The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-15
LEAGUE OF WOMEN WORKERS
Young Woman's Club OF Bennington
Held Opening Meeting Last Night

Just a quarter OF a century ago the
club movement among working Wom-
en- started simultaneously in New
York and Philadelphia with the small
groups of girls which today are known
as the Irene club Of $50 members. and
the New Century Guild Of $50 men,
beers respectively. Their object was
two-fOld; first by combination. 10 Sc
cure social and educational OppOrtu
mites for the group which the indiv-
iduals, separately. might find it diff
cult TO attain; and secondly. TO create
a common meeting place for people
whose occupations in life tended TO
separate them, but who had much OF
value TO exchange with one and an
other. These two objects have been
most successfully achieved for years
now
The need for such organizations in
the social scheme of the present day,
were evinced by the prompt way in
which the original clubs were copies
not only in the large cities. but in the
small towns and villages, until within
the seven chief industrial states of
the Atlantic seaboard, there are ll2
clubs today with total membership
of about 10000.
These clubs differ tremendously in
character to suit local conditions but
all keep to the three fundamental prin-
ciples of being self-governing-leaving
all decisions to the majority vote of
the members or of the officers and
council elected by them; non-sectarian
all denominations being equally well
come, and no question effecting a
creed ever being discussed within the
clubs; and lastly, self-supporting, by
means of small monthly dues, occas-
ional ay-entertainments and in few
cases by an associate membership who
have all privileges but a vote, In re-
turn for their supporting fee.
Most of the clubs, likewise, have two
sides to their lives, reserving one night
week for a social gathering. which
means anything from games, music
and dancing to a literary program;
and having classes upon one or more
of the other evenings Simple dress
making, millinery and embroidery
have been the most generally popular
among the handicraft classes. Where
the equipment has been possible, cook
ing and gymnastics have always been
added to the other group of classes.
The Young Woman's club here in Ben
nington is fortunate enough to have
a large and we'll equipped kitchen
which many big city club would
envy them, and where popular cook
ing lessons are given fortnightly this
winter.
As these clubs grew in number they
! found many ways in which inter
change of experience and advice could
be helpful and those In the same state
and held occasional conventions for
this purpose until permanent state as
sociations grew up in Massachusetts
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York
and Pennsylvania; clubs in Maryland
New Jersey, New Hampshire and Yer
mont afiiliating with the nearest asso
citation.
Ten years ago the state association
| having tested the value of cooperation
determined to go further and combin
ed themselves into the National
League of Women Workers with head
quarters in New York City and trav
| cling secretary who visits each club
| in the League once in two years, in
spects the vacation houses, and helps
in the establishment of new clubs
whenever opportunities are afforded
Nearly thirty such clubs have beer
formed in the last decade and the
league membership increased between
5000 and 1000
Every alternate year the League
holds a large convention in the spring
attended by which as many as possible
of the club girls. 1t offers a rare op
portunity of travelling economically II
the company of friends, with all ar
engagements conveniently made. Cor
vention rates" never mean more thar
a fare and a third for the round trip
! sometimes less, and large groups Of
girls can find excellent board far more
economically than can any individuals
Last spring girls went from Boston fol-
four days in Washington at a tota
cost of S24.50 apiece,
The League has held such conven
tions in New York, Boston, Providence
Philadelphia, Buffalo Cat the time OF
the Pan-American Exposition there)
and Washington. The last three were
the most successful, and particularly
the trip to Washington last May Not
only everything of interest in the city
but Mt. Vernon, Arlington and George
town were visited and the increasing
prominence of the organization was
evinced by the promptitude with
which favors were granted. The New
| Willard, the best hotel in Washington
! gave the use of it's ball room for one
evening meeting. and Father Russell
the use of large Catholic hall for an
other AS quite so per cent of the en-
tire league membership is of the Ro
man Catholic church, Cardinal Gibbons
had been requested to address one o
the evening meetings. Unfortunatel!
he was not able to, but he appointed
Father Russell, whose talk upon Tn,
True Lady, will long remain in tn,
minds of all privileged to hear it.
The chief honor of the whole trip
however, lay in the reception rendered
the organization in the East Room o
the White House by President ant
Mrs. Roosevelt.
Miss Hamilton, the general secre
tary of the National League of Womel
Workers, is spending a few days IL
town, making suggestions drawn iron
the experience of many other clubs
as to possible developments in tn
Young Woman's club of Bennington
The club held an open meeting las
evening at o'clock in its pleasan
rooms on South street, opposite tn,
court house where any visitors wer,
welcome to come and hear from Mis-
Hamilton more of the work and tn
advantages offered by the local club