The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-23
KANSAS CLUB NEWS
Matters Of Interest to Women About the Doings of
the Kansas Clubs.

| federation forestry committee, has re
| sfgred her office. Her successor will
be named by the executive board o.
the general federation which meet,
some time in January. The forestry
and legislative committees of the
general federation have a member il
each state federation appointed by the
executive board of the former
A number on the programme of the
Fifth District Federation of Women's
clubs Of special interest was Mrs A
e. Story's THE Story of the Visit to
of the Tenements.'' 1t was read by
Mrs. Dora A. Evans. Mrs. Story being
unable to be present. The paper told
the story of the worthiest undertaking.
planned and carried out by Kansas
club women during the past year. Elk
tracts from Mrs. Story's paper follow:
Mrs. w. L. Jennings, president of
the city federation of clubs, was in a
position to start this movement to
give some city tenement children a
vacation, but that sha achieved such
widely-heralded success was due, not
so much to that position, as to Mrs.
Jennings herself. She worked, and
that in this case means that she put
her soul in the effort. She strove for
a purpose and she made good.
For days before the children came
their visit was everywhere one of the
chief topics of conversation. And
when they came no honored guests
could have been received with warmer
welcome by the citizens. Boys organ
lied a corps and met them at the train
with fife and drum. Hundreds of men
and women said by their presence, if
not in words: I'VE are glad to have
you with u.s."
Homes more than enough were Of
fered for their entertainment. No one
said or thought, These children are
from homes of toll and misery. We
need do but very little for them and
they will be satisfied. Something to
eat and bed or cot or lounge will be
all or mora than they can expect"
But instead they were received as well
come guests; fed, bathed, and put into
beds the like of which they, in their
destitute lives, had never dreamed. 1t
soon became apparent that beds and
impression on these small jewellers in
the tenements. One little boy on the
first night of his stay went to bed
with a bad toothache which was gone
In the morning. "Such a soft bed as
that ought to cure the toothache,"
said he cheerily.
A little girl was SO delighted with
her room that she asked permission
to bring one of the others to see 1t.
One little girl writing home to her
mother who worked all day in a fac
DRY and slept with her four children
n a bit of a room that was also kitchen
md eating room. said: Il wish you
could see where sleep. I have great
big room all to myself and the folks I
'tay with have whole house."
The little folks came with scanty
surplus clothing, most Of them with
lothing save that on their backs, and, |
n some cases, hats and other neces- |
tiles had been borrowed for the trip |
This occasiOned a speedy overhaultng |
f outgrown garments among the moth I
RS. In many instances things were got
lew at the stores and soon the visitors |
we're proud and happy in fresh, clean |
lothes. Only one little boy, so far as
eard from, refused to be helped in I
his way. TITS all right for you to give I
he things If you want to-" he said to /
is hostess, land it's all right for the |
ids to take ''ern If they want to, but
don't want none" And he went back
o Kansas City wearing the faded and
7ell-worn cap he came with though a /
etter one had been offered him.
One little girl of five, one of the most
estitute who was sick and suffering
yhen she came from a breaking out on /
mbs and body, had been nursed and
octored till she looked and felt like
he happy child she was meant to be,
Tas given a pretty lawn dress ana
-hite embroidered petticoat. Being
roper petticoat 1t was out Of sight, so
hat did our little miss do but ever SO
aintily lift the dress skirt whenever
eople were looking at her that It's
vonders of eyelets and scallops might
OF fail of being seen.
Now and then a child was made hap
v by a present Of something other
han articles of clothing, as was the
tile girl who casually remarked that
tore windows"
AS tc, picnics, several were given
Decially for these children. One was
the country to which they rode in
hayrack, and a jollier crowd 1t would
a hard to find Sunday schools having
lcnics while the children were in town
lade a point of inviting them.
Many of the children were given au-
,mobile rides by a kindly disposed
Dung man who enjoyed their quaint
nd often wise comments on their visit
nd the things they saw.
Several of the children spent the two
eeks of their stay on farms where
ley rode the horses, drove the cows
, and from the pastures and gathered
IN and freckles in many delightful
avs. The growing crops were per-
etual wonder. One little girl said in
,scribing what she saw: There's
lousands and thousands of corn"
one boy said: I'm going to be
m a man" He had been entertained
doctors home and had his eyes
,ened to the fact that there were bet
r things than being q dodger of po- |
cemen. |
AS result of the children's visit
ven of the ffty-four have found good
,mes in and near Clay Center.
n All Friends of the Art Movement in :
Kansas: i
The Kansas travelling libraries COM
issfon is now prepared to send travel
p art galleries to schools, clubs. and
her Kansas organizations desiring
en-. At present four collections are
fered, viz, italian. Dutch and Flem- {
b. French, English. Either coliec- I
IN may be ordered and retained for g
le week, upon payment of a fee of l
TO cover transportation and rental t
larges. A partial German collection .