The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-02
One Hundred and Tween
ty-two Ladies Present.
Witty After Dinner Speeches by
Bright Women.

For Field Day no one thing makes
or mars the pleasure OF the occasion as
the condition Of the weather, and there
was surely good deal OF 1t Saturday
such as it was-when the members of the
Literary Union had their annual outing.
Prout Neck, one of the most beautiful
spots along the Maine coast, was chosen
for the excursion, and one hundred and
twenty two women awaited themselves
Of thu opportunity of visiting this favor
lite resort and Of enjoying as well the
hospitality OF the Checkley house, and
the interesting post parndial exercises,
which were arranged entirely by Mrs.
Frank B. Clarke who had been chosen
as toast mistress.
AS Friday was threatening, there were
some misgivings by those in charge as to
the prospects for Saturday, SO when the
day proved to be clear and bright, no.
body was inclined to grumble at the
wind-until Scarborough was reached.
Six or eight conveyances of different
sorts were in attendance at each train
to take the visitors to the Checkley and
everything was admirably arranged for
their transportation Unfortunately the
wind was dreadful, but the ladies were
too delighted with the views to indulge
in anything more than little good
natured growing when they were obliged
to hold onto their hats and bonnets al
most every minute during the drive.
The wind was so strong that it was not
possible to sit out very much, but the
clear blue sky and the white caps in
the ocean gave vivid and brilliant
effect that win always be associated with
the memory OF 'Prout s..
1t took some time for the women to
repair damages from the drive, and the
time for the dinner arrived almost too
quickly, the hour being twelve.
The tables were arranged in horseshoe
form with the executive board and spec
ial guests at the head of the room while
at intervals on the long tables were
masses of daisies and buttercups, the
colors of the Union. A murmur of adj
miration was heard as the ladies filed in
to the dining room at the effect of the
ocean view seen through the large, plate
glass window at the end of the room.
One almost felt as if she wera ON the
deck of an ocean steamer with nothing
between her and the boundless sea.
Fortunately for most of the ladies such was
not the case, otherwise their enjoyment
of the dinner, which had been so care
fully prepared by Mr.. Ira Foss, the pro-
prietor, would doubtless have been inter
fered with.
After the assembling Of the ladies in
the office of the Checkley House, Mrs
Charles Flagg, the new president of the
Union, called the meeting to order, ex-
pressed her pleasure at seeing so large a
gathering of the members and also stat
ed that there would be report of the
committee on Old Home Week, of which
Mrs. Percival Bonney was the chairman.
The report was accepted. 1t stated that
the committee had made arrangements
for offering the hospitality of the W. L.
u. to the visitors of the week at the aux
iliary room in they. M. G. A. building,
and one of the members was to be in at
tendance there each day: Mrs. Elinor M.
Knight on Tuesday; Mrs. Charles Wyer
on Wednesday; Mrs. S. B. Kelsey on
Thursday and Mrs. Zsnas Thompson on
Friday. An earnest Invitation was also
given to each and every member of the
Union to be there at least once during
that week.
Mrs. Flagg then called upon the del
egate to the biennial at Milwaukee. Mrs.
Philip Henry Brown, who was to give
her report of the social side of the great
convention. Mrs. Brown gave very hui
morous account of the trip to AIilwau-
kee, telling in an amusing way of the
perpetual talker' whom they had with
them and of the great pleasure which
they enjoyed in their view Of Niagara.
AT Milwaukee everything was arranged
for the comfort of the Maine delegation
in the beautiful city, and besides the
morning and afternoon meetings. Mrs.
Flagg and Mrs. Brown were invited to
various social functions, many more than
they could possibly attend Mrs. Brown
felt that there were two objections to
the biennial, one the tendency to over
dress among the women, and the other,
the lack of knowledge of parliamentary
law, and she suggested that the members
Of the Union should be sure to make
themselves acquainted with this impor-
tant factor in club life, and continue the
work already begun in order that no
Maine women might hinder the passage
of business at such meeting.
1t was evident that Mrs. Brown was
enthusiastic over her experience in
Milwaukee, and she said, in closing her
enjoyable report that she hoped the w.
L. U would always remain in the Gen
eral Federation.
Mrs Flagg's portion of the report was
the business side of the convention, and
shs. said very humorously, that after
giving good deal OF thought to the
vexed questions discussed there, sbesides