The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-04-05
WOMAN HAS MUCH
TO LEARN But IS
COMING RAPIDLY
That is Maud Van Buren's
View of Her Status i'll
Civics.

Maud Van Buren,, national civic
worker, who is spending several days
in this city in professional capacity.
told the members OF the Womans club
yesterday afternoon in an address on
Practical CivicS, before that body. that
woman's natural quickness to act was
sometimes, in fact often, a bad asset
in civic work. She affirmed that wo-
men often jumped into civic reform
without first determining whether the
project undertaken was not already un.
der The jurisdiction oil some part ol the
city government board or whether the
thing undertaken was really AN essen
tial factor in the life of the commun.
ity. Essentials must be separated from
non essentials, she affirmed, before eff
fective civic work could be done She
also pointed out the TACT that women
so often In their civic work preferred
TO "go it alone rather than TO seek
operation of men, and thus gain the
advantage of mems generations OF eX
perience along municipal governments
j al lines.
( She spoke with pride Of the change
whihc had taken place in American
wonens clubs in the last decade.
Where clubs were formerly devoted
to the study OF Greece and her myth
ology their attention YVES now directed
to garbage and its disposal. Women,
she affirmed, are the natural house
keepersand she believed that the day
is not far in the future where every
up.to.date town and city will have a
municipal housckecper She further
declared that woman, practical
home keeping woman, is the only per-
son suited to such an office.
Miss Van Buren, stated that IN her
drives about the city during her visit
here she had noted with pleasure that
Fairmont ia not dirty town. 1t is true
she admitted, that there are some UNI
slightly places but they are not filthy
places. Too many fences, she said,
and too many tumble down shacks on
property detracted from the beauty of
our up hilIish and down daleish
town.
Miss Van Buren, referred with regret
TO the fact that civic work among wo-
men was more generally taken up by
the leisure class of women, to whom
sucn work meant little in personal
way. She urged that the cooperation
of all women be gained in this work,
and that the work be not done for those
who needed il with with them. CIvics
taught in the public schools on prac'
teal basis would be a great factor i'll
solving the civic problem, she de-
cla-ed.
The meeting yesterday which open
ed with a luncheon at one o'clock
brought TO an end the present club
year. Mrs. James y. Meredith, presi-
dent of the club, who has been re-elect-
ed to the office presided at the meet
ing Yesterday. Before the close Oh
the meeting she spoke briefly OF the
satisfaction she felt at the result OF
the wears work and OF her hope Tor
fuller achievement in the year to come
A saxtette from the High school chorus
nnder the direction Of Miss Ethel Mae
Horseman. supervisor of music IN tne
nubiic schools, sang two selections the
Sextette from Lucia" and Loves oiu
sweat Song" The seXtette is com
noscd of Pauline Graham, first so
nrano: Katherine Schaefer. second
soprano: Ruby Morgan, first alto'
cojdie Hartley, second alto; James
Knight. tenor, and Arthur Arthur FISH
ar baritone. Miss Katharine moore
was accompanist. The selections were
heard with pleasure by the audience
Several newTmembers were receiVS =,
.,esterday as follows, Mesdamcs c. r.
yebr son, Cecil jenkins, E. 7. Brown
GSrafton), 7. L. Henderson, 7 y. len Hen
Ssrson, r A. Hunsskar, Frank Neeley'
Ered RAIDER, Glenn Hamilton, Mrs L
a Henry, Miss Mary Ellen Henry.