The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-11-02
MRS. NEwcoMR,s REpoRr.

IsAAkkos 4NIHnSoNhD . l..
The report of Mrs. George F. New
comb of this city before the Federation
Of Women's clubs in Waterbury last
Friday is added below. Mrs. Newcomb
was chairman of the committee on
cities and village Improvements. She
said:
The nature of the work of the COM
mittee is SO many sided that there is
necessarily a wide variety of methods
and plans in carrying out this under
lying idea, j. e., the development of in
telligent, law abiding citizenship,
whether by municipal reforms or vii
lage improvement or by attracting and
broadening public sentiment, that
whatever goes for the uplifting of the
community may find responsive help
through the authorities. Each club
finds its own field of work, and to that
gives its attention. The club in New
Britain has continued through the year
its school Libraries, placing in four
schools libraries fully cata1ogued, and
has found them well patronfzed. 1t
has also had a special interest in the
Juvenile court bill, and reports great
power for good through wise discretion
of the probation officer.
The Milford club has rescued from
weeds and wildness, several plots Of
ground at the junction Of roads, and
through its efforts has aroused SYM
pathetic action in the neighborhoods
and in the local grange, so that the
success Of the work has been ma
terially promoted through these agen-
cies. The club at Enfield has been
preserving. The cemeteries which are
often sadly neglected spots in our
towns and villages, have received at
tention, the walks and drives have
been cared for and the gravestones re-
stored to their proper positions. The
energy of the club was so manifest
that the town authorities voted to APP
propriate $1,000 for cemetery improve
ments-a remarkable instance of inf1u-
ence of woman's club. Piles of dis
carded railroad material that was un-
\ slightly as well as useless was re-
moved through the same potent influ-
/ ence.
| The bill-boards received a share Of
i the attention and, though not removed,
i have been kept in less tatttered condi-
ton. 1t has also used its influence in
the appointment Of a tree warden, and
has had vigorous and cleansing coat
of paint applied to the watering trough
while waiting patiently for the day
when a fine granite fountain may take
4 its place. u 1t has not forgotten te
show an interest in the Juvenile courl
bill and at the same time has intro:
duced into the village schools the
stamp saving card system, which has
proved a successful plan Of saving
Iamong the school children All this
has not only required thought and skill
but also quite an expenditure of money
4 But the club reports a new beatitude
blessed are the poor In pocketbooks
for they can get funds out of some one
\ else.n
Il In the Connecticut legislature Of last
i winter, a bill concerning civic in.
lstruction in the common schools
was introduced, and though this bill
did not meet the approval of the legis,
lature Ga not unusual fate of many 8
good billy, yet.it stirred up thought OF
the subject, and we trust had thu
names of many from our clubs append,
ed to It. The Juvenile court bill, nov
f a law in our state, Is one that shoule
lappeal to all our clubs and your chair
man would recommend that in every
club there should be a committee II
mote the workings Of this bill. 1t il
now somewhat of an experiment ant
may need some readjustment that oul
clubs can wisely suggest. There ar,
however forty probation officers il
the state and these should be known
to the clubs in their vicinity. Through
these influences great aids should b
given to sound civic life.
Il Mr.. Bazzo.n asked the little girl