Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-10
CONFERENCE CLOSES
Mrs. Margaret Olmstead Gave Flo
quent Address Last Evening.
DISTRICT MEETING WAS A SUCCESS
Lecture on preservation of Our
Birds" Was Most Interesting-En-
joyabIe Musical Selections Were
Given-lnformaI Reception Held.

The conference of the sixth district
of the Iowa Federation of Women's
clubs, which convened in this city yes.
terday morning at the First Congre-
gational church, closed its meeting last
evening with one of the best and most
interesting sessions held during the
course of the conference. The princi-
pal feature of the evenings program
was the lecture given by Mrs. Marga-
ret P. Olmstead, of Cherokee. Mrs.
Olmstead as speaker won the admira-
ton of her audience from the very first
of her address and the thoughts con-
corning the Preservation of Our
Birds were presented in a most inter
esting and eloquent style and brought
to every one present an idea of the
enormity of the bird destruction. Sew
eral excellent musical numbers were
given during the evening and the con-
ference closed with reception given
in the church.
Close of Afternoon Session.
The closing part of the afternoon
session yesterday was in many ways
one of the most interesting features of
the conference. The question box I'M
der the direction of Mrs. J. G. Hutchi
son, ex-president of the Iowa State
Federation of Women's clubs brought
before the convention many important
and vital questions concerning the diff
ferent phases of club life and work
These were informally discussed by the
delegates and many new and helpful
ideas We're exchanged which will no
doubt be of great help to the members
of the various clubs as they return to
their homes and resume their club
work. Concerning the question of
how many votes should be required to
exclude woman from membership in
club the majority of opinion seemed
to favor in no case less than three and
some of the speakers presented the
opinion that where the club was one
for study that there should be no eXclu-
sion. Another question presented was
Does work outside the club benefit
the club?" With regard to this matter
there seemed to be a general sentf-
ment in favor of outside work as a
means of making the club beneficial in
the most practical way.
The question of the interest that
should be taken by the Womans club
in the matters of self improvement
showed what some of the clubs had
been able to accomplish through their
efforts in this direction and the major
ity of opinion seemed to favor the ac-
tiyity of the women in this work 9th
er questions such as the methods in
studying current events, the value of
small numbers in clubs and several
Others of considerable Importance
We're brought up for consideration.
A Vote of Thanks.
Just previous to the adjournment of
the afternoon session, on the motion
of Mrs. McAchran,of Bloomfield, vote
| of thanks was returned by the dele
gates to the members of the Ottumwa
| Woman's club for the kind hospitality
and most cordial entertainment accord
ed them during the convention.
The Evening Session.
| The evening session of the Woman's
club conference was in itself one of
| the most interesting held throughout
| the day and was a most fitting close
| for the assembling of the representa-
| tives from the Women's clubs of the
sixth district. Shortly after O'Clock
the meeting was called to order by
Miss Beu1ah Bennett, chairman of the
sixth district. The program for the
evening opened with an organ solo rem.
dered by Miss Emma ]. Holt Miss
Hollis rendition of her selection was
most highly appreciated The Colonial
quartet gave in their usual pleasing
manner the selection Snow Drops
and responded to the hearty applause
with the encore "a Lullaby" AS the
closing number of the program the Co
lonials sang save Marie" and as an
encore responded with 'She Was But
Seven"
Mrs. Margaret oImstead's Address.
After the first selection given by the
Colonials Mrs. Margaret p Olmstead
/ of Cherokee, was introduced as the
speaker of the evening. Mrs Ohm.
stead won her audience from the be
ginning and her address was through
out a most eloquent appeal for the pre-
servation of birds of the country from
the devastations made upon them by
the demands of fashion. Mrs. Ohm
stead said in part as follows:
mabel Osgood Wright, speaking OF
the indications few years ago that
the bird trimmed hat was becoming
a thing of the past, says, We felt Their
that perhaps we were harping toe
much on one string, but soon after
the bird wearing epidemic appeared il
a new form. and many were lee
astray by what they considered harm
less plumage in the shape of trim
mings and quilts" Spring and sum
mer are nearly always duller seasons
for the retail feather trade than fal
and winter. But perhaps the dull sea
son is the best time to agitate this
question. At any rate. past .exper
fence shows that tickle fashion may a
any time command an excess of feath
er wearing, and we are warned tha
eternal vigilance is the price of birt
protection from this source of dan