Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-03-09
WHAT WOMEN CAN Do
HOW THEIR CLUBS HAVE BENEFITED
A MAINE TOWN.
Belfast Made More Attractive by the
improvement SOctety-Study OF L".
Observation-Disclosures of HOE
uttaI and Children's Aid Society.

What enterprlSlng WOMEN Gun w :"
make their home towns attractive anu
p,easapt to live in for themselves as
well as strangers is shown in the fol-
towing article:
Belfast, Me-, has long been noted
aside from its elm shaded streets, Its
picturesque drives and its old colonlai
houses, for the number, variety ana
activity of its women's clubs, which,
especially during the winter season,
keep the women at work along many
lines, says the Boston Globe.
The Travellers club Is one OF the most
interesting organizations. 1t mas
membership Of about twenty and was
organized by the late Miss Augusta f.
Southworth after her return from
European tour about five years ago
The club is patterned somewhat a1ter
the West Newton club Of similar name,
and the members devote themselves 10
the study of one country each season,
listening to three papers or readings
at each Of the meetings, which are neid
on alternate Tuesday afternoons from
October to May.
The club issues an attractive nttie
booklet of subject assignments for tne
year, with the motto Reading maKeth
full man, conference ready man
and writing an exact man" on the
cover. This year Germany is the coun-
try selected for study, England, France
Holland and Belgium having been tax
en- ND in past years. Gentlemen's night
held once during the season, when q
sumner is served is one Of the pleasant
features. Mrs. Edward Sibley Is presl'
dent of the club.
Two closely allied organizations are
the history class and the literature
class. The latter class HAS been organ
ized for about ten years. Last year the
historical plays of Shakespeare were
under discussion. and this year the
literature produced in Germany, near
Ueimar. the home of Goethe and Scnll-
Ter. will be studied. The club Is limit
ed to twenty members and names arc
ALWAYS on the waiting list. Its meet
jngs are held every other Monday even
ing. alternating with the history class
which was organized about eight years
ago. France was taken up last year.
but during the coming season this ciuo
will also devote its energies to Ger
many.
In the Belfast Improvement society,"
although it numbers some masculine
members, the working force Is COM
posed entirely of women, and the WORK
which they have done is noteworthy.
The society was organized five years
ago. and has been tireless in Its efforts
toward making the home town more
attractive. Among their successrui Ell
forts are the erection Of band STAND
OH the common, construction OF gravei
footpath on Northport avenue, having
the town water carried to the cemetery,
Boston ivy planted around the school.
houses. barrels for the reception OF
waste paper placed around the Streets
eleven reproductions Of famous paint
ings placed in the town schools, the
building and maintenance OF picnic
pavilion. bath houses and shore ovens
IN the shore of the famous Belfast Day
and the securing Of an appropriation
from the town government for town
park. also fronting on the bay, besides
holding numerous social functions and
entertainments. The society's presi'
dent is Mrs. Charles A. Pilsbury.
The Seaside Chautauqua circle was
organized In the summer Of 1885 and Is
proud of it's twenty years OF existence.
The Woman's Hospital Aid society Is
q prominent organization whose EN-
Client work is we'll known. 1t was
through the efforts os these ladies' tha'
tbe establishment of the Waldo Coun'
tv hospital was made possible. A two
days' fair held in the opera house net
ted a goodly sum, and the constant and
continued effort Of the women resulted
in the purchase Of q suitable building
and its equipment. Mrs. Charles A.
Pilsbury is president Of this organiza'
ton. Members Of the society form 9
visiting board and have constant su
nervision over the affairs Of the insti
tuition.
The Children's Aid society, although
Il Is a state organization, had Its origin
in Belfast, where the active manage
ment of the association in control Oh
the institution supported by 1t is seat
ed. The charter for the Children's Aic
society of Maine was granted IN 1898
and in 1895 the home was purchased
and dedicated. On Nov. Of that yeal
the home was opened for goodiy
number Of girls.
In 1896 the paper called the Girls
Home was published and is still
medium between the society and III
friends. Through the generosity OF TN
state. individuals and societies tne
home buildings and grounds have beer
kept in excellent repair and condition.
If was the first institution to be es
+ablisbed in Maine for homeless ant
destitute girls who are neither orphan!
nor criminals, and more than 200 chill
dren have come into the home up to tn
rresent time. While there they hav'
received the care and comforts to b.
found in private homes, to which the!
} have been sent, where, in most cases
they have been legally adopted, anf
proved a comfort and blessing. A fam
lv of about fourteen Is kept In tn
} home. Mrs. Fred A Griffin OF Belfas
is the president Of this organization
The house and supply committee
composed of twelve Belfast women.