Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-07-25
WOMEN TO THE FORE
How They Have Been Transform
ing an Ohio Town.
PAINT ON ALL THE BUILDINGS
Despite Protests Of the Men, Belevuc's
Fair Sex Have Shown What Pluck
and Determination Will Do to Have
SpotIess 1own-Other Work Planned.

Spotess Town-Other Work Planned.
One of the most unusual exploits
ever performed by woman is that
which is transforming the little hamlet
border, into Il Spotless Town which
without doubt will soon be famed
throughout the country for its remark
able women. says the New York Press.
These women Il few more than forty,
are engaged in one of the most unusual
undertakings that can be imagined
Entirely discarding the eternal fem
mime" and ignoring objections and
plcadings of fathers. brothers and hus-
bands. they are engaged in cleaning
UP Il town as never a town has been
cleaned before.
Up to date bellevue has had no par
ticular reputation. 1t is pretty little
place of about 100 souls. Its buildings,
like those of many hamletS, have been
poorly cared for, and when the present
sensation was born there were only
four houses in the place which We're
decently painted. A year ago the VII
lage Improvement club was formed.
and not only the women of the town.
but farmers wives and daughters, were
numbered among its members. The
object of this organization is shown in
its name, but the women found IL huge
obstacle in their path at the very start
In no way could they get the men of
the town to cooperate with them. n
few new walks were built. and four
houses and one store were painted, but
that was about all.
At one of the clubs sessions few
weeks ago Mrs. Guy L. Miller. secre-
tary, suggested that they paint the
town themselves. She had her plans
all mapped out. and they were adopt
ed. Without saying word to the
men folk Mrs. Miller and Miss Ethel
Hewitt, acting as committee, went
to nearby city. where big. ready
mixed paint manufacturing plant was
located. The two women saw the gen
eral manager, explained the object of
their visit and asked for Il donation of
paint, us the club had no funds. They
pointed out to the manager the adver-
Using advantages his firm would rean.
and he readily agreed with them. n
week later the men Of Bellevue were
astonished to see dray load of paint
cans hauled from the station to Mrs
Miller's house.
Next day dozen members of the
club, wearing sweaters and short
skirts, left Mrs. Millers home and pro
ceeded to the village church. a cou-
pie of husky village lads followed with
q rig filed with ladders. cans of paint
and brushes. Six ladders We're placed
against the side of the building, and
while six women mounted these the
other six worked from the ground.
News of what the women were doing
quickly spread, and the men left their
work to watch them and to offer ad-
vice, not unmiXed with ridicule. Final
~ they began to offer their services.
but the fair painters scorned them.
During that day and the next the
church was given its first coat of
white.
The town hall, small ugly. weather
blackened frame building. was taken
next, and on the third day this was
painted. On the morning of this day
young woman who had climbed upon
the roof to paint the flagstaff slipped
and rolled down the roof, only saving
herself from a severe fall by clutchinG
at the caves. Several of the men.
alarmed at the turn affairs We're TAX
ing and fearing that injuries would
follow, demanded that they be allowed
to do the work But the women were
unfaltering. For more than year
they had pleaded and urged. They
could now get along without the men
and they said so.
One man whose wife and daughter
were active and enthusiastic members
of the club became alarmed. lie
bought a lot of white lead and turpen-
tine and prepared to paint his house
and barn. Mrs. Henry Rowe. his WIFE,
told her friends in the club what he
was doing.
I'VE don't want IT, cried the secre-
tary. THAT stuff is nothing better
than whitewash. Mr.. Miller painted
our chicken coop with the same stu1'
and I've spoiled two dresses on 1t. we
won't have it. Besides. we've promised
to use the paint the company mas
given u.s.
The others agreed with her. Mrs.
Rowe led the club in q body to her
home, and Mr.. Rowe's paint was
dumped. That same day the women
began painting the house themselves.
In the afternoon the weather changed
and the work had to be given up, with
half the front of the house painted.
We're going to paint every house.
shed and barn in the village says
Mrs. Miller. THE first days of summer
will find this place so that you won [
know 1t. And we're going to paint the
homes and barns of those members
who live outside the village. II our
paint holds out. What you might call
regular Populations will paint the
buildings, which Will be taken. one ait
err another, by lot. We are going to
paint the stores. too. The store which
was painted last fall was so poorly
done that it's really worse than be-
fore. No. we haven't asked permission
of the owners. but we're going to paint
them Just the same. Their wives are