Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-06-17


as herself and possibly few OF the
women interested in the things that
appeal TO the town women. what can
she do? There is no public library
handy in which she can secure the
data for an article; the books of cur
| rent interest are not always at hand:
days are long and the work OF the
farm Is so exacting that she has lit
tie time for the social enjoyment that
she desires.
The women of one neighborhood
have worked out a solution. 1t Is in
Dickinson county. Kansas. near the
town OF Dillon, twenty miles from the
county seat and on the heart of a
busy, prosperous community where
well-improved farms abound. 1t IL
busy community. too, and It would
little time for the attraction OF club
work. even II there could be insti-
tnted such an organization. This Is
the way they have succeeded:
one day there came into the neign-
borhood Mrs. Alice Seller. who had
taste for the artistic and wanted 20
encourage the idea among her friends.
she sent east for some embroidery
patterns and took them to some OF the
women Of the neighborhood whom she
knew liked that kind OF handiwork.
Six OF them formed a club and they
met every fortnight to do fancy art
work. The idea was so pleasant that
other members were admitted, until
soon there were forty women, wives
and daughters OF the farmers OF two
or three townships.
That was three years ago. Every
two weeks since then they have met
and have been doing various kinds OF
fancy work. as well as having social
visits that did each one of them good.
From embroidery they took to paint
Ing, lacemaking and many things that
women enjoy. and which add to the
beauty of the home They arranged
for instruction by mall through an
eastern manufactory, and consider
themselves experts.
In the fall of 1905 they decided
TO make an exhibition and took a
whole room at the local fair This
they fllled with their handlwork and
1t was one of the most attractive
portions OF the whole exhibition. Peo-
Pile from the cities who had no idea
that such work could be done outside
of the experts emporiums. we're sur
prised when they were told that farm
ers' wives and daughters were the MA
kers. Last fall they exhibited at the
county fair and with thirty-three pieces
took eighteen premiums. They have
sent pieces to Chicago and have been
awarded premiums there and the cl ib
is enthusiastic in Its effort to Out.
shine the best OF the professionals In
designing and making handsome
pieces of art work.
But the real benefit of the club has
been more than in the needlework that
the members accomplish. Every two
weeks the forty women gather at the
home OF one OF the members. Some
OF them drive six to eight miles TO at
tend. One woman has in the three
years missed but six meetings. They
look forward to the gatherings as the
btot tNtllS tut year anu lHe very
act OF throwing off the cares OF the
farm life and meeting the neighbor
women in friendly social enjoyment
has lifted the monotony of farm life
from the hearts OF many of the mem
bers
There is throughout the nelghbor-
hood unanimity and good cheer that
many county east as well as west
might envy. AT the meetings the
affairs of school and church are talk
ed over and many an Improvement has
been brought about through the art
club" as they call II. When a new
conner enters the community she is at
once made to feel at home and one
visit to the clubs meetings conyinces
her that she Is among friends. When
one OF the members leaves she is
sorry, for she feels that she has lost
some very good neighbors.
After all, why should not the farm
ers' wives and daughters have the ben
efits OF club life as well al the wives
and daughters of the town business
man? rhe excuse that they do not
have the time is disproved by the forty
women OF this club. They are not on
any line of trolley or connecting rail-
way; none has a caoachman or chauf-
feur; they are just everyday Kansas
women. with all the cares OF the house
holds upon their shoulders. II they
can every two weeks put on the work
gowns and can don their best attire
for three hours of pleasant visit, any
group OF women In the west can do
the same. II they can drive six to
eight miles to attend the meetings,
others can do It, The benefits are both
direct and indirect--both in the ac-
tusl instruction received and in the
broader life that Is thus opened, the
helpfulness of the intercourse and the
contentment that is engendered.
The Dillon art club is probably the
largest and possibly the only club of
farmers wives and daughters in the
west. It is showing others how to
add to the pleasures OF farm life.