The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-11-15
WOMAN'S CLUB WORK

Mrs. Lester Warner, Press Reporter
The following excellent paper was
read by Mrs. R. A. Burford at the
first meeting of the year held at the
club house on Nov. 4th.
Sketches of the Biennial
The Ocala Woman's Club could not
send delegates to the biennial IN May
because, as yet, it is not nationally
federated club. 1t was represented,
however, by three of its members,
Mrs. Hooker, Mrs. Gary and Mrs. Bur-
ford. The last two were state alter
mates by appointment, while Mrs.
Hooker was delegate by virtue of
her position as state secretary.
/ joined the Florida delegation at
Jacksonville, going as far as Wash
ngton with them. The Coast Line
people had arranged for US to have
two Pullman cars all to ourselves, and
sent along their courteous passenger
agent, Mr.. Fritot, as chaperone extra
ordinary, to see to our comfort and
pleasure.
had the opportunity of testing the
hospitality of the New York organi-
1atioa. I reached the 23rd street sta
ton at a. M, very early hour for
the city, but the reception committee
was there, just as sweetly cordial as
if it were no trouble to get up at such
an early hour, rush through breakfast
and hurry in drilling rain to make
US feel welcome. It was propituous
beginning. Different states had been
assigned different hotels, and Florida
was placed among the high and
mighty of Fifth avenue, at Central
Park, along with the Astors and Van
derbilts. But it seemed mighty good
to find the home folks there, Mrs
Gary and Mrs. Hooker, and to feel
that we Ocala people are like the Elks
B. P. o. E., best people on earth.
We got busy right away and follow.
ed the crowd to the Aston hotel, where
we were told to present our creden.
tials and get properly launched in the
convention. Reaching the hotel, we
were met by numbers of discouraged
women, declaring it to be impossible
to get near the rose room for the
crowd. All of you know Mrs. Hooker
She had started to the rose room with
her credentials and she had no ides
| of DETECTING from her purpose, anc
1--we. followed meekly with perfect faith
that we would get what we had come
for. Much to my surprise, however
in some way managed to get thru
that rose room with perfect ease ane
celerity, got my papers and wa:
waiting in the hall for perhaps five
minutes before I saw the white hat
of our leader This was the first an(
only time | ever got ahead of Mrs
Hooker. / guess it was because I hat
had more experience with New Yorl
crowds, since I happened to be there
during the Hudson-Fulton celebra
ton.
There were 10000 women attend
ling the biennial, yet excepting at tn,
armory and the Hotel Astor theil
lpresence was not noticeable, eithel
in the streets or in the stores. Blu
the crowds were apparent at the Full
ton celebration-they came in troops
and battalions,, crowded the thoro
fares by the thousand, so / had ha,
Experience, and in race-horse parlanc,
led my friend almost by mile.
| The business of the morning &C
complished, we joyfully started OF
our way to the Edison reception, TIL
very best feature to me of the con
lvention, because of the privilege i
gave of meeting one of the creates
men the world ever produced. Create
than the Caesars, Alexanders O
i Cars, men who by bloodshed or in
lheritance have places in history. Ed
lson's greatness is measured by tn
good he has done, the benefit to al
the world, making light out of dark
mess and sound out of silence. Musi
he has carried to the uttermost part
lof the earth, and has shed hal
Iaorund the globe.
i The Edisons had planned to receiv
the women on their beautiful lawn
but a drizzling rain changed thei
Iplans. The house, spacious enough
Ordinarily, was too small for such ;
host of people. So like packed sar
ldines we slowly crept through hall
conservatory and parlor when at las
Jour names were called, and then re
peated by his wife for his deaf ears
lin Introduction to Mr.. and Mrs. Edi
Ison. We had seen his picture SO Otter
lit was like meeting an old friend.
i The East Orange women had pre-
pared another pleasure for US, fol
the Edison reception was followed b,
la big reception at their magnificen
sIclub house, a home which cost then
$4,000. In the big auditorium Their,
was a receiving line of the president
land the noc4