Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24
FEDERATION OF CLUBS
SOCIETY OF WOMEN DISCUSSES
VARIETY OF TOPICS.

The Federation of women's Clubs of the
District met at the public library on Mount
Vernon square last evening, Mrs. Charlotte
Emerson Main presiding, and Mrs. Grace
Porter Hopkins corresponding secretary.
The call for reports of committees furnlshed
some very interesting information.
The committee on education. Mrs M l..
Willis, chairman, reported through It's sec
rotary, Mrs. Martha Hillebrand, that the
city night schools are doing splendid work.
While the compulsory education law was
apparently hard upon children. it was work.
ing out a wise solution. The report stated
that Mr.. E. NJ. Hughes, assistant superin-
tendent of schools, wanted the help OF all
the women in securing more uniformity IN
the books used. At present there are four
different kinds of biographies and gram
mars. Just now no new buildings are Delng
erected because the committee is still look
ing over the ground for proper locations.
The half-yearly promotions are proving TO
be very encouraging to the children, IT was
stated the backward pupils thus losing
only half year.
The bronze medal offered District public
school pupils by the chairman of the gen.
eral declarations committee on civil service
reform for the best essay on civil service
was exciting keen interest.
The federation Endorsed the chairman's
action in protesting against the addition
of another hour to the school day.
Patriotic Instruction.
Mrs. George Smallwood spoke on PA
triotic Education She referred to the
value of teaching the young the love of
ones country. 1t was a sequence attained
by Difference to ones elders. obedience to
parents. kindness to interiors, children and
immigrants. She made stron: appeal for
interest in teaching patriotism. 'Satisfac-
tiOn," she declared, "is the poorest spur to
ambition" She spoke of Rome and
Greece and the lessons In patriotism left
to posterity by those countries. In America,
where the fellowship of men was yet young
In the roll of life, she said, there is yet
room for greater and drawer effort in
training the young minds in the love of
native land.
Mrs Edna X. Bushel attendance school
officer for the District, talked very enter
tainingfy. She declared that lack of ideals
In the home makes the work in the schools
more necessary. About 500 have entered
or re-entered the schools. one-third are
nonresident and others are irregular. She
said that the streets were bad places for
the children, and that Is where they are
when they are not in school. OF 100 who
reported fully fifty were too old to be en-
tered and about 100 have not yet reported.
The Washington colony of the National
Society of New England Women's Clubs
was voted into the federation.
Resolutions of sympathy for Mrs. Charles
w. Schneider upon the death of her hus-
band were adopted.
Forestry Interests.
The forestry committee reported through
its chairman, Mrs. Adele Chase, and the
report embodied many interesting details of
the work of the various state women's
clubs to preserve our forests and promote
the growth of trees.
She stated that there was general accord
by the women's clubs in the work of the
government to extend our forest reserves
and encourage the growth of trees. In
connection with this subject she also
spoke of the great value of school gar
dens She referred to the fact that the
Michigan Federation of Women's Clubs
was the first to. have a forestry division.
In the Massachusetts club work the SUBJ
ject was also given special significance and
the program outlined practical work for
the clubs, study, lectures and subjects for
special forestry days. ALI the efforts were
practical and in harmony with the national
work.
Mrs. Chase referred to the work of Mrs.
P. 8. Peterson of Chicago, chairman OF
the forestry committee of the General Fed
Grafton Of Women's Clubs, complimenting
her as intelligent, energetic and resource
full She sent circulars of inquiry to all
chairmen regarding the work accomplished
in their respective states, and also one to
all club women, giving direct and compre-
hensive instruction. With characteristic
''naivete" she announced in her circular let
ter that 1.-THE forest service is cooperating
with the clubs in most helpful and en-
couraging way
Cooperation Reciprocal.
Mrs. Chase said: Our honored forester
will be complimented to know that this CO.
operation is reciprC II as the general
Federation of Women's Clubs is on record
as discriminating body. In fact, 1t holds
in active membership nearly one-quarter
of million of women in this and foreign
lands. England. India, Mexico, South
America and western Australia are on the
roster.
THE District has three clubs in the gen.
eral federation-the Womens National
Press Association, the Pro Re Nata and the
Twentieth Century clubs, and, as known
to many, the District ranks as state in
the federation. 1 believe every state has
its forestry committee represented in the
general federation"
In conclusion Mrs. Chase told that Mrs.
Peterson had come to Washington in De-
cember last to attend the congress of the
American Forestry Association but had
been called home at once by sickness in her
family. However, she sent a substitute
in the person of Mr.. Enos A. Mills of Colo
RADIO TO exploit the work. He will lecture
during March and April in the interest of
forestry under the patronage of the gen.
eral federation of women's clubs. From
Mrs. Peterson" said Mrs. Chase, II bring
greetings to the District federation and
also the assurance to our national forester
that the women of the land will never seek
to hinder, but will rather seek to aid him in
his ennobling work of conserving our for
ests-our trees-of whom some wise man
has said that they are the most glorious
things created, after the human soul and
the mystic stars"