Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-05-01
FEDERATION OF woMEx's CLUBS.
A Harmonious and Delightful Session Held
at GreenviIle.


South Carolina Federation of women's
clubs closed Its session yesterday after
noon, and this city has felt honored by
tho presence of 80 many fair women
from other parts of the State. The
meetings have been largely attended by
local visitors, including few venture
somo men now and then, and the orderly
conduct of tho proceedings is a good
model for other conventions. Nearly q
hundred delegates were in attendance,
representing forty-soven clubs from diff
ferent parts of the State.
Tuesday evening there was reception
given to tho club women and invited
guests by Mrs. Fannie Perry Beattie, at
her spacious and elegant residence on
North street, whore there were assem-
Gled about 800 ladies and q sprinkling of
the opposite sox. 1t was the most
elaborate and attractive entertainment
of tho kind over given at private resi-
denco in Groonvillo and tho gracious
hostess was complimentod on all sides
for tho delightful evening which had
been afforded to tho strangers within
our gates, as we'll as tho numerous
friends and neighbors who enjoyed it,.
Tho mcmbors of the Thirty Nine club,
which is masculine aggregation, were
special guests in honor of their club
affinity.
The business sessions of tho Fedora
ton began at 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning in tho hall of Rowena Lodge, K.
of p. The president, Miss Louisa B.
Poppcnhoim, of Charle iton, is model
presiding officer, and was quite prompt
in calling tho meeting to order.
An address of welcome was delivered
by Mrs. Mary p. Gridley, president of
tho Thursday club of this city, and it
abounded in choice expressions of tho
sincere gratitude of tho community to
tho women who had accepted tho invi-
tation to meet under tho shadow of tho
Blue Ridge. Mrs. Gridley is forcible
and gifted speaker, and her address was
in excellent tasto aud not bit too long.
The response was made by Mrs. A. L.
Smith, of Rock Hill, tho first vico presi-
dent of the Federation, and it was q gem
of beauty, wit and elegance, which COM
plctcly captivated the audience and was
warmly applaudcd. Miss Popponheim,
tho president, added few charming
remarks of appreciation for tho hospita-
bio welcome givon to tho delegates, and
then announced the regular order of
business, consisting of reports from the
officers and standing committees. Then
followed reports from tho clubs, which
consumed the remainder of the morning
session. Each club was allowed thrco
minutes to make it's report, and the
delegates were not allowed to exceed
the limit
The club reports were continued in
the afternoon, and much interest was
manifested in the cheering progress all
along tho line, which includes the
growth of tho older clubs and the organi-
zation of new ones. There is no doubt
that the enthusiasm created by this
convention will result in tho formation
of more clubs within tho next year.
The session OH Thursday morning
was most interesting, and tho business
included a valuable and thoughtful
paper on Forestry" a subject of vast
importance, by Miss Mary Watcrhouse,
of Beaufort. The delegates in private
conversation praised this paper very
highly, and tho gifted author has been
complimcntcd on all sides.
Another paper which commanded the
utmost respect and attention was that
on tho CONSUMERS League" by Mrs.
Mary Calvert, of Spartanburg, which
awakened much enthusiasm on n subject
that is little understood even among
intelligent readers. Mrs. Calvert touched
slightly upon child labor in tho cotton
mills and the necessity for legislation
on this line, saying that the examples of
Capt. Il. a. Smyth, Col. Jas. l.. Orr, Mr..
Lewis w. Parker and Mrs. M. p. Grid
ley, presidents of cotton mills, in the
management of child labor, should be
followed by all tho others if they did
not desire compulsory legislation to be
enacted.
Mrs. NJ. w. Coleman, of Seneca, chair
man of the committee on travelling
libraries, made report of surprising
interest, showing that tho work of
extension was being satisfactorily done.
None of these reports were discussed,
owing to the lack of time.
The convention concluded its labors
yesterday morning. Spartanburg was
chosen as the place of meeting for next
year by a majority vote. Charleston,
Columbia, Union and Spartanburg were
placed in nomination, and after two
ballots Spartanbnrg was the winner by
a narrow margin, with Columbia as a
close second.
The election of officers consumed an
hour or more, as the plan is to mako
nominations by ballot, and if lady
receives majority vote for tho nomi-
nation shc is then elected to tho office.
In other words, there arc no nominations
from the floor, and tho secret ballot
determines tho nominees. The result
was as follows:
Presidcnt-Niis Louisa B Poppen-
helm, Charleston.
First Vice Presidential A. f..
Smith, Rock Hill.
Second Vice Prcsidcnt-Mrs John G..
White, Chester.
Recording Sccretary-Mrs. G. G..
Fcathcrstonc, I.aurcns
Corresponding Sccrctary-M l.. j.
Blake, Spartanburg.
Treasurer Mrs. NJ. p. Gridlcy, Green
Vile.
Auditor-Mrs. l.. d. Childs, Columbia.
Resolutions of thanks to the Green