The Mena weekly star., 1917-06-14

| tAiV0 tAiV AAA litAAf AiNttAlA AAAl oAtAA 7 summers heat, for refuge yearning, for a cool retreat, wilt thou not re- turning. come to Mena, come to stay. to thy friends proclaiming Here I'd live aIway." The first re- fram was Welcome, Ladies, Mena's latch string hangs outside; welcome, Ladies. Mena's doors are open wide, and the concluding refrain was. Welcome. Ladies of the A. F. W. C., welcome, Ladies, come and bide a wee'r
 Serious Matters. Too.
 The reception was not all socia- blity and pleasure, however, for following the songs. Mrs. r. W. Peel, president of the District Fed eration, introduced ]. D. Wilson, the demonstration agent of eastern Ben on county. and formerly connected with the Missouri State University ill the extension work. who spoke on The Womans Part in the Great War Speaking from years of ex- perienee and from careful and close study of the war conditions during the last three years, Mir Wilson had a serious message which he pre- sented with an earnestness that left no doubt of his sincerity. While ile indicated no distinctive part which the women of the land are to take in the great world crisis in which our country has been in- Nolyed, he pointed out that she would have part in all kinds of work to be done, suggesting that in the final analysis the women, as during the wars of the past, would bear the greater part Of the burden of war Al this tiiae 9f preparation, he pointed out that 1t was woman's part to encourage sons and fathers to do their full duty to the eoun- try; teach them that it is a priyi- lege Go offer ones life as a sacrifice to ones country in this great struggle of democracy against au- tOcracy. each woman fully realiz- ing that when she sent her hus- band and sons to war she would be making a still greater sacrifice by remaining behind to keep the home fires burning and do her bit to keep the industries of the country in op- eration. Mir. Wilson became par tieularly serious when he reminded his hearers that from his study he had concluded that this war would not be an after-breakfast fight, but that the chances were that it would be so long drawn out that in course of time. men of his age and those even older would be called upon to register for service, even as the young men between the ages of 2i and 3i years did on June ,. In such event. he impressed upon his hearers. woman's part would be Herculean. but that she, like in the past. would he equal to the emer- gency and that she would do her part and suffer even more than the men and boys in the trenches and on the firing line.
 The social feature of the recep- tion was again taken up at the close of Mr. Wilson's address the guests being invited to the reception room of the Home. where under the di- recfion of Mesdames Eugene Cox. C. B Nall. W. A. Finks and F. l. Baker. a hevy of young ladies consisting of Misses Emily pipkin, Margaret Gill more, lone Goff Bessie Roberts. Miriam Smith. Mae Parker and Gus sic Mcdonald, served the guests with ice cream and wafers. each plate being decorated with min- ature flag
 Thursday Sessions.
 Much of both the morning and aft ernoon sessions Thursday were taken up by the reports of the various affiliated clubs. and these were so fuii Of the enthusiasm of accom- piishment as to be far from those dry. matter-of-fact reports gener- ally expected and often realized They showed that, almost without exception, the women of the Fort Smith district are taking serious view of life's work, are putting forth great efforts in community. civic and like work. apparently looking more for their own development thru leading others forward than thru more narrow lines of club study.
 One club reports raising a large fund for a depot site in it's city, an other fund for oil on streets. An other secured domestic science and