The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-18
2S Years Old and Is Vice Presl-
dent of a Bank.
PICTURE SHOW AROUSED HER
Suualid Crowd of Miners Gave
Her a New Idea.
Inaugurated Betterment Condl-
tiOns in Kansas.

last October stirred the Jane AuuaHls
blood in the veins of her niece, MISS
Marcel Haldeman, and transformed
her from a practical banker into
Young women with "a purpose and de-
termination to improve the condltlohs
of her peOple the miners Of Radley,
Dunk!rk and Ringo. Today, MISS Hal
deman. who is attending the seventh
annual convention of the Kansas state
Bankers association. told OF her W ork
and her aspirations for the mining
folk of southeastern Kansas
About a year after the death OF her
mother. head of the Girard bank MISS
Haldeman, called home to take up the
burden and responsibility borne before
by her mother and before that by her
father. attended picture snow at
Girard child of fortune in many
respects, Miss Haldeman had tasteo
the cream of life and had enjoyed VS.
its in this and foreign countries
She Was Depressed.
The young banker found herself
depressed in that picture show. In a
practical manner she began to figure
out a reason for the depression. First
the squalor and close air was to blame
but that would not explain all. Grad
uauy in her minds eye a picture seen
daily in retrospect for years became
paramount and burned with intensity
A picture show such this was the
only harmless recreation of the even
ing for the miners. Stories OF the pool
nails Of the mining camps, the dance
halls and other amusements arose and
she saw the Woodworking young min
ers leaving the picture hall with girls
to attend dances such as she had
heard of and knew existed but when
brought to her mind in years past she
had merely shrugged her shoulders
and forgotten about them as unpleas-
an; incidents. necessary to life. Or, If
alone she saw the young men go to the
pool halls or the joints, rumor told her
still existed in prohibition Kansas.
Lacked Community Spirit
Why should the lot Of these hard
working. well meaning people be such
as this2" Miss Haldeman asked her
self.
It was then the Jane Adams blood
began to make itself felt in the veins
of the practical young banker. The
miners lacked the community spirit
They were the best hearted, the most
hard working people in the world and
their pay checks were on a par with
those of any working people. They
didn't know how to help themselves
All this had occurred in Miss Halde-
mans mind in fifteen minutes. no
sooner had she discovered the cause
than she sought a solution for the
conditions which faced her. No
thought of excusing herself for the
conditions arose in her mind then,
She must act and she did that very
night
Begins Work Instantly.
Miss Haldeman arose and went from
seat to seat, urging upon one minor
after another the formation of a club.
She didn't seek to reform them, she
suggested first a dance, a mining
camps most popular amusement. It
met with favor.
A hall was rented. Miss Haldeman
scOrned police protection and ex-
pressed her determination to man
age the hall herself. She did put a
taboo on anything stronger than pop
and on smoking in the dance hall.
Otherwise the dance given a few
nights after the picture show exper-
fence was just the same as all others.
Able to Help Themselves.
When the club plan was suggested.
Miss Haldeman and Miss Ruth Jones,
a teacher in the Girard schools, didn't
offer any money They merely prof
fered aid and suggested that the mon
ey necessary be raised from the pro-
ceeds of the Friday night dances now
a weekly feature at Girard.
A hall was rented over a moving
picture theater. Miss Haldeman sup
piled some of the books and the
miners others. The club was named
the Jolly club and all members must
be more than 16 years old. Much
difficulty is found on account of so
many not understanding the English
language. Miss Haldeman hopes TO
get books in another year written in
Italian, French and German She can
speak French and German now and is
studying Italian.
Girls Demand "A Club.
Later the girls demanded that A
club be formed and Miss HaIdeman
consented to take part in this clubs
activities. 1t is named the Sunflower
club All members are under 16 years
OF age Then the small boys demanded
a club and Miss Trademarks services
were urged. She consented.
They asked to name it the Pa
triots club" said Miss Haldeman this
morning, and this pleases more than
anything else
The girls paste pictures in the read
ing rooms. read and study domestic
science The boys read and NAV
games and they, too, like their elders.
hold their dances and aid in support
ing the club room.
Prepares Community Center.
Nor did Miss Haldeman stop there
She purchased seven acres of land for
"A community center and a baseba IL
diamond, tennis courts and recreation
grounds for the children. In the fall
a small community house will be
erected.
Newspapers" said Miss Haldeman.
have given out the impression that
I am a philanthropist and have spent
large sums for the miners. This is not
true. 1 am business woman and
while l purchased those seven acres
they are good investment. Miners
don't need financial assistance. They
are as well qualified as any set of peo-
pie in the world to care for themselves
from a financial standpoint. am
merely trying to aid them in learning
how to aid one another"
About Environment
They are content with their lot
because of their environments point
ing to nothing else. l am merely try
ing to change the environment and
this will create discomfort and
arouse the community spirit and de-
termination to cast aside old amuse-
ments and seek new. 1 do not ap-
prove of the public dances b11t that