The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-31
MANY FAIR WOMEN OF WASHINGTON
CONTINUED from First page.)

Empire enfolds us all in it's embracing
blessing today. The fruits of our gar
dens and orchards, the fragrant trees,
the verdant lawns, the countless HoW-
ers with when she has bedecked her
self, all speak tie common language or
the welcome. And to those of you VINO
nave just extracted yourselves from
the snowdrifts of the north, and to
those who have just laid aside the gum
boots, waterproofs and umbrellas, so
essential to the misty western coun-
ties; to such they say Come to US
Where the sun shines, and the Chinook
winds blow, and all nature glows with
the hospitality of our Garden City,
I'VE challenge the whole United
schools and beautiful homes, or to
produce larger city without street
Cal 1lI.Co. Dul, q "SASOAAS SoAASS -
character not alone from those VINO
offer it, but from those who receive It,,
and we consider the convention which
we welcome here today especially sig
nificant, because it represents a move
ment which cannot but profoundly eff
feet the whole life of our state, and
even our country. What may be call
ed the woman club idea is one Of the
great signs of the times; one of the
turning points in history because 1t
means a larger and more generous life
for women individually. 1t means an
interest in the bigger things of the
world; in it's art, history, politics and
business. 1t means that the petty van
tiles, the shallow selfish frivolties,
which cynical philosophers at all times
have attributed to women, are giving
way to a larger vision, the wider un-
Outstanding and the clear perception
of the worlds deeper needs. 1t is not
SO easy, in the nature of things, for
our sex to break down the walls of
caste and etiquette and wander at lib
erty in the open fields of investigation
as it is for men. And, yet, there is
the same need, and also the same nat
ural desire on the part of women to
share in the general interests Of nu-
mainly. In fact, the curiosity of wom-
en- is proverbial and has been the
theme of many an ill-timed jest by al
legged wits of the other sex. Now;-pne
of the greatest aims of the Woman's
club is to direct and utilize to the best
advantage that curospity and craving
for wider knowledge. 1t means much;
it means almost an affinity of i'm
provement to the individual woman in
our clubs that they meet at stated
times and look with each others eyes
and with the eyes of the brightest
minds at all times at the great prob
lens that concern the human race. And
then, that these same women discuss,
weigh and argue the questions which
necessarily arise for solution. The
club becomes, then, a school for the
sprouting of large ideas for the indi-
vidual members. The horizon ever
widens from the individual to the
h, TO ho oil to
the state, to the nation, to the world
itself. 1t is surely true that no inf1u-
years that the women's clubs in secur-
ing great practical improvements in
civic life, in helping to found libraries,
parks, lecture courses, art collections,
and other instrumentalities which have
untold effect for good on the homes of
women not belonging to clubs, but
whose lives are reached by these agen-
cies.
Therefore, in behalf of the people
of this town, bid you, members Of
the Federation, a most cordial well
come and greeting. The days of your
stay will pass all to soon, meantime,
believe me, when 1 say, that our time
our homes, our hearts, are at your dis
posal. Command us as you will. You
are very welcome to our homes-it
must appear in other words, therefore
1 scant this breathing courtesy from
the poem written by Sarah A. Palmer,
of New York City:
What is a Womans Club? A meet
ing ground
For those of purpose great and strong
Whose aim is towards the stars, VINO
ever long
To make the patient, listening world
resound
With sweetest music, purer, nobler
tones.
A place where kindly, helpful words
are said,
And kindly deeds are done; where
hearts are fed;
Where wealth Of brain for poverty
atones,
And hand graSps hand. and soul finds