The Owosso times., 1904-11-25

not soon be eliminated; we believe in
the club movement because it is pro-
crossing along the lines more broadly
altruistic. We believe in it because
it is growing more and more fearless
in its battle for the purity, not alone
of the letter, but OF the spirit, of the
marriage vow. We believe in it be-
cause, like the Master, it is taking the
little ones into its arms and blessing
them. But we also believe as truly
that 1T may prove by and by that it is
not good for a woman to be alone
even in her club life, and, all in good
time; first, when she has written her
club paper; second, when she has
learned to think and to talk on her
feet; third, when she knows the fine
old French maxim, "Noblesse oblige"
fourth, when she has secured the
principle OF justice to womanhood and
TO childhood; fifth, when she has
builded her house to live in; in short,
when she has eaten well into the ap-
pie of knowledge, it may be she will
offer the other part, half, to Adam,
and by and by he will take it. Now?
NO! He disdains it, not because he
doesn't hunger for their apple, but
because he is not hungry at all. The
wisest men 1 know say that men are
not keeping pace with women in this
country. Why? In Michigan, be-
cause of your women's clubs-your
federation-women are doing the
reading. But what Is man doing, the
average man? He is standing in the
ranks fusilated with arrows of busi-
ness competition. Thus he is affording
his wife and his daughter the leisure
that enables them to do deep think
Ing in sheltered ease and privilege.
Is he getting nothing out of the world,
this average man? Yes! He is get
ting a mental discipline and trained
force that must ever make him q
leader, and now ladies we believe that
when federation has enrolled its scores
upon scores of thousands, we shall
need the average man for a leader
and We shall welcome him then into
our club home, our State Federation,
and then what God hath joined let
not woman put asunder.
And young women of this Fedora
tion. when the weary hand of the
mothers OF this Federation shall fall
idly into her lap, be ready to take UP
their work that it may not languish.
saying as you go, "My mothers hands
laid this foundation strong and beau
tiful. l will build upon them lust as
1ar as can reach" Thus shall this
Federation drink in the wine of new
life and vigor.
what has the individual in this
Federation been doing these ten
years? One says she has wasted vital
force, following federation UP and
down the state. Why can get more
at home in one afternoon than she
IN a year in the club. All, YOU are
wrong. III you have been at all OBJ
servant, you have seen the individual
club woman growing alert intellectu-
ally, have seen the rich and the poor
meet together and work together in
the CLUB as If they reverently trusted
mat the Lord is the maker of us all.
You have seen husband and son flush
with pride at the we'll earned sue
cesses of wife and mother. Indeed.
IN the home you have seen little
touches of art creeping from the club
into the home, the school. Along the
highway you know there is now re-
moved from fence and shed many an
ugly picture. Many a noxious weed
has given place to vine or flower, a
noble tree is planted, fountain flows.
You must send your daughter alone
to the crowded railway station, but
you know club women have secured
matron there. She has gathered
little children into free kindergartens
They have built beautiful club houses
where they gather in the working girls
and teach them how to make home
more healthful, more comfortable
Who shall say that the club movement
may not be a strong factor in settling
the great social unrest of our time ?
You may not. I will not.
Gladly would / review every depart
ment of our state work-club exten-
sion, education, reciprocity, art, legis-
lative and Industrial, forestry town
Improvement, the sub-departments-
library, historical, civil service, house