The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-05-18
MRS. ". l. PHELPS REPORT
INTERESTING DOCUMENT READ AY
 MOTHERS ATD SOCIETY,

MOTHERS ATD SOCIETY, ss At tho Meeting Held in tho Home o1
 Mrs. T. E. Sargent on Wednesday
 Report of the Treasurer, Mrs. l.. A
 Reed,
 At the meeting of the Mothers Aid
 society, held at the home of Mrs. J. B.
 Sargent Wednesday afternoon two very
 interesting reports were read, one by
 Mrs. William Lyon Phelps, and the
 other, the treasurer's report, by Mrs. l.. A, Reed
 The report of Mrs, Phelps was as fol- lows:
 At the beginning of my report it is
 my sad duty to chronicle the death of
 Mrs. S. H. Chapman, who though not
 lately member of the society, was one
 of the founders, and for many years
 was untiring in her efforts for it's well
 fare. The resignations to be recorded
 this year are those of Mrs. Bigelow,
 Mrs. Dickerman and Mrs. Phelps. The
 resignation of Miss Reed, the treasurer ' of the society was received with keen < regret.
 Last March the Mothers Aid society a9 celebrated its eighteenth anniversary,
 completing one of the most important years in its history. The public has be- come deeply interested in the needs and work of the organzation, and for the
 first time has given us general and sub-
 stantfal support and Dr. Townsend has continued his care of the children. It
 is pleasant to report that their health ! has been excellent; with the exception
 of one of two slight flurries of measles there have been no cases of contagious disease, and although the heat last sum- { rner was intense, there was very little \ sickness. Tn the nurseries and in the { management there has been no material change, and the close of the present
 fiscal year finds us i'll the best condi
 ton financially that the society has { ever enjoyed. Last year, owing to lack { Of funds there seemed to be danger x that one of the nurseries would have to X close its doors; 1t was evident that some < strong measures would have to be taken sat once. A committee was appointed to decide upon means to raise speedily a x large sum. At the suggestion of Mrs. Lynde Harrison, fair on a most ex- ! tensive scale was undertaken, after the manner of the children's Easter festival given in the Metropolitan Opera House { in New York city. We cannot sufficient W Iy express our gratitude to Mrs. Mary Hatch Willard, chairman of the New York committee, for her unfailing kindness and many valuable sugges- tions.
 The general plan outlined was to pre- pare separate booths, representing re- { sepectively different countries, in appro- prate decorations, with corps of at- \ tendants in the national costumes. Many committees were necessary in or- der to insure full attendance at the va rious booths and to provide a large number of articles for sale; chairmen were therefore appointed for twenty seven departments, with power to select ithelr cimmittees. who in turn elected their officers, making as many distinct organizations as departments. Each { chairman was assured that she should work Independently of the central com- mittee in the management of her booth, < to which fact was due perhaps the com- plete absence Of friction.
 N The committees being we'll organized, meetings were held subject to the call Of the chair, when reports from the chairman of each department were sub- .Snitted. They were most encouraging Indicating interest and enthusiasm, and 1t was evident from the results obtained that every department would be in or der for the opening night. A final meeting was held for the purpose of in- etructing the committeeman about dec- orations, tickets, costumes, attendance and other arrangements. Everything then was ready for the fair to open it's doors,
 Through the kindness of Quarternas- ter-General Frost, Colonel Callahan and MT. Fl. G. Day the armory was secured for four days, beginning November 21. Through the courtesy of MT. E. G. Stod- tlard and MT. Lynde Harrison, tre anxi- sety as to the bonds for ten thousand dollars was removed The splendor of the scene on the opening night was deeply appreciated by great throng of people, and Is indeed difficult to de- 1 scribe. The fair was formally begun by an address of welcome by Governor Lounsbury, who was introduced in a few well-chosen words by General NtGOTSG II. OTu, tLt CIIdlTIudH Ol LIG l reception committee. Then followed | singing by chorus of three hundred | voices from the Hillhouse and Board | man schools, conducted by Professor B. | Jepson. They sang in the most spirited l manner many national hymns, and con- | tfibuted greatly to the effect of the | first night of the fair. Every one ap- preciated the great kindness of Profess sor Jepson in drilling and leading this chorus.
 The review of the committees in cos- tune by the reception committee from the battle-ship was the event of the evening. Nearly five hundred persons in appropriate and beautiful costumes were in the march, constituting a su- perbly brilliant spectacle. The galler- ies and floor of the armory were crowd ed with an enthusiastic and apprecia- tive audience and thus the fair started in the most promising manner
 Friday evening, November 2S, was Yale night Through the kindness of MT. Keppelman, the manager of the Glee and Banjo clubs, these organiza- tions consented to give joint concert, which was thoroughly Nenjoyed by an immense audience. The Mothers Aid 1,icl,1 n oy thciy,