The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-11-15

over the United states were tnere 1or
profit, not for pleasure. 1t was
convention mostly of middle-aged,
serious-minded women, feeling new
responsibilities, and reaching out to
new spheres of action.
They were there to study the prob
lens of peace and preparedness, the
nurture of babies and prison reform
conservation, from forests to can
ming of beans and tomatoes, as one
writer put it.
The biennial formally opened on
Wednesday evening at the 7th regi-
ment armory. We found the side
walk from steps to curb crowded
with good-natured aggregation of
women, all wondering why policemen
stood guard on the steps and would
not let them by. Every minute added
tc the congestion, but the uniformed
men seemed at a loss what to do.
Finally some one said the Lexington
avenue entrance was open. The crowd
turned. A determined Floridian was
first to reach it, only to find that en-
trance barerd by policeman's arm.
That was foo much. She straightway
informed that minion of the law that
she hadn't come a thousand miles to
the convention, and not get in, so she
firmly but kindly pushed his arm
aside and went in, followed by the
state treasurer, but the more timid
faced about to the main doorway and
found the policeman had relented and
would pass, in all showing their
badges. Mrs. Gary and went in de-
| lighted, but our joy was turned TO dis
appointment when we were shown the
reservation for alternates. We had
plenty of company-we were in the
convention, but not part of it. We
were so far from the stage we neither
discern the features, nor hear the
voices of the speakers. We tried hard
to hear Gov. Whitman's address, but
had to take somebody's word for it
that Ocala could furnish better or
brainier speakers almost any day.
Everywhere we turned our eyes the
big cards marked "Silence" stared up
in the face and we felt like little chill
dren who had to be good. Obediently
we kept silent and studied the faces
about US, the styles and the lack of
style, as long as that was interesting
Then unable to-utterly annihilate our
selves we begun to get acquainted
with our neighbors on the sly. Mine
asked me where / was from, after in
forming me she was from New Hamp-
shire. I told her and she repeated the
trite saying of show little the world
lis" and seemed pleased to tell me that
she was corresponding with a lady
from Ocala, and sending her litera-
|ture. She belonged to club which
did the philanthropic work of sending
out literature to all who were not able
to supply themselves. She had found
our lady, from her letters, to be quite
Intelligent, and it was a pleasure to
help her.
/ In crowd of many thousands it is
not hard to find curiosities, and they
were at the armory that night. / re-
lcall a dazzling diamond lady, stand
ling near US. She stood, perhaps, that
lall might see. She was over sixty
dressed in beautiful white lace
Igown-but little of this could be seen
for the jewels; they sparkled from
the tiara on her head, and cascaded
down the front; there were rings on
T her fingers and buckles on her shoes
Solomon in all his glory was not ar
lrayed like this alternate. Out of the
west she must have come to dazzle
the east. The f1ashlight man hardly
needed other light for his photograph
Then we began to notice that we were
not the only restless ones. Hundreds
of women had been polite and kept
silent, but nature was exerting itself
and they felt as we did, that we coulc
be just as much entertained and fan
more comfortable at our hotels thar
seated stiffy in the armory where We
could neither see nor hear. In spite
of the protests of the chairman, ar
exodus began, and we went with it
vowing never more to return. The
auditorium was just a part of the at.
fractions of the armory. There were
dozens of rooms all filled with de.
lpartmental work, full of interest and
Information for club workers. Then
literature was given out on all sub
Jects of interest to women, and there
we found much pleasure. But delight
full meetings were held in the ball
room of the Hotel Astor These were
less formal, and one could get within
hearing distance. 1t was there I saw
/ Mrs. Pennybacker preside with beau
tiful dignity, little in person but big
IN force. There | enjoyed the conser-
walton meeting with that striking per-
sonality, Mrs. Sherman in the chair.
BY the way, she is to attend the Mi
ami convention, an honor extended on
account of our Florida state park. Mr.,
Enos Mills lectured at this meeting