The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-05-06
/he Belfast Travellers Club.

tendance, only one member being absent,
and with several invited guests.
The meeting was called to order at p.
M, the president, Mrs. Edward Sibley,
presiding.
After the routine and unfinished bust
ness the address of the president was
listened to and the reports of the sec
rotary and treasurer were read and ac-
copied.
THE PRESIDENT S ADDRESS.
Our faithful secretary never neglects
her own duties. She has reminded me
that an annual address is expected of me
this day. This term is too high-sound-
ing to be applied to my poor little talks.
| have made an effort to prepare sim
pie address to youth fact l tried at
first to write something bright and en-
PERTAINING, but let me warn you 1t IS
failure can sympathize with the work
man who had some iron in his possession
and wished to make some use OF 1T. He
melted it and thought he would make
shovel but found there was not enough
iron. Then he tried Ratchet and there
was too much iron, after this an axe and
there was not sufficient IRON. He was
discouraged and declared ''Well, | have
made a }fzzle anyway" You see, or will
see. the application to my message. SO,
too | feel that the same expression,
though slangy term, might be applied
to various efforts of mine as your Presl-
dent Tn place of reviewing the present
year of the life of the Travellers CLUB,
the wear which is just drawing to close,
will YOU first go back with me to 1889.
Inst twenty years ago last month, IN
March. 1889, in New Y ork city. was organ
ized the General Federation OF Women's
Clubs. The meeting was called by So
rosis. In 1892 the president was Cnaf-
lotte Emerson Brown. The next pfesi-
dent was Ellen NJ Heuratin, OF almost
worldwide fame, to whose noted ADDRESS
IN Chicago at the time of the Women's
Congress had the pleasure OF listening
This was when the great White City en-
tertained the exposition.
During this score of years, from small
beginnings has this wonderful Federation
Of Women steadily and rapidly increased
in number. strength and influence. More
than half million earnest women devote
much time, thought and strength TO us
upbuilding. Let me cite to you lew
out of many examples OF the work
of the smaller clubs. one cluD OF
thirty members owns and MAINTAINS
a public library, giving. their services
to the public One club planted three-
mile avenue of trees. Another supports
day nursery. Another bought and pre-
scented park to the city. Everywhere
club women are circulating traVelilhg
Libraries, establishing tree llpfarles'
planting trees, identifying towns, Turn
10 marks and nav
grounds, clearing up railroad stations,
helning support vacation schools. In
fact, civic betterment and social service
are the special province of the club
women. Some clubs furnish annual
lecture courses in their towns. Thou
sands of women are aroused to the beauty
and value of the forests. We hear the
call of the woods, our ancestral estate
And there's an end of lingering when once
the voice is heard
For the hills call, and the brooks call, and Oh
the call of the bird!
And come may, but go must, ana IL you ash
me why
will put the blame the woods and oirds'
and the vagabond road, and the sky.
Thoreau loved this vagabond road, and
made his home in the wood that bofdefs
it. and of one greater than he, the poet
Laner wrote:
Into the woods my Master went
Clean forspent, forspent;
And the olives they were not bind to Him
And the little gray leaves were kind to HIM
And the thorn trees had mind to HIM
When into the woods He went
Shall we not protest in no unmlstak-
able terms against the great CRIME OF
the Wanton destruction OF the forests,
the trees under whose sheltering branches
so MANY of Gods heart-sore children love
to wander, whose whispering leaves
sneak peace to their troubled spirits, and
at whose feet burdens can be left.
~ am debtor to the ancient pine
The birch that on the meadows dream,
The ferns that nod by woody stream
The moss. the brake, the vine
Our number is not large. We can I'M
dertake no one special great work IN our
little city. But let us keep in touch with
the federated clubs. Along with our
literary work, let US keep informed as to
the charities and philanthroples, social
and civic service of this great organlza..
ton. Many of its departments are OF
the deepest interest and Importance ana
appeal to US strongly. They touch our
every day life.
Just now, perhaps because of my re
cent readings, the topic of forestry lies
very near my heart. The trees, the
birds, the children! We can do at least
some special individual work for these.
We can keep our eyes open and see that
no tree. or bird. or child within our ken
or observation, suffers harm. That old
poem "The Cry of the Children always
brings pain to my heart. Have you
read that other on the Child Workers by
Dennis Mccarthy. The poem is headed
bv two lines from John Boyle O'Rellly:
"Ah, the little hands too skiful,
And the child-mind choked with weeds!'
A SONG FOR THE CHILD-WoRKERs.
Shall we cheat them of their childhood?
Shall we rob them of their right?
Shall we bend their shrinking shoulders
meath the load?
Shall we stunt their slender bodies? Shall we
stint their souls of light?
Shall we deal with them by Greeds accursed
code?
All my brothers, from your ledgers for a mo-
ment turn away!
All, my sisters, leave your follies and your
toys
And give ear to one whose song is for humanity
today,
For the bodies and the souls of girls and
boys!
Dearly do we pay for progress, dearly are our
profits priced,
If we have to rob the school to run the mill,
,of tpo