The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-01-22
1.-THE LONG PATH"
Mrs. Dimies +. s. Denison, Honorary
President General Federation Of
Women's Clubs.
from Biennial Report. J

(From Biennial Report
| Madam President and Members Of
the Convention: 1t is indeed an
1 honor to be an integral part Of the
body that has been SO royalty well
coined here tonight, and | wish my
first word to be one of congratulation
to the General Federation upon it's
advance during the last four years
! under the wise leadership of its
president, Mrs. Decker Her ability
has been equalled only by her energy,
and her browning wisdom has been in
closing her administration in Boston,
the city that measures the heart
throbs of the world.
We come to one Of the shrines that
mark human achievement. We come
to receive anew a baptism Of patriot
ism, quickening of the spirit of
liberty and equality, strengthening
Of the bonds OF fraternity. For what
ever the General Federation stands.
Boston has from her founding been
in the lead, and we shall receive here
benediction and never lessening
impetus.
A brilliant bishop of the south, still
heartsore after the Civil war, said
that he was SO tired OF hearing about
the Pilgrimers landing on Plymouth
Rock, that he sometimes wished that
Plymouth Rock had landed on the
Pilgrim Fathers.
While there is little danger of the
Indulgence of that heretical sentiment
tonight, we shall not follow the high
road in living several lifetimes in a
few moments, nor shall we attempt to
trace in these few moments the prog
ress OF women in the long path from
the Puritan woman to ourselves. Such
feat would establish speed record,
and we have chosen to amBle-a fas-
'inating gait suggestive of serenity, of
time to take our bearings and of ar
irving cool and undishevelled, as
women have arrived at their present
position.
The first roads in New England,
called in the early court records
'trodden paths" were made first by
ne mocasined feet Of the Indians as
hey walked warily in Indian file,
Ind later increased by the feet of
ettlers, and domestic cattle vending
heir way to pasture and return.
me earliest trail was the old Ply
mouth or coast path which connected
'oston and Plymouth. There was the
"a Connecticut Path, the new Con-
ecticut Path, the Providence Kenne-
unk Road by the Sea, but most fam
US OF all, the Bay Path, which may
I'LL be traced by road and by-way. A
lodern writer says of it, There still
GEMS to cling to it something Of
uman interest ever found in a foot
ath, the intangible attraction which
axes cen the simplest footpath
cross pasture, or up a wooded hill,
III OF charm, OF suggestion, Of SEN
ment."
The path we trace tonight opens
stas OF tragedy and Joy; some
mes wandering in black shadows,
ain emerging where birds sing and
aters ripple, but like the old Bay
TIN, It is full Of charm, Of suggest
IN. of sentiment" 4
The praises of colonial and revolu.
mary heroes have been Justly
ng; but the part Of woman in
nieving results that have made the
ton great, has never been ade-
ately recognized in history. She
re the hardships of life in virgin
intry with unfaultering heroism.
her come the famine and the
er, benumbering cold and terror of
ages, Many times her blood was
% as martyr in the cause of civ
alton, yet her spirit was dauntless.
mas been said Of her that her hero
was not sordid or secular; that
vas "untainted by selfish ambition,
iefiled by greed Of gain, and
ged OF the earthly dross that too
IN alloys the lofty impulses of sol
rs and statesmen in the path of
le. She looked not for honor or
ancement, imperiled much, and
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