The Newtown bee., 1907-04-26
NEW MILFORD
A GLANCE AT THE GREAT AND WIDE SPREAD WORK OF THE W. 0. T. U. FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS.

A 6LANCE AT THE GREAT AND WIDE
 SPREAD WORK OF THE W. 0. T. U.
 FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS.
 In all great movements of history, whenever the need of leader has arisen somehow that leader has come In 1873 and 1874 the Crusaders working against tnteRperance in the United States, reached that point where some one who could lead must be found. In Miss Frances E. Willard the needed leader was found. She had just re- signed from the Women's college at Evanston, Ill.,, being the first woman college president in the world. The Chicago temperance leaders offered her the presidency of their body with out salary. While she was pondering over this opportunity of doing good, there came letter from the trustees of the Normal Institute of New York, offering her s250O year as principal, with the privilege of teaching or not, the two offers and chose the non-paying temperance work. She had not saved penny, and her mother was depend ent on her for support. She told no looked well 1t was supposed that she had private means. She kept her pri- vatiOns secret until one day she broke down from hunger and cold; then her mother wrote the facts to the leaders of the society, and they began paying
 
 courage and devotion to her work made her a suitable person to found the Women's Christian Temperance Union of America and the World s Women's Christian Temperance Union IA years afterward. To-day it has or ganized effort in every state and terri tory in the United States, 10, GOO towns and cities have local societies, every insular possession has a branch, and the work has extended to foreign Ia nj ro m fri oS affiliated in the good work. The Countess of Carlisle, of England, is at the head of the world union. It claims Tor itself that it has the most perfect organization, pointing with justtfable pride to it's various departments, each of which is under specialist in that line. The active and honorary mem bership is 300, 900 with following of at least half a million. As result of se3, ,eO0OOO square miles of territory in this country with population of B, GOO, GOO IS under prohibition by local, county, or state legislation; the can teenb24 been abolished by army posts; >, begun; and IS, GOO, 900 school children 's fn nstarfouBs states are studying hygiene and the effects of alcohol on the sys- tenn. This last the women consider their best achievement. They believe that if the children of the nation can effects of spirits and, tobacco on the human system this evil can be better cOD batted. Anti-narcotic leagues have been formed for the suppression V 049Sk7e cigarette and opium habits. The Women's Christian Temperance '2G R0& is among the pioneers in the effort to draw mother and teacher to- Rether in school work, believing that in this way educational, social and moral standards can best be elevated. These women have sent out travelling libraries Sf,temperance literature all failS l@ as@y ssr eamps pes5s prisons, hospitals, schools, missionary s964 5aiaY iea1sRfe wisb i95 95 literature. Throd6N &t& Teferts o. the w. 0. T. U. the age of protectio-- for girls has been raised to Is years
 20 states, and to 16 years in nearly a