablc white and yellow and behind
its confines callers are invited to oene-
trate. If there is an article wanted In
this much-appreciated corner it has
not entered the heads of the women
OF burlington. a lavatory with big
pitchers of cool, clean water and plen-
ty of clean towels, wash cloths, soaps
and combs galore are here, ready for
use. Here the farmers wife can dis
pose of the dust gathered on the high
way, arrange her disheveled tresses
and emerge "new woman" ready for
business.
In addition there are neatly cur
talned windows, and small taoles
placed conveniently near the work
baskets containing needles, buttons,
thread, scissors, thimbles and all
things necessary for repairs. Pretty
homemade rugs give an air of COM
fort and slumber robes for the couch
testify to the thoughtfulness of the
women of Burlington. Nothing is
lacking to add to the comfort and
pleasure of the visiting women from
the farms, for as each one leaves the
"rest ROOM she is served with a glass
OF refreshing ice water, contributed
by the friendly merchant next door,
Chicago Chronicle.