The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-16

held daily at the Elks' club are events af- fecting the history of Alabama women. The opening meeting took place last night at inc club. when a formal welcome of Mayor Exum, who, in his gracious, pleas ing fashion, extended the hospitality of the city, and of Mrs. I. D. Steele, chair man of the reception committee, who welcomed the ladies in behalf of the two hostess clubs--the Culture and the Kenil- worth--were spoken. Mrs. Cyrus Pittman Orr. A prominent club woman of the presided. This fact gave as much distinc- ton and interest as any other feature of the first meeting.
 Birmingham is an especially appropriate place for the meetings of the club women, by the way, as the federation had It's in- efficiency here. The Cadmean, that oldest and most distinguished of clubs, was the power in it's organization. Mrs George c. Ball, who has lately returned from Atlanta to live in Birmingham, was the president of the Cadmean at the time and 1t was through her influence and that of Miss Robbins of Selma that the fed eration of clubs was effected. The first meetings took place in the Presbyterian church of this city.
 Mrs. Steele was charming in the greet ing which she gave last night to the visiting women. She said:
 "On behalf of the clubs of Birming ham, l extend to you greetings of wei come Words of burning eloquence, far surpassing any T may speak, could not express the genuine delight and honor we feel in having as our guests so dis tinguished body as the Alabama Fed eration of Womens Clubs. It may mean something to you, coming to Birming- hame, the Mecca of clubs, but to us the occasion is fraught with momentous sig nificance. Some of you, perhaps, have read the story of an Arabian traveller who came to an ancient city, where he saw a large building. like a palace, with tie gates open and fastened back to the walls with large nails. Upon inquiry he found the gates had not been closed. night or day, for an hundred years. Strangers might present themselves at any hour or in any number and ample  ly, We are not an ancient city, being twitted yet, at times, with our extreme youth, and our city is not walled, but the portals of a s1,0O0,000 Terminal sta- ton swung wide today for your entrance into city of over 100000 inhabitants.
 Ten years ago when you were our guests for the first time We were a very small city. But, like the fedora ton, it seems there were possibilities In us both. Five years ago when we were again honored hostess of the federation, judging from the wonderful record of your achievements. we felt that some thing commensurate with your mar velous advancement would be expected from the Magic City, hence our era of building and growth.
 As to what can be done to keep step with you in the next five years, and then the next five, the celebration of your silver anniversary. at which time we hope, for the inspiration of your presence on such an suspicious occa- sion must be left to the wisdom and Judgment of our city fathers and to the discretion of our Mayor. And now we wish to send greetings of sympathy to that lonely constituency of the lords of creation who are the silent minority on this occasion-to the gentlemen who are left sad and desolate Cor vice versa as the case may be), while we bask In the sunlight of your presence, we wish to express our thanks and ap- preciation. Say you the age lacks true men?
 Never; with women of such mold, Who ever prefer honor unto gold: Women unspoiled by luxury and ease, Of nobler type than ancient Rome or
 Greece.
 Women who wear their beauty as a
 flower,
 Whose homelike virtues are their rich
 est dover.
 Then say you the age lacks true men I say again and again.
 We are blessed with such true women. We shall never lack true men.
 Such women we welcome this even ing.
 .It is not" said that stern moralist. Thoreau, "enough that I build myself a fire, but I must ask myself. what dld you QO Wiiic yOo WOlO WdlH
 A woman in a fashionable cafe was overhead telling friend how extreme ly busy she was. She enumerated French lessons, German lessons, vocal lessons and on down the list. I never lose a moment, she' concluded, com placently She is childless, her husband many years older than she. immersed in large business interests. Apparently her days and her means are all at her own disposal. It is admirable that she devotes herself to culture. mental and physical, but mere culture for the sake of culture tends to become ex. elusive, selfish and snobbish. This in- temperate pursuit of self-improvement has fixed itself on many women.
 "It is not enough that I build my self a fre." The noble women by ored have not only lighted the fire of culture and mental uplift on their own hearthstones, bdt. the lambert flame with it's roseate glow has flashed out warmth and brightness into the lives of many under less fortunate en- vironments.
 Travelling libraries. the Boys indus trial school, of which we are SO proud i; the many scholarships bestowed upon worthy girls and boys with no other means of advancement. all go to refute the trite saying. Where Ignorance is bliss, 1t Is folly to be wise"
 Knowing that the beautiful ever ap- peals to the highest and best, you have