The Republican journal., 1908-10-29
MOMENTS CLUBS.
Meeting of the Maine Federation in Port
land.

annual meeting of the Maine Federation
of Women's Clubs was called to order
Wednesday by the president, Mrs. Fred
n. White of Lewiston, in this city of its
birth. There was an unusually large at
tendance and much interest. The re-
ports of the various officers were preced-
ed by the greetings from guests, the in
production of new clubs and the reports
of committees.
President White in her report said IN
part:
"The reports of officers are most as
suring, indicating fair increase IN men,
bership and firm financial standing. 1t
has been a splendid year, everything IS
encouraging.
'The tendency in the larger places to
adopt department work is commemorate.
This plan is strongly advised wherever
conditions are favorable and there IS no
reason why this line of work should be
confined to large clubs. All our work Is :
directly or indirectly for the beneht OF
the children.
sIt is notable fact that college
women throughout the country are afflll-
ating with the clubs. We are happy
that Maine shares in this good fortune
and appreciate the valued acquisition to
..
broader usefulness. We should strive to
enlist the young women fresh from school
and college and not discourage them
from presenting their ideas by clinging to
old customs as best.
"Women's clubs stand for finer and
higher living and the success Of the
movement can be measured to certain
extent by it's effect upon the home life OF
the people. The home is the center OF
social life, it is the most potent factor
for happiness or unrest. Then let US
strive to have and make ideal homes.
Can we not maintain one department. Tor
the especial benefit of the home maker?
This department would bring new life to
women burdened with household cares
and do much to eliminate the drudgery
and monotony from their lives.
The delegates and visitors at the morn
ing session numbered fully 250. Miss
Fannie E. Lord read an interesting re-
port for the committee on literature and
art.
A guest of the meeting was Miss Eliza
beth F. Merrill of the Dorchester, Mass,
Women's Club, who delivered an exceed
ingly valuable address on ''The Treasures
of Art when the World Was Young. -
Miss Merrill covered the early Egyptian
art, speaking particularly on the tombs
and the has reliefs and explaining the
idea of the artists in placing them there.
The report of Miss Elizabeth K. Hobbs
of North Berwick as chairman OF the
committee on forestry was timely one
and was listened to with close attention.
1t was in part as follows:
''In this report the most encouraging
thing will be put first. Where last year
only six clubs reported Forestry days on
programs, or Arbor Day work in the
schools, this year reports have been re-
ceived from IA clubs.
Zone club of 20 members under the in
fluence of member of the forestry com
mittee has made bank deposit, which is
to be gradually increased and eventually
to be used for the purchase Of wood
lot as a forest reserve.
'.You will remember that at the meet
ing of the Maine Federation in Lewiston
the Federation voted unanimously to sup
port movement in favor of making the
region of Mt Katahdin a State forest
reserve. Of course this could not be ac-
complished at once, but it was desired to
agitate the matter, so that soon the State
of Maine might join the ranks of those
/ States which deem it important to keep
some of the poorer land for the purpose
OF growing trees; notably Pennsylvania,
with it's 700, 600 acres of forest reserve.
When we consider the value to Maine of
| her forest resources we see that she can
not afford to neglect them.
1.-The White Mountain - Appalachian
National forest problem is still with us.
The House of Representatives has al
lowed it to die several natural deaths,
but it is still with us, for it has always
come to life again and will do so once
more at the next session of Congress.
Where no one disputes the Importance to
i the east, and it is opposed only by politl-
cal obstructionists, public sentiments the
only power that can come to the rescue.
1t must be our work to arouse pubic
sentiment, if we are to preserve the
water power of our rivers and the ag-
rcultural value of our farms. Let US all
study and talk and write in behalf OF our
Eastern national forest.
| The second day Of the annual conven-
/ ton of the Maine federation of women s
clubs began with meeting OF the board
of directors. Reports were presented
and routine business transacted. Mrs
! F. H. White, the president, then intro
duced Miss Elizabeth F. Merrill OF Dor
E, chester, Mass, who spoke of art IN an
! Gent Egypt. TOuOWIlS ilS1 ceAoASoo eLiS
committee on credentials reported the
presence of l21 delegates and visitors.
Committees were appointed and the dl-
rectors adjourned.
At the afternoon session reports were
presented by delegates from affiliatlng
j clubs and addresses were delivered by
: DR.. S. S. Weeks, Mrs. John Howard Hill
/ and Mrs. Edward w. Hall. Prof. Lang
; ford of Harvard was the speaker at the
! evening session.
The federation is especially interested
in the fight now being made against con-
sumption in all it's forms, in the preser-
walton of the forests of the State, in
everything connected with its civic life
and, of course, in the clubs for women.
Mrs. Kate Clark Estabrook reported
that there are 1O8 travelling libraries,
containing $500 books in all, and asked
for increased interest in that branch OF
the work. Mrs. F. M. Houghton report
ed the total receipts to have been $757,
and the total expenditures $500.
The closing meetings of the Maine
Federation of Woman's clubs were held
Thursday. The report of Mrs. W. B.
Hall, the general federation secretary,
was read. The first meeting was an edu:
cational session, the subjects considered
being "Organic Training and "Play-
grounds. =" The morning addresses were
by Mrs. F. E. Boothby, Portland, Mrs.