The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-19

the text of the address Of Mrs Pennybaeker,
president Of the Federation Of Womens clubs;
Ladies' Gentlemen and Members Of the Texas
Federation of Women's Clubs--In addressing you
this evening it would be a pleasure to recount
the various triumphs that have crowned the eff
| forts of 1000 earnest women; but pleasure must
| give way to duty and duty demands that We
spend this hour in considering the serious ques-
tons that now confront us. Hence shall not
| dwell upon the facts.
! That this day forty-nine new clubs have asked
and received admission into the federation, in
creasng your numbers to 1870 clubs representing
100 towns in every section of the State; this is
a triumph for your club extension committee.
That your reciprocity work has become lv-
ing force encouraging clubs to undertake little,
but to do that little well. That the growth in
civic betterment spirit-which is only another
name for civic beauty--is encouraging, the story
of your rest rooms having excited inquiry in Cali
fornia and in New York and having been made
the topic for magazine articles
That your library progress is wonderful as
was proved by the report of the chairman this
afternoon; this year has shown increase Of
as per cent in number of Libraries, while El Paso
has received $4,000; Waco, $4,000 Temple,
Bryan and Clarksville $4,000, from the great
philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and Waxahachie
| marks the third town where private fortune
has generously endowed free public library.
That you have sent Photographic collection
Of the best in American art to every part OF
Texas, thus giving pleasure and proht to hum
dreds of children and adults
That your efforts TO aid in securing from the
legislature an appropriation for woman's build
ing at our State university were rewarded with
success, in proof of which you have been pub
lcly thanked by regents and president Among
the treasures laid in the corner stone we're a
Year Book of the federation and the letter ask
ing your aid hence fitting capstone to this
beautiful structure will be the scholarship fund,
to aid girls on whom stern poverty would fain
tells me- when ! look into your faces full
of love and sympathy for others, will surely be
raised the morrow.
That the governor Of our commonwealth has
wisely recognized woman's work in educational
affairs, by appointing as regents of the industrial
college three of the most prominent women In
: Texas.
That the fortnight set aside as educational
weeks did much TO bring about close relation
between teacher and parent. That the following
| scholarships have been generously donated to
, the federation:
Baylor Female college, Bolton, on scholarship
in literary department, value, S6o one scholar
ship In music or elocution department, value, 500
Southwestern university Georgetown, one
scholarship in literary department, free tuition
and reduction of $43 In board;
Fort Worth university, Fort WORTH scholar
ship in literary department, value s6oi scholar.
ship in art department, value, ss4
That your quiet and unobtrusvo efforts for tho
richer fruit than you dared hope,
We have cause to be thankful for ali these
blessings, but let us not think for moment
that have earned the right TO rest with folded
d hands. Never was there need for deeper thought
c sounder judgment, prompter action than now.
c =
E We people of Texas are fast coming into tht
age of public beauty and it is time too long have
i we excused ourselves by saying, Texas is young
= We have so much to do in material utilitariar
c way; we have no leisure to cultivate the beauti
II full" Let us no longer SO deceive ourselves
y A great philosopher has we'll said The beautiful
C is as useful as the useful, and more So" Til,
more thinks, the of truth he sees il
this epigram. Moreover, our youth does not ex
cuse us other States younger than we have out
distanced us in this regard; they have mad
d roads, but they have made them permanent an,
J. beautiful; they have built towns, but they hav
r built them into the towns beautiful; they hav
y erected public buildings, but they have not for
O gotten to surround these buildings with ground
\ beautiful; they have dotted the hills with schoo
houses and school yards beautiful
% As it is the duty of woman TO keep the heart
fires bright and burning, it is our duty t
keep alive and glowing the best ideals in civil
&c life In training the boys and girls to realiz
their duties, as future men and women, toward
home, city, State and country, there is no all
-, so valuable TO the parent the school nay,
;; go even further and say there are some les
J. sons in civic duty our children will learn NOR
'e readily at school than at home. Bear with m
~ then IL ! make special plea that the materia
as we'll as the spiritual atmosphere of our school
be the very best Have you carefully examine
. the school property in your community
y How do the buildings compare in cost, in styl
of architecture, in location with your court house
and iails How do the neatness OF the house an
AZ grounds the system OF drinking water the SAM
lt tary service compare with your own well-ordere
4! homer II you can not answer these questions
=. beg that you wih inform yourself also be
u that you will not rest content until school house
and grounds well kept, as beautiful
adorned as the houses not of our wealthiest pee
in pie, but of those comfortably well-to-do. Some
one may ask, why lay such stress on the ma
terial side OF school life! good teacher
In worth more than all else" This readily grant
nothing can take the place OF the great-soueC
broad-minded teacher, but Graves thes
be external aids more than the efficient instructor
for he realizes the lessons they teach
In certain Texas town forty little people a
day after day In a room simply yet beautiful
,r fitted and furnished, a room in which both ev
N and ear are delighted. Twenty little girls loo
upon beautiful picture that is as exquisitel
framed as If you had planned II for nv ladv
rs drawing room some day these little girls wi
be mistresses of homes some of them now com
l.. from abodes not devoid OF law, order and beauty
- but the lessons that the school room is SILENT
teaching, the lesson of good taste. refnennen
order. will bear fruit in the years to come man
a Texas home will be the more wholesome a,
an beautiful from the meaning and the artistic fran
ing Of that picture and from the influence OF tha
school room.
Va In another town the grounds, sidewalks. tr.,
\ about the school are kept in perfect order II
o- boys who play on the grounds are unconscIousi
LEARNING 70 take Dride IN the aDpears,e. - -