The Republican journal., 1905-06-15
THE BELFAST TRAVELLERS CLUB.


The business meeting was presided over
| by the President, Mrs. Edward Sibley, who
addressed the members in her own lnlml-
table way, referring to the work of the club
and the close bond of friendship existing
among the members, and thanking the Of
ficers and members for their loyalty. She
also gave delightful talk of her trip to
Holland several years ago.
| Her remarks were followed by the report
of the secretary, which was adopted and by
the most earnest request of the club is pub
lished below.
The following officers were elected for
the new year:
| President, Mrs. Edward Sibley.
| Vice Presidents, Mrs. Charles A. Pills.
bury, Miss Julia NJ. Perry.
Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. George E.
Bracket.
| Topic Committee, Mrs. Amos Clement,
| Mrs. Edward j. Morrison, Mrs. Alfred A.
| Small
Germany was chosen as the study for the
year.
| Mrs l. b. Mower and Miss Elizabeth NJ.
| Pond were guests of honor, and Mrs. Mower
| when called upon by the President gave
very interesting account of the work OF
different clubs and their power for good,
morally and intellectually. She also re-
ferred to the great value of the State Fed
Grafton.
The banquet that followed the business
meeting was perfect in all its appointments.
In the rooms in which the tables were
spread, plants, ferns and bright blossoms
added to the usual beauty of the apartments,
and in the center of each table gorgeous
tulips nodded their graceful heads from
pretty cut glass vases. At each plate was
placed a beautiful water color by local
artist representing a scene in Holland or
sweet maid in wooden shoes There was
nothing lacking in any of the details.
The menu which speaks for itself was as
follows:
Clam BOuillOn
RadisleS
Chicken CroquetteS Hot Rolls
Fruit and Nut Salad Olives
Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
Coffee
The evening was spent most enioyably in
games of art and social intercourse. The
members in leaving were ready to vote
Mrs Clement an ideal hostess and the
meeting one of the pleasantest of the year.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
To my dear associates of The Travellers
Club: The ink was scarcely dry on a fifth
annual report, to as many different societies.,
when was reminded by our leader that an
account of my stewardship in this club was
Tod -a1l of triao tn
Holland and Belgium.
Do You doubt that felt like misquoting
the writer of EccleSiaStes and saying "Of
the making Of reports there is no end and
in writing them there is much WEAKNESS of
brain" You may smile. but you did not
have the report to write, and | think | more
than ever appreciate the feeling of the boy
with the woodchuck and the minister a
prospective guest to dinner.
The thought has really pursued me by
day and by night, Just how | could present
to sixteen bright cultured women, in the
most attractive way. some OF our winters
| work. 1t has been kneaded into bread, and
beaten into cake; it Shone in the iridescent
bubbles in the dsh-pan, and | shall not be
surprised if some staid matron shall find in
cription of a Gretchen and her wooden
shoes instead of the complexion, disposition
and traits of the little Home girl for whom
she is waiting. However, there is an old
saying that ''if thing has right to exist
ence no apology for it is needed and if
when shall have finished you will have in
memory pleasant word picture of some of
the hours spent in studying Holland and
Belgium | shall be satisfied.
To those of you who were numbered in
the pleasant party that travelled through
sunny France during the winters of 1901-O2
and who visited the stately cathedraIS of
England the following year, the invitation
to meet at the home OF Mrs. Clement on the
18th of last October, to plan for another trip
abroad, brought much in anticipation, and
certainly, to your secretary, the choice of
Holland as our destination was most salts
factory | think not any of the number have
been disappointed.
AS we recall the pleasant hours spent in
previous trips feeling OF sadness comes to
us that the one who was most enthusiastic in
Planning them, and whose intelligent chap
erunage we all njoyed, could not be with
us in this late tour of Holland, but, separat-
ed from us by "the dark river that flows
between we yet bow in grateful recOgni-
ton to the memory of her who SO loved all
that is beautiful and grand and elevating in
this life. Two others who were delightful
companions in these travels were denied
this trip because of business and home ties
| in other cities. Several new members were
| added, however, who have proven very
congenial. and although there have been
women travellers before | know of none
VINO cOuld derive more pleasure or Denent
from a like experience. Some one has said,
''the only joys of which we are sure are
those of memory" and certainly the trip to
Holland adds priceless gems to this store
house of each member of our club.
| From the time we arrived at Rotterdam,
the first city we have visited, and which we
saw under more favorable circumstances
| than many travellers, (for it is often seen
through Jog and RAIN the whole five
months trip was thoroughly enjoyable, and
/ for the most part we had fine weather and
nothing to greatly mar the happiness of the
| party, though two or three were not able to
| take all the trips, loss to them and to us.
Before leaving home we had our itinerary
printed us before in clear and attractive
! form and each side trip was under the di
/ recton of a single member of the company
| AT the start we were told of the formation
of this strange country, this immense crust
of earth floating on water, its manifold
bikes and bitches by Mrs. Dunton, and from
Mrs Clement and Mrs. Morrison we learned
full particulars of the House of Orange, of
the troublous events of the reign of Duke
Adolphus William, who succeeded his
father, Duke William. and both noted for
the same conservative tendencies, of the
revolutionary crisis and of the cradle of
liberty.
We entered Rotterdam one bright after
| noon i'm November under the guidance of