The Portland daily press., 1900-10-11
Reports Of Delegates from Different
organizations.
Mrs. Merrill Chosen
Honorary President,
And Mrs. George S. Hunt the
President of the COnnciI.


Wednesday afternoon a good audience
assembled in z. N. c. A. auxiliary
for the annual meeting Of the Portland
Woman's Council. Mrs. George S. Hunt
presided.
A duet by Miss Fletcher and Miss Fas-
sett, with Miss Margaret Jordan, pianist,
opened the session. followed by the usual
ceremony-the Lords Prayer IN unison.
The recording secretary, Justine r.
Worcester, read her last annual report for
1899, which was approved. She then
read the following report:
Madame Chairman and Ladies OF the
Council:
2 Once more the passing twelve months
have brought around the time of our an
nual meeting and drawn together the
members and friends Of the Woman's
Council to review the years work. We
feel it has not been Improbable. AS
patriotic instruction is one Of the aims Of
the National Council Of Women, our
local branch takes some step each year
to further its purpose. Last winter our
attention being called to a little book
called the Patriotic Primer, which gives
in concise form much of historical in
terest Of our country's progress, one hun
dred copies were purchased and presented
to the public schools of Portland. This
OF course with no idea Of increasing the
labors Of the teachers, but simply to aid
in the work they were already carrying
on by furnishing them with this little
compendium of patriotic facts. Several
Of the grammar school teachers in ac-
knowledging the gift, gave strong en-
dOrsement OF the value OF the Primer.
A framed chart illustrating the "Origin
and History OF the Stars and Stripes,
has been presented to the Maine School
for the Deaf. Want of funds only pre-
vented a similar gift to the public schools
Of the city, as it was considered a vaIua-
bic object lesson in patriotism.
One public meeting has been held,
celebration of Flag Day in City hall on
the evening OF June 14th when Mr.. E.
G. SWett delivered lecture on the Flag,
illustrated by lantern slides, which was
most Interesting and instructive. The
national hymns were sung.
Initiatory efforts were made early in
the season to have one or more women
placed upon the board of oyerseers of the
poor, and petitions to that effect Were
circulated meeting with good response,
but it was thought best to take no fur
ther steps at this time,
The subject of the curfeW law came up
frequently for discussion and received the
endorsement of the Council. Many testi-
monials have bean received Of its value
in the various towns where 1t is opera
tive. 1t was brought before the City
Council at one Of its meetings, but was
laid upon the table. We trust sometime
1t may be made law of the city.
AS anything relating to the status of
women must of necessity be OF interest to
an organization formed on the broad
lines Of the Council, it was decided in
planning the work for the year to con-
slider the divorce laws OF the United
States. Papers were read on the laws
existing in New England and the South
ern and Western States, and much in
formation gained thereby. We learned
one interesting fact that while in the
whole United States divorces have in
creased So per cent, in Wyoming they
have decreased 20 per cent, although the
population there is on the increase. This
is believed to be the effect OF woman
suffrage which prevails in the state.
After divorce laws naturally followed
the study Of marriage laws, and at each
meeting several ladies gave us the mar
riage statute of the state assigned Them.
The widespread dissatisfaction which
exists throughout the country with its
marriage and divorce laws would seem to
prove them something of a failure, and
one bright lady has suggested that "as
these are the result Of masculine Iegisla-
ton 1t might be well to have a commits
sion appointed Of both men and women
from the various states to draft new
laws"
Through the courtesy OF DR.. Files, the
Council was invited in January to listen
to a lecture on electricity with an exhi-
billion of the X-ray. Many ladies availed
themselves of the invitation and the hall
was well filed by a most interested audi
ence.
Three societies have Joined US during
the year, the Associated Charities, the
Martha Washington, and Diet Mission,
and the Council now numbers 16 auxil-
iaries. representing 2,6O5 members.
The informal reports given at each
meeting by one or more societies, have
Blown no A+or,e