Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-04-01
THE COMMON GOOD
Discussed Before the Civic Club
of Mineral Point.
ADDRESS BY MRS. KINSMAN

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assembly room Saturday afternoon at
O'Clock. Interesting reports were
presented by the civic and music COM
mittees, after which Mrs. Gratiot IA
vored the club with a selection which
was enjoyed by all.
Mrs. D. o. Kinsman of Whitewater,
president of the State Federation,
gave an able and very interesting ad-
dress. She spoke in an earnest and
effective manner and her words showed
that she has just appreciation of the
work that women are called upon to do.
Mrs. Kinsman expressed her pleasure
at being with the club and congratu-.
lated them on their fine start; on their
evident enthusiasm in the work; and
on their spirit of inclusiveness rather
than exclusiveness in setting no limit
to their membership.
She spoke of Julia Ward Howe's
motto ITO learn, to teach, to serve,
to enjoy" worthy one to guide club
women.
First, to study their problems. to
learn, then to teach, to educate public
opinion; in all, to cultivate the spirit of
service out of which alone can true Joy
come.
Mrs. Kinsman's talk on ''The Ser
vice of Women's Clubs" followed the
suggestions of the watchword which
she gave to the club at the time of her
election. She said on the shield of our
beloved state is emblazoned the chal-
longing word Forward Let US
adopt this and add to it two words
epitomizing the spirit of the club move
ment. Forward together for service
The motto forward" is significant of the
history of women's clubs which have
evolved from the merely cultural to
the large department clubs doing much
civic and philanthropic work. The
word together suggests the necessity
for united and collective efforts. In
these days of growing complexity Of
life and of great industrial problems,
there must be union and federation to
accomplish results. All classes unite;
workingmen form trade unions, bust
ness men unite, nations are made up
of federated states. We must unite as
individuals in clubs as federation. For
ward together for service. Servic e
for what? Our service must not be de-
sultory, aimless. In all our multi-form
club activities there must be some
binding principle. This, Mrs. Kins-
man said, is the home. The work of
the clubs is to make better homes and
extend the influence of the good home
until the community is a better home.
She spoke of the great change in home
life from the time of our grandmothers
when the mother was the director of
her small industrial and social center,
the home, when she oversaw the butch
ering, dairying, preserving, spinning
and weaving. She did not need to con-
slider whether her family had pure
water, milk, untainted meat or gar
ments made under sanitary conditions.
She knew how her children spent their
leisure time for it was spent in her
living room or her neighbors. School
conditions troubled her little for there
was little schooling.
The changes to present conditions
are startling. Think of the thousand
services rendered for the home outside
of the home. Think of the absorbing
occupations of the different members
of the family outside the home in all
kinds of conditions and environments.
If the homemaker would keep
abreast of the times she must go out
side the walls of her home. Indeed the
challenge of the time to women is:
"What will you do with these changed
conditions?" If women would still be
homemakers they must make their
homes healthful, beautiful and uplift-
ing and they must consider the welfare
of all their family. This means getting
in touch with some organization like
the women's club which is striving for
the ideal of better homes and commun-
ity conditions. Mrs. Kinsman then
showed how all the departments of
work of the State Federation are help
ing in the different lines of this great
work. The department of health
works for pure food, water, milk,
clean markets and shops, improved
sanitary conditions.
The Civic department works for i'm
provemeDt in moving picture shows,
schools, gardens, Fairgrounds, etc.
The Home Economics department
aims at increased knowledge OF the
past, present and future homemakers
and supervision of the home.
After speaking of the work OF the
different departments of education,
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