The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-24
woMEN's CIVIC WORK.
Described by Rev. Effie X. M. Jones to
Barre Audience Last Evening.

More than two hundred men and
women in Howland hall last evening
heard Rev. Eiiie X. NJ. Jones of Water
loo, Ia, former pastor OF the Univer-
salist church, speak on civic improve
ment as II has come to be associated
with the work Of women's clubs in this
country and elsewhere. The meeting
was held under the auspices OF the Barre
Woman's club and Mrs. Jones talk
was more directly concerned with the
methods employed in other clubs and
of how these methods might be applied
in Barre. Mrs. Jones was given a sin
cere testimonial OF the iriendliness
which exists in the city toward her
when she came forward to speak. Ere
quently during the course of her re-
marks she was graeiously applauded.
One of the pleasurable features of the
evenings program was II piano solo by
Miss Mildred Phelps.
Mrs. Jones began by tracing the de-
velopment OF the women's clubs in
America and describing the forces which
brought such organizations face to face
with civic problems. She eontended
that organized clubs solely for women
had their Inception in the old fashioned
sewing circles and the weekly meetings
of certain needlework societies. Women,
she averred, are by nature quite as gre
garious as men, and the primal reason
for the sewing circle of the early day
was the desire to get together. Socia-
bility was the reason uppermost IN the
minds OF many and so the inherent in
stinct for companionship had its justi-
tieation in the weekly gatherings men
toned.
Although the sewing circle was only
a sporadic and feeble attempt to ac
what the latter-day womens
clubs have achieved. it served its pur
pose well. Ii was found that it was no
better for woman to be alone then for
a man, in accordance with the scriptur
al Injunction. and so the first women's
club iourished and waxed strong. Its
stability became more marked when
new era began to dawn in its existence.
With the social instinct partially sat
isfied, members of such societies began
to look around and see the broad fields
of endeavor surrounding them. The de-
sire to help its expression in concerted
attempts to better those about the lit
tie circle and to improve the surround
ngs.
The third stage of the women's club |
,ame when its members began to eX-
race consciousness and the re- |
'ponsibilty OF making the world better.
From the realization OF this response |
,ility has grown the civic improvements |
,lans Of women's clubs all over the I
and
Civic improvement has been in meas
ire woman's movement, said the /
peaker. She laid it close up to the +
tronger sex that such condition of af-
airs is not altogether commendable,
lthough she admitted that man is nat
lrally absorbed in business with seem
ngly little time for the things that APP
zeal to women.
Mrs. Jones made the point that what
yer makes for the general improvement
4 city in which a woman's club ex
SITS that member Of club who feels
hat she has a part to accept in the
FORK need not fear that she is neglect
~ the home in so doing. Civic improve
rent and the welfare of the home are
connected continued Mrs.
ones. and any move that betters the
eneral conditions OF a city must per-
,rce have its wholesome effect ON the
ONES OF its inhabitants.
Latterly. the speaker told of civic i'm
rovement work in her home city of !,
Ia, although she did not at
,mpt to describe the achievements !,
iere in detail. However, she expressed !
er belief that the field for women's
ork in any community is wide and !.
fer crowded with opportunity. Such
easures as sanitary milk inspection, :,
le currency reform. the tariff question
ID the hundred and one issues Of the
" are all of kind that invite the
lpport of women's clubs. Mrs. Jones : :
the local organization of :
omen in closing and paid tribute =
the wholesouled efforts that the :
ub is making at the present time. :