The Republican journal., 1909-10-21
THE TRAVELLERS CLUB.

Inc nrSt meeClng OF the travellers 3
Club for the season was held with Mrs.
George E. Bracket October 18th and
was an unusually interesting session.
The Club has taken up parliamentary
usage as part of the winters study and
it will be given in lesson form by differ
ent members. The first lesson, taking Or
ganization, classifying motions and CIV
ing by example the various forms of
amendments, points of order, etc., was
given by the hostess. The test was on
an imaginary basis and dealt with the
Belfast Historical Society, which met
with so members present in the reading
room of the annex of the Belfast Free
Library, October IL, 1912. The meeting
was opened in form and the principal
business brought up was the vote to buy
so copies of Williamson's History of Bel
fast, cloth bound. This vote was amend
ed to leather bound, and the amendment
amended for the books to be bought
from the contingent fund. Mrs. Brack-
ett's extensive experience in this line of
drill made it very apt and instructive
lesson.
Mrs. Walter C. Shaw, who was present
at the meeting of the Maine Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs in Waterville
gave the following interesting paper,
which is printed at the urgent request of
her fellow Travellers:
THE WoMEN'S CONVENTION AT WAT
ERv1LLE.
Everything, from beginning to end,
connected with the Women's Convention
at Waterville, was interesting, and it is
a grief to me that the written picture
must fall SO far below reality. From
the newspaper reports, and what have
brought, one can get the gist of what
was said, but he cannot get the spirit Of
the convention, or the personality of the
charm.
Our club was represented by six of its
members, our Pres, Mrs. Sibley, vice
Pres, Mrs. Dunton, Sec, Mrs. Bracket,
Mrs. Clement of the Topic Com, Mrs.
knowlton and myself. My position as
delegate entitled me to the privilege of
voting and to being adorned with badge
typical of the Pine Tree State, it being
bow of green ribbon with pine cone
attached Mrs. Dunton and | had the
pleasure OF rooming in dormitory NAM
ed IN honor of the first woman graduate
from Colby College-Mary Lowe, now
about sixty years old and assistant libra
rian at Augusta.
Mrs. White, Of whom we have such
pleasant recollections, looking as though
to the manner born, presided over the
convention.
The address of welcome was given by
the Mayor of the city. In it he paid
high tribute to woman, saying she had
played quite as important a part in the
drama of life as man, citing as exam
pies, Queen Victoria, Joan of Arc, Lady
Henry Somerset, Julia Ward Howe,
Frances Willard and many others. He said
that many women had won literary fame,
but that the home will always claim a
high standard as mark of distinction
for women. He said also that We needed
adversely to bring out powers that would
otherwise lie dormant.
Mrs. Flagg, Vice President of the
Federation, responded in the happy
manner which we know is so charac-
teristic of her. She attributed the de-
ilSIll OIL DelilS III w dteIV VIE III pdlt' W
the atmosphere of the college which
while at school we had dreams of what
ought to be accomplished in life, and
that she hoped the interchange of help
full ideas at the convention would inspire
us to try to fulfill those visions.
Miss Georgia Bacon, President of the
Massachusetts, Federation of Women's
Clubs, gave a very comprehensive adj
dress on Civil Service Reform, and it
was said that even the men would have
enjoyed it; which was, of course, the
highest compliment it could possibly re-
ceive. She spoke strongly against the
evils of the Spells System, of which we
had, think, a disheartening illustration
right here in Belfast, when man
capable and in every way worthy of his
position had it taken from him. She
SAID Washington when appointing men
for office always asked three questions,
Is he honest? Is he capable? Has he the
confidence of the people? She urged
the women to favor to the utmost the
Merit System.
Our Club was thrice brought before
the convention in very, pleasant ways;
first by our President, Mrs. Sibley, then
by Mrs. Flagg, and afterwards by Miss
OllIlOfu OF the jackson SCnOOl. Will
read our presidents report, knowing it
will interest you:
1.-The Travellers Club of Belfast is rep
resented here today by its secretary, Mrs.
Bracket, well known to you in philan
thropic work; by the efficient chairman
OF its topic committee, Mrs. Clement; by
two vice presidents Mrs. Dunton and Mrs.
Shaw; by Mrs. Knowlton, wife of our
Supt. of schools, and last, and least, by its
president. Two of our members have
dropped out during this last year, but
others have taken their places. Our
membership has not increased since the
last Federation meeting, simply because
we have not permitted it. Some men,
bers of our Club thought it best to limit
the number, although several good women
are waiting and hoping for admission at
some future day. Our study as a Club
has been a continuation of the previous
years work-on Italy. 1t has been of
exceeding interest. Our literary work
for the coming months is a study of the
history of Spain. We have also informed
ourselves III some measure of the work
of the Maine Forestry Association, and
this, Ihope, will lead US during the coming
year to an active interest and support Of
the Forestry Committee. A paper given
at our last club meeting on this subject
by Mrs. Knowlton was very interesting
From time to time we have done some