The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-03-12
A Western Woman's Club.

Secretary Bryan may be selected.
A Western WOman's Club.
Recent mention of movement in Bel
fast toward the formation of an up-to-
date departmental Woman's club brought
to the mind of the writer the formation
of just such a club in western city but
little larger than our own. That club
has more than justified Its existence,
even in it's first years. which must neces-
sarily be partially experimental.
Whist clubs and Five Hundred clubs
and Thimble clubs and Housekeeper' 8
club, and all manner of "good. times
clubs" 1ourished like the often quoted
green bay tree in Bozeman, Montana,
which could also boast of at least four
large and extremely active church aid
societies. The project of a "reap'
women's club, had been spoken of by a
little group of wide awake women, and
the question had arisen, Twill it work?''
They resolved to put the question to the
test, and it was answered at the very
first preliminary meeting, called at the
public library, where the mems reading
room was filled to its utmost seating ca
pacity on the stated day and hour. 1t
was a real. Representative gathering, -
for there were card club members, and
missionary society members, and thimble
and fraternal club members and, best of
all, many members of no club. The
preliminary buslness-the drawing up OF
constitution and bylaws, after studying
those of other clubs with similar pur-
poses, and combining the best points OF
them all, the nomination and election of
officers and committees, and the securing
of departmental chairwomen was at
tended to as expeditiously as possible
in the first few frequent meetings and
the Bozeman Woman's club was soon
in running order for its first part year.
1t was decided to have the annual
meeting in May, and as it was winter
before the organization was perfected !,
the half year was devoted to pioneer
work that afterward proved its value
For instance, after few months OF
fortnightly meetings, alternating with
the department meetings, at the be-
ginning of the new year it was found
wise to have but one general club meet
ing month, while the departments met
each fortnight, and other similar changes
and improvements were made. The de-
partments, from the first, were thor
oughly successful. The literature branch
after few months interesting study of
western writer's, took up the study of
current drama, with an occasional meet
ing devoted to the discussion of the
dramatists of other periods. The Home
Economics section, fortunate in having
the strong college department to call on
for it's leaders, discussed different
phases of the selection and preparation
of foods for all occasions always with
at it's meetings at the
homes of its members. The Story Tell
ing Section proved to be one of the most
popular divisions, and its members gain
ed ease of manner and confidence as
we'll as a valuable fund of folk lore,
fairy tales, and current classics. The
Arts and Crafts workers took up basketry
and metal work, while the Civic depart
ment hardly waited until their organlza-
ton was perfected before taking active
(and effectively steps to prevent the re-
of a city official known to
be Incorporate, immoral and unscrupu-
Gus. The weights and measures of the
town also underwent severe eXamlna-
ton, owing to the activity of this sec
ion, backed by an excellent newly
passed State law.
The music department took up the
study of modern composers, and each
section, in turn, furnished the program
'or the general club meeting. For in
stance, the Home Economic section had
1 State pure food chemist give brief
out most Illuminating talk, explaining
he pure food laws, the use of adulter
ants, and easy methods of detecting
heir presence, correct labelling, and in
elligent marketing. The Civic section
presented a speaker who suggested
practical parking system for the city
which has since been adopted, in part,
1t least. Recently, large and lnfluen-
,ial Junior auxiliary has been organized,
and trained club workers will soon step
from it's ranks to that of the Woman's
club.
Last year the Bozeman club held a
vocational congress for young women,
when girl delegates from the High
schools all over the State were enter
aimed at the homes of the club mem
oers and attended the meetings, adj
dressed by women in many walks and
professions in life within and without