The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-11
Ah0NG NQAH'S CLUBS
EDITED By NExxfE y. PETTxs.

opening OF the art room was the social
| event for excellence OF the biennial.
On Tuesday morning In the sAlham-
| bra theatre occurred the formal open
ing OF the biennial. Ii was a brilliant
| scene this assemblage of hundreds and
| hundreds OF beautifully gowned wo-
men OF all ages, from maidenhood
10 old age. and. as some one expressed
II. 1.-The big auditorium resembed moth
ing so much as an enormous beehive.
with the continuous hum and buzz OF
conversation that went on until the
hour struck TO-" The stage was typi-
cal garden scene, with it's groups Of
palms and growing plants. while a
great boquet OF roses and carnations
graced the table, where sat the presi-
dent OF this great organization, Mrs.
Lowe. and with her the vice president,
Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker. wife of Judge
Decker OF Denver. The vast audience
was called TO order by Mrs. Lowe and
the meeting opened with prayer by
Miss Ellen c. Sabfn. Miss Lowe then
introduced the mayor of Milwaukee.
and Mayor Rose welcomed the conven-
tion. speaking I'm part. as follows:
"The scene here this morning is cer-
tainly an inspiration. and ! only re-
gret that all of the good people OF MIL
waukee are not permitted from some
magnificent assemblage. assure you
that our people appreciate the honor
you have conferred upon us by choos-
ing this city as the place for holding
this biennial meeting. Milwaukee has
become one OF the great convention
cities OF this country and we have the
pleasure OF extending a welcome to our
neighbors from our sister states. TO
open our doors and extend hospitality.
nd n N frt1a
waukeean esteems this a personal
pleasure"
Mayor Rose then extended the greet
ing of the city. mentioning many OF the
attractions which he hoped the dele
gates would avail themselves OF.
Mrs. James Sidney Peck. chairman or
the local board. followed the mayor in
an elegant address OF WELCOME.
Mrs. Arthur Neville. president OF the
Wisconsin fed ration gave the welcome
for the state federation. Her address
was a most graceful and delightful one.
and was received with hearty appla ause.
Mrs. Decker OF Denver responded TO
these words OF welcome" and at the
close OF her remarks. Mrs. Lowe arose
to deliver her biennial adk ess. She
was greeted with great applause and
with the Chautauqua salute. Mrs. Lowe
spoke for three quarters of an hour In
an eloquent, forcefr and logical man
ner The address outlined the growth
% the National Federation from its fr-
ganisation in 1884, and con- .nuing gave
a brief account of the progress. activi-
ties and achievements accomplished
during her Term Of Office. Mrs. Lowe
gave also a brief story of her travels
throughout her constituency to gain.
as she said, that knowledge OF all sec
tions which would make for greater
unification of effort. Mrs. Lowe spoke
at length upon the subject of ''the
wage earning woman, and made the
statement that the wage-earning child.
as class. should be abolished. She
referred TO the value OF travelling IL
braries. to the problem OF the south.
and to the burning question of reor-
ganization. Concerning this able ad-
dress an editorial In a Milwaukee pa
per has the following;
The reflection which must come to
every candid reader OF the opening ad-
dress of Mrs. Rebecca d. Lowe as
president of the General Federation of
Woman's clubs, printed in full in last
evenings Wisconsin, Is that there is
no sex In intellect In dignity Of
thought. in clearness and felicity of ex-
preston, in every element that enters
into the constitution of style. II is an
utterance that commands respectful at
tention. and that does not suffer by
comparison with the productions of its
class which are the output of con-
temporaneous men In public life"
The chief event Of Tuesday afternoon
was the. great reception given by the
Athenaeum and the Women's club TO
the biennial visitors, at the Athenaeum.
Here the beautiful club house, which
enjoys the distinction OF being the first
woman's club houre built IN America,
was transformed into veritable garden
of beauty, the floral decorations being
beautiful and elaborate beyond descrip-
tion. The reception was attended by
between two and three thousand club
women.
Tuesday evening 5000 women enjoyed
the Sculpture Night Progra at the
Alhambra. Here a lecture was given
by Mrs. Zulime Garland on "Some Pos
sib.1ities Of Sculpture IN Our Cities and
Town." Previous TO the lecture there
was a beautiful stage scene revealing
a sculptor and students modelling. A
procession of Greek maidens slowly
filed from the centre OF the stage down
the steps 10 the orchestra and through
the aisles of the theatre distributing
programs. all TO the mHslc of chorus
concealed behind the Stage. Following
the lecture came uonre sculpture posing
by Miss Cornish. who accompanied each
picture with appropriate selections in
verse. She presented a series OF pic
lures OF great beauty. This rare en-
tertainment was under the direction OF
Mrs. Herman j. Hall and Mrs. S. s.
Frackelton of the art commit. .ee.
Wednesday morning dawned dismal
ly over Milwaukee for the "rains des-
cended and the floods came" yet. with
undaunted courage. the club women
braved the unwonted severity of the
storm and trooped ts the Alhambra, for
was not this the morning when the
piece de resistance" OF the whole con-
vcntion was to be discussed before the
body politic-the reorganization ques-
tion? After a deal Of discussion. how
ever the question was postponed for
n definite decision on Thursday morn
ing
The Wednesday afternoon session was
devoted TO the subject Of educat on. in
which public school needs we're discuss
ed. The session was presided over bv
Mrs. Margaret Evans, the dean OF the
woman's department Of Carleton coll
lege -. Minnesota The various
phases ~ this prolific subject were