The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-08

handed her a telegram which had just
arrived which Mrs. Atkinson read:
Accept 5000 as contribution to the
scholarship fund from Mrs. Jones'"
Curiosity as to the identity of Mrs.
Jones was not allowed to be para
mount, as from all parts of the house
contributions were pledged by various.
club members.
Mrs. Brown then took the chair
and revealed the identity of the mys-
teriols Mrs. Jones. The telegram was
City. The convention vigorously ap-
plauded Mr.. Jones generosity and
unanimously voted to send him tele-
gram of thanks for his highly appre-
ciated gift.
Mrs. George Barker Of Lawrence
introduced resolution advocating the
building of a girls dormttory at the
Kansas university for girls. It carried
unanimo uSly.
Mrs. F. w. Watson. chairman Of the
department of literature. presided and
introduced Miss Fife Graham, of To-
peka, for an illustrated talk, Living
Arithmetic
Miss Graham has a new idea and
she develops it almost entertainingly.
Her talk is a history of arithmetic,
a philosophy of arithmetic, an illus
tration of arithmetic from the early
days of simplest mathematics, when
to the present day of the counting
machine. With stereopticon pictures
she shows the methods OF counting and
figuring of the old EgyDtians, Greeks
and Romans, tracing their origin in the
simple mind Of the man of those days,
who reached conclusions by the same
process now employed with young chill
dren. Very entertaining and impress
Sive are these plates of hieroglyphicS,
really sign language in figures, as they
are thrown before the audience. The
arithmetics of a century ago with their
quaint problems, homely Illustrations
and often ludicrous comparisons, are
humorous now and Miss Graham show
ed them with that effect. but again she
quantity called in the philosophy of life,
and showed how the customs and
thought of those times were reflected
in the books of arithmetic. Even in
Rays Third and Rays Higher, books
of only generation ago. the terms and
methods are now amusing. And yet,
many of our latest improved styles of
arithmetic teaching are only adapta-
lions of the processes employed ages
Iago. Miss Graham has constant
command of parenthetical wit and her
novel, interesting treatment of this
lhomely, common subject is sure to in
struct and entertain the audience
wherever she goes.
Mrs. w. A. Johnston who has been
restrained from many of her usual ac
tivities on account of trouble with her
knee resulting from a sprain some
months ago, WAS uudDlo u dkCeHQ Inc
meeting of the state federation this
week. Her report, as director of the
general federation. was read by Mrs
May Belleville Brown of Salina. 1t
| follows:
Madam President and Kansas Club
1t is with sincere regret that must
send you this word of greeting instead
of bringing it myself It is many
years since I missed attending an an
4 h hafnra
realized so keenly what the club
| woman who cannot attend these con-
1 ventions is deprived of. In heart and
| mind I am with you, hoping and
| wishing that the very best of all that
| is good may be yours In abundance.
| I know too how precious all of the
| hours of the convention will be. and
/ so will only ask for a very few min
utes to bring matters Of the general
| federation to you. True, 1t is all gen.
| eral federation work since all of our
| inspiration comes from the parent
body. This is especially true since
our departments of work conform TO
those of the general federation and
| the chairman of each of our depart
ments is a committee woman. or the
same department of the general fed
Grafton.
It is important that the chairman
of each state department bear this
in mind and send full report of the
man of the corresponding department
in the general federation. This ac-
ton is due both the state and the
geleraI declarations. Kansas club
women should have credit In the
general federation for the splendid
work they are doing and these reg
ular avenues have been estab-
lished in the interest of reliable re-
ports. This action Is also due the
general federation since Kansas is q
% 1T n Iva ffnr and ia
in a measure responsible for it's sue
cess or failure, and bearing these
things in mind I trust every Kansas
chairman will send her report at once
to the general federation chairman.
It IS a matter of sincere regret that
so few Kansas women could attend
the general council meeting lately
held at San Antonio, Texas. If all
of the officers and all of the COM
mittee women of Kansas could at
| tend just one of these council meet
ings or one biennial convention they
would come home imbued with so
much inspiration and energy that the
next year would bring stronger re-
vival of club work in Kansas than we
| have ever witnessed.
The next biennial convention will
| be held in Cincinnati, opening May
I1O 1910, and next week VIII be a
| good time to begin getting ready Tor 1t.
The council meeting at San Antonio
was the best in the history or the
federation. The reports of the COM
| mittee women, many of them peing
there in person, were most inspiring
and each must have taken back TO her
work helpful suggestions. Mrs. Ami
don of the food sanitation committee;
Mrs Goldin, household economics;
| Mrs. Moulton, civics; Mrs. Williams,
| health; Mrs. watkins. legislative. In
fact each and every one is an expert
| One aDneaj. that of John Muir and