New-York tribune., 1907-10-24
CLUBS In PANAMA.
WOmen on Isthmus Organized Into
Fed" by Hiss B0S5ceH.

Miss Helen NariCk Boswell. who sent 10
Panama by the Secretary of War. the request Of
the Canal Commission TO organize wOmens
clubs the Isthmus. returned New York
yesterday by the Colon, after having attended the
first annual meeting of the Canal Zone Federation
of Women's Clubs. When seen at the Hotel
Martha Washington yesterday afternoon Miss Bos-
we'll said that the organization of the federation
was one of the most interesting experiences she
had ever had in her life.
When crossed the Isthmus for the last time"
she said. there were crowds OF women at every
station throwing flowers and letters I could not
keep the tears back, and / forgot all the hard
work had done. l had spent four weeks going
to and fro upon the Isthmus, riding in engine cabs
and walking off thirteen pounds. But 1 would
gladly have walked off twentv-six pounds for the
their lives l told them if they liked all not
to let the movement die. and know they won't
know when thing has vitality
You see. II has been very monotonOus for the
women on the Isthmus. The men had their work.
but the women had only their housekeeping, and
housekeeping there isn't the absorbing thing il Is
with us 1t is more like Housekeeping in a camp.
Resides. a good many of the women have sent
their children home or left them behind because
of the lack OF educational facilities the isthmus.
which relieves them of another care and robs them
OF an absorbing interest They had social life.
either In some OF the towns hardly anv of them
knew one another, and everywhere there is
strong class feeling. separating the families OF
those who work with their hands from the fami-
lies of those who work with their heads. though in
many cases the manual workers make the most
money.
1T inevitable that such conditions should
cause discomfort Living conditions salts
factory, but there variety
life Now. the Canal Commission wants the women
10 be happy. because their discomfort extends 10
their husbands. and other men hesitate to bring
their families 10 the ISthmus. So the commission
very wisely adopted the suggestion Of the Civic
Federation TO organize women's clubs. and
lent from the federation for that purpose
The result to simply wonderful First
and foremost the clubs have broken the ice which
kept these lonely women apart from one another
They could not. of course, destroy all class feel
ing but they have brought all classes together to
work for common interests One woman said to
SIIs- l.oIIh = 'ollns' actlng president OF the
FEDERATION and president OF the Chrtstobal Club:
You don't know what this TO me. Before
the club was organized was dissatisfied and
unhappy L thought / would have to go home Now
] come here and people speak to me. and can sit
down and have a cup Of tea with you
But in addition to this there is much practical
work that the clubs propose 10 do. They are all
organized with four observation-disclosures education.
philanthropy and music and literature. Under the
head OF home many things being done. One
Is the beautifying OF the dwellings by means OF
gardens and vines. Some Of the houses have no
ground in front, but they all have broad piazzas.
or galleries. as they are called and these be
made beautiful with vines and plants For this
purpose the magnificent tropical fora can be util-
lied most effectively Orchids that consider
rare grow wild in the jungle there and look beau-
tful when hung in baskets from the upper part OF
the porches.
The educational departments have all started
classes In Spanish The women all think that they
ought 70 take advantage Of their residence IN a
Spanish speaking country 10 acquire the LANGUAGE.
but where only few individuals would have made
the effort without the incentive OF the club, all
The educational departments will try TO i'm
prove the school facilities. which are still very
crude and inadequate. II this can he done Il will
put end 10 the separation OF parents from their
children and add much TO the general content OF
the Isthmus
The philanthropic departments will visit the sick
in their homes and in the hospitals and arrange
lectures on home nursing by nurses from the hos
pitaIs
The music and literature departments arrangs
the programmes for the meetings. and have dis
covered LOT Of unsuspected musical talent
The CulmiHation OF the work was. OF course ths
organizing Of the federation We met at Ancon in
the Hotel Ttvol. and az my. request we were al
lowed 10 use the sitting room occupied by Presi-
dent Roosevelt when he there. and reserved
for him until he comes again The delegates chose
for president Mrs George W Gosthals. Of Culebra
wife OF the chairman of the Canal Commission. but
she is in the United States the duties Of
the office being performed by Mrs Collins the
Mrs. W .. GO-gaS. Of AnCOn. wife of Colonel
GorEas the yellow fever exterminatOr. The feder-
alton has applied for admission the General
Federation of WOmeu's Clubs. by which il will. OF
course. be warmly welcomed. On ny arrival this
morning I found waiting for me letter from Mrs
Sarah Platt Decker. president OF the general fed
Grafton. saying that she was dying TO hear all
about the Canal Zone Federation
Miss Boswell spoke with enthusiasm OF the canal
any nation" She said that conditions were i'm
proving every week and that many OF the sus-
gestions made by Miss Gertrude Beeks. OF the Ma
tional Civic Federation. had been acted on.
As she talked Miss Boswell wore her arm a
beautiful bracelet made OF stones from the island
of Taboga in the Pacific II was gift from her
club friends in Panama