Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-07-11
WOMEN TO THE FORE
How They Have Been Transform.
ing an Ohio Town.
PAINT ON ALL THE BUILDINGS

I AIN YIN NIL II16 DOIlOIN00
Despite Protests of the Men, Bellevue's
Fair Sex Have Shown What Pluck
and Determination Will Do to Have a
SpotIess Town-Other Work Planned.
One of the most unusual exploits
ever performed by woman is that
which is transforming the little hamlet
Of Bellevue, o., just owe the Michigan
border, into a Spotless Town which
without doubt will soon be famed
throughout the country for it's remark
able women, says the New York Press.
These women, q few more than forty,
are engaged in one of the most unusual
undertakings that can be imagined.
Entirely dlscarding the eternal fem
inine' and ignoring objections and
pleadings of fathers, brothers and hus-
bands, they are engaged in cleaning
up a town as never a town has been
cleaned before.
Up to date Bellevue has had no par
tcular reputation. 1t is a pretty little
] pIdCC vi uUOuL 1cO oOOlS. LIS UQl1IllSS,
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 Viii
lage Improvement club was formed,
and not only the women of the town,
but farmers wives and daughters, were
numbered among it's members. The
object of this organization is shown in
it's name, but the women found a huge
obstacle in their path at the very start.
In no way could they get the men of
the town to cooperate with them. A
few new walks were built, and four
houses and one store were painted, but
that was about all.
At one of the clubs sessions a 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 a word to the
men folk Mrs. Miller and Miss Ethel
Hewitt, acting as a committee, went
to a nearby city, where a 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 a donation of
paint, as the club had no funds. They
pointed out to the manager the adver
Using advantages his firm would reap
and he readily agreed with them. A
week later the men of Bellevue were
astonished to see a dray load of paint
cans hauled from the station to Mrs
Miller's house.
Next day a dozen members of the
club, wearing sweaters and short
skirts, left Mrs. Miller's home and pro
ceeded to the village church. A cou
pie Of husky village lads followed witt
q rig filed with ladders, cans of paint
and brushes. Six ladders were 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 theil
work to watch them and to offer ad
vice, not unmixed with ridicule. Final
ly they began to offer their services
but the fair painters scorned them
During that day and the next the
: church was given it's first coat OF
white.
The town hall, a small, ugly, weather
blackened frame building, was taken
: next, and on the third day this was
> painted. On the morning of this day
a 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
alarmed at the turn affairs were 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 a year
they had pleaded and urged. They
: could now get along without the men
and they said so.
5 One mar whose wife and daughter
} were active and enthusiastic members
( Of the club became alarmed. He
} 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.
1--WE don't want it," cried the secre.
tary. "That stuff is nothing better
than whitewash. MI. Miller painted
our chicken coop with the same stuff
and I've spoiled two dresses on it. We
won't have it. Besides, we've promised
to use the paint the company has
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't
know it. And we're going to paint the
homes and barns of those members
who live outside the village, IL our
acted L~I5x o..l vryI~A- --s-1-l.-L