The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-24


or housework, are idle. And IT isn't even
once a month for all the members either:
there Is one lovely woman who with her
daughter, spends all these lovely spring
days, and the long summer DAYS. and
the bleak winter days. over sewing Both
mother and daughter are members of the
Mothers Club. but they do not find IL pos
slble Tor each TO take whole afternoon
each month away from THEN needles so
they take turns in coming and one month
The sweet-faced black-elad mother comes
the next month the daughter. Some OF the
mothers come from way over on the West
Side; another leaves the ninety-year old
mother, after whom she looks with tender
est care, 10 attend the meetings: and still
another trudges into every meeting with
the little Jewish baby that is her protege
tucked under her arm. But they all come
II they can possibly get there for the
meetings are too bright spots 10 be willing
ly missed.
Beyond its mission of happiness the
Mothers Club can hardly be said 10 have
a definite aim, but the hOurishing condi-
ton of this particular club might lead 10 a
suspicion that definite aims are scarcely
a necessity in clubs. At present the
Mothers are making aprons OF Bingham.
which they sell at very reasonable prices,
the proceeds to be reserved TO apply 20 any
object which may appeal 10 them as neces-
sary. Now and then when occasion arises
the club does charitable work and there is
never sickness or death anywhere touch
ing its circle that something Of help does
not come from the little company OF
women. A successful fair was given in
the beginning of the clubs history and
few entertainments have been carried
through since then, but the club does not
bother itself much with m0neymaking
schemes. Were too busy at home. most
OF us, 10 care about working Up things
here for money" explains one member.
So for the most part the meetings are pure
ly social. There is a little preliminary
business, the members sew on the aprons
or on any of their own sewing that they
happen TO bring; then there is a pro-
gramme arranged either by the club or by
the board-a talk. a reading and a song or
two; and then INSTRUMENTATION they
always have refreshments at this club, IL
you please. Two of the members take
charge of that part OF the programme
and with the sum made uD of the small
fees collected from the members at the
previous meeting they serve salad. sand
witches and coffee, ice cream and cake. or
whatever appeals TO them as partic-
ularly good. There are two espe-
cially grand good times each year
the THANKSGIVING dinner and the June pic
those two events and the amount OF en-
joyment crowded into them might make
even cynic's heart rejoice. Now and then
some special study is taken up by the
little course OF basket making, and the
pretty art caught their fancy; the fingers
which work at other harder things caught
deftly at the work, and many quaint.
smOothly-wOven basket went home from
the Mothers Club. I'D like to make bask-
cts again. limited one member at the last
ton taken up by the others that there will
probably be another basket-weaving period
In the club. And that Is brief history
of the years programme OF the little club
which is doing more admirable work than
many more ambitious organization.
QUAINT CHARACTERS.
The club, like all organizations, has it's
quaint characters. One of them is BEAM
ing little Irishwoman. Surely there was
never a more joyous. more eager-to-be-
pleased mother than this little creature.
with her face shining from cleanliness and
cheerfulness. For everything she has a
word of commentator. Its swate song
now isn't it?' she entreats you behind the
back of her hand. and you must have a
hard heart TO refuse an answering beam.
shes been a good president. an that's
the TRUTH she confides again, and though
you perhaps have never been TO a Mothers
Club meeting before. you are enthusiast
of the club is the mother who brings the
little Jewish baby. For eight years the
little woman took care Of bed-ridden hus-
band, and at his death she was desolate
with that lonliness that comes TO one when
an engrossing duty is suddenly removed.
So she took this one Of little brood or
Jewish babies. suddenly bereft OF mother.
and the little black-eyed creature now goes
with her wherever she goes. She came
into one of the meetings last winter with
meath a cape. Sure Ia bring IL with
me IL | had to carry II under me skirt
TO keen il warm" she said. At the
Thanksgiving dinner the nine-months-old
Hebrew sat up and drank coffee and nib
bled at turkey bones with the Christian
mother happy as any member OF the
crew.
The Mothers Club is, as a woman. de-
voted TO Miss Alice GraydOn. who Is the
superintendent of the Boys Club and gen.
eral guardian angel OF the whole insutu-
ha love-
~ Christian ladies and we love them every
one" whispered one mother the other day
at a mention of Miss Graydon's name.
Eyes, they're all good TO Us an we love
'em all-but it's Miss Graydon's the girl
God bless her.
work with the Boys Club and the mothers
are devoted 10 her for the things she has
accomplished with their boys, who without
the CLUB might have run Wild, as Wei as
on their own account. One hears Miss
Graydon's name on every side at the
mothers meetings and nothing is planned
or done without her approval.
The Mothers Club could hardly be con-
sidered without Charlie" the janitor and
general factOtum of the club, who plays
the part Of subguardlan angel 10 both boys
and mothers. Charlie serves the refresh
ments at the mothers meetings, and al
the way through he may be seen outside
in tho hall lowering at the window TO
count the noses, 50 that no mother or Wis
itOr may be left plateless when serving
time comes. He never makes a mistake.
for the plates and noses always come out
even. Besides getting the china ready and
serving Charlie makes the coffee al all
the entertainments and IL is always good
coffee. Usually some member OF the board
or the serving committee comes down into
the kitchen early 20 tell Charlie just how
10 make the collector never was "A house
keeper who hadn't her own particular
recipe for coffee-making. Charlie listens
with respectful attention. Then she goes
upstairs and / make the coffee my own
way and when she gets Il she says, Ny.
what fine coffee - Charlie Is heart and
soul in the work OF the club. and he talks
earnestly with the boys about their futures
and helps Miss GraydOn with advice as
well as with his hands.
The members OF the Mothers Club are
Mrs Emma Branch, Mrs. Margaret Al
staIt Mrs. Priscilla Miller. Mrs. Maggie
| Mckinney. Mrs Sarah Ann Prosser, Mrs.
| Elvira Keahn. Mrs. Margaret Lovinger.
| Mrs Laura Mohler Mrs. Sarah Kohl. Mrs
Blanch Hun. Mrs. Julia Ramsey. Mrs
| Margaret Myers. Mrs. Louisa Lane, Mrs.
| Wamsley Mrs. Florence Hubbard. Mrs.
BRYANT. Mrs. Mckee. Mrs Laura Schetgert.
] Mrs Schissle. Mrs. Josie Alstatt. Mrs. Fox.
| Mrs Buck. Mrs. Anna Long. Mrs. Laura
| Douglass Mrs. Dora HillOck. Mrs. Berry.
| Mrs. Crouch. Mrs Winters, Mrs. Michals.