The Washington times., 1914-10-02
National in Scope, Organization
With Notable Membership,
HasLabored to Improve Ger
tain Phases of Journalism.

Rolls of fen Uomen'S organiza
ions can show such a long list oj
distinguished members as that Of
he League of American Pen,
women. Practically every field o.
literary and illustrative work is
represented among the 200 men,
hers, Who come from more than
1dlf the States in the Union.
Organized primarily for promo,
ion of mutual interests, this league
'rdS branched out into effective ef.
forts for such as child welfare, edu-
cation of mountain whites in the
South, and raising the standard of
the comic supplements in news
1apers.
Though the league is national in
IFS scope, all its Officers iipe in
Washington and its interesting
meetings are alWGyS in this city.
BY ]. R. HILDEBRAND.
Few clubs possess a membership Of
more noted women in their chosen
field of work than the League Of
American Pen Women.
Seventeen years ago last June sew
enteen women met at the home Of
Mrs. Mary A. Dennison. a Washing
ton author. and organized a literary
club. That was the beginning of the
league, now national in its scope and
influence. Now the leagues rolls
show more than 200 members, the
ajOrity of whom are writers with
national reputation
The primary purpose of organizing
the club was to impress upon women
writer's the poor ethics of giving
away their work Often this was
done thoughtlessly by women who
were not dependent upon their lite
AIRY work for d livelihood. But its
effect upon those who lived by the
pen was disastrous.
But the value of women's work
now is generally recognized by edi-
tors and publishers. And aside from
this protective feature, the league
has done much toward the improve
ment of certain phases Of American
journalism. The most noteworthy
IS-aS al ha nf
improving the SUNDAY comic" sup
plements. In charge Of this work
was Mrs Edith kinGman Kern, a
member of the Board of Education in
Washington. Mrs. Kern made
thorough survey of the field. talked
TO editors. and il is believed that.
through the leagues campaign. there
already is beginning TO be an i'm
proved tone in these supplements.
To some extent the ''horseplay'' and
rowdy element has been suppressed
and the more misc schievOus tricks of
the small boy eliminated
For Child Welfare.
Another active committee has
been that on child welfare. Through
Mrs Martha Gielow, league mem
Der. VINO also is active in work of
the Southern Industrial Education
Association. the league has co-opera-
ted in much of the work for the
betterment Of the condition Of the
mountain whites of the South.
Officers of the league reside in
Washington. and here does the
league meet But the ma jority oil
the states in the Union are repro
sented on the rolls. Nonresident
members frequently, on visits to
Washington, read from their own
work at the club meetings, or are
heard in some other form OF enter
tainment
Among the most widely known
league members are Anna Katherine
Green. Marion Harland. and Grace
MacGowan Cooke. On the list also is
Helen Gardner. writer and suffrage
worker: Mrs. Charles r. Miller. H.
illustrator: Miss Louise MalIoy. bet
ter known by her pen name of Josh
Wink" Mime. Marie Won Unschuld.
composer and music teacher; Mrs
Eleanor Everett FrceT. of Chicago
Il composer and d leader in the cam
Daign for grand opera in English.
and Mrs. Carrie Jacobs Bond a vo-
calist. who has been heard at several
White House TeCitals.
1i4e roster of officers includes
names OF women who have genuine
accomplishments 10 their credit
Mrs. Philandcr 7. ClaxtUn, wife of
the United States Commissioner of
Education. before her marriage vas
Miss Mary Hannah Johnson. known
throughout Tennessee for her efforts
in fUrthcrinc educational interests
and for the osta ablishment OF Hbrar-
les, schools. and social ccnters
Among the Members.
Mrs. Bertha Lincoln Heustis is a
daughter of Charles p. Lincoln, for
MANY years United States consul at
Canton. China. She has Travelled
widely on her own account. She be-
came widely known in Washington
for her vocal ability. later she wrote
short stories. and was Washington
correspondent for out-of-toWn papers.
and more recently still she has writ
ten novels. Mrs. Heustis also is af-
A2ii2ted with many women's organi-