The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-03
session Was Convened This Morning
at the Home of the President
n Reports Were
Submitted.
REPORT APPLICATIONS
They Were Placed on the WAITING
List as Home is FiIIed-New
Years Dinner served
Tuesday.

The Benevolent Union met this
morning in regular monthly session
at the home Of the president, Mrs. d.
IA. Collier, who presided. Mrs. j. N.
ID. Dickinson made the secretary's re-
port and Mrs. B. F. Jones the financial
report. Mrs. Collier reported for the
executive committee that two appli-
cations have been received during the
month from old ladies wishing to
come into the home of whom one will
be a life member. The home is al
ready full and these were added to the
waiting list. Mrs. E. s.. Baker and
Mrs. j. J.. Ayres who had charge. Of
the Christmas celebration at the home,
reported that there was an extra din
ner provided and each member of the
household had a gift, a plant for their
room.
lnrs. c. F. Mcfarland reported for
the house committee giving details of
the maintenance of the home during
the month. Mrs. Baker reported that
the social committee for the month
Mrs. II. A. Gray, Mrs. J. c. Carpenter.
Mrs. o. c.. Bot, had provided the New
Years dinner, instead Of having social
afternoon for those in the home. The
dinner was given as a memorial for
. 81 duuulOIucI, WllOSc
birthday anniversary is New Years
day. Mrs. J. j. Chapman, as chairman
of the social committee gave a report,
as did the religious work committee.
Mrs. Collier cad the following Incl
dent which illustrates the need of such
homes as the one in Keokuk:
She was nearing seventy, but you
'could see that her skin had been
'peachy, and her slight figure spoke of
nervous activity. There was a look
almost Of guilt behind the gold spec
.tacles.
could you tell me where to get off
to go to the Nettleton Home?" she ask
ed the young woman who sat down
beside her. The young woman explain
ed that she would have to change from
the Rockhill to the Swope Park car.
Then came questions about the Nettle-
ton home, and finally a confession.
Il am running away" said the gray
haired woman, smiling rather rueful-
ly. you wouldn't think I'd do a thing
like that, would you. at my age? But
l am. You see I've got oddities. /
guess every old person has 'em. May
be I've got more than most.
But I'm tired Of living with my five
married children. Why, 1 don't really
live. I hardly get my trunk unpacked
before Margaret telephones that she'd
like to have me go over to her.house
a spell; she wants to go to town to the
Red Cross class and she don't like to
leave her daughters with just their
father and hired girl.
About that time, Jennie finds she is
going to have a houseful of company
and thinks it'll be pretty noisy for me.
OF course, I know she wants my room.
$50 it's move again, and someway, /
don't seem to have Any place that
seems like home. That's one Of my
oddities, not wanting to pick up and go
somewhere else right after I'm good
and settled. Then I miss my old
friends. None of EN- live near my
c%hildren's homes. I've got money and
If it doesn't cost too much I'm going
to settle down in the Nettleton Home.
1 believe I'll like it and if I can only
get everything all settled before any
of my children find out, I'll be hap
pier than I've been this long time"
The cheeks that had once been
peachy were flushed and she stepped
with sprightly firmness as she left the
car and walked toward the imposing