Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-03-14
Dear Awnf3Madge:

i nave bcCh AceAsRcat 49, "e'$>e~A
for the column, past all excuses. have.
however, composed many letters in my
mind, holding: interesting conversations,
mentally, with the sisters, - their letters
interested me with different topics, but,
strange to say, such mental Intentions
do not seem to I'LL the spaces they should
in the column, so.I will "take my pen In
handr Tor better or worse results.
It was limited that might possibly give
some description OF the work OF the State
grange in bangor last month. don't
know whether any other member OF the
Mutusls besides myself ever attends these
gatherings, or whether those not Patrons
would be interested. Like any other great
convention, itlmust be attended to get the
real meaning Of what the grange signifies.
To many, who know nothing OF the
scope for work OF the grange, 1t 10 supposed
to be OF interest only to farmers, and to
deal altogether with farming problems.
This 10 . mistake, for while It 10 distinctly
an agricultural organisation, its work 10
not for agriculture alone, but for any and
ali interests affecting the rural communi-
ties OF the entire nation. These interests
embrace education, amusements, good
roads, and other means OF transportation,
mail service, political and Legislative work,
Temperance, food materials, manufactures,
etc-
Those who judge the grange in general
BY some Inc ncient local sgrange, or BY
some unworthy member, should zee the
hundreds OF member assembled in the
State or national bodies, representative
men and women from the Pomona and
Subordinate grsngss and towns, engrosssd
In the work Of the order, to realize the
possibilities Of great usefulness along the
linss mentioned.
The session ct Bangor was most interest,"
ing. Apart from ths usual business and
discussious, always Of interest. there were
Aas so,oasss, pisnists, rsadsfs and quar-
tsts 70 furnish entsftsInmsnt, and an
dsfst6od Tat Ill th16s had bssn developed
In thar rsspsctivs GranRsa- Grhis u ~ no
means ths least important feature OF
grange work, ths development OF talents
that othsrwiss might always remain iatsne
for want Of uss. The literary feature OF the
grange makes 1t training school for its
msmhszs foe pablic usefulness
A msmbsf OF the national grange was
present ct this ssssiou, one Of the highest
o6scials, and truly thoss who heard his
address have somsthing :: to remember.
Such talsut 10 mot given TO many, or
often combined with lsuch pleasing psr-
sonality.
Ths dslsgatss to thsse State conventions
are the masters Of subordinate and Po-
mona gr.ngss and thsir wives, who thus
have tbs pleasure Of . trip together to
soma large city (for only the largest citiss
OF tbs State can now entsrtain these meet
ings). tbs change Of few days / = the city
ct the time OF the Christmas holidays,
whom the stores are beautifully decorated,
Q chance to do their Chfistmas shopping.
besides the pleasure Of meeting old
friends and making new ones, and the
educational privileges OF the session.
All this about the grange, and I still
fesl like writing - much more on other
topics that are touched upon in the column,
but will spare you those till another time.
1 had letter all planned on that Sim
personal attitude" sketch referred to, and
quoted from, BY Aunt Madge, and there
10 enough left yet to furnish . text.
thought it true to life. Everyone nearly
knows the evaporation Of having ones
personal defects thus commented on. We
could occasionally forget that we were
growing fat or old or gray, thin or deaf
or whatevsr, IL only these thoughtless