The sun., 1919-02-15
IRENE CLUB GIRLS
OBSERVE BIRTHDAY
Famous Organization Cclc-
brates Its Thirty-fourth
Anniversary.
TOKEN FOR MRS. SPEYER
President, Made III by War
Work, Left a Sick Bed to
Attend Fete.

Young girls and gray haired girls.
little girls and big girls. gathered to
honor the founders OF the Irene Club. the
pioneer working girls society Of New
York. which celebrated It's thirty-hfth
| anniversary last night in the West Side
Y. w. c. A. There are not many OF
the original sponsors left. but Mrs.
James Speyer. who has been a mainstay
OF the club since she helped organize II
with eight members, was there. although
| she got out Of sick bed to come, and the
girls of the club surprised her with a
handsome loving cup on which were en-
graved words of esteem and affection.
Mrs Speyer has but recently been
elected president OF the Irene Club. All
tho years past she has been treasurer
The cup was presntd to her by one of the
first working girls TO be enrolled, Miss
Sarah Greenthal of 1890 Amsterdam
| avenue. And in addition to the loving
cup a huge bouquet of red roses was
given to Mrs Speyer. Roses were also
given to Mrs. e. A Buchanan. the new
treasurer. and Miss Jessie Patterson,
both Of whom have been Identified with
| the club since its early period.
where Club Cot It's Name.
Girls Of all ages participated in the
anniversary programme. Several OF the
old time members. now gray with years,
| took part In the songs and tableaux de-
plotting the history of the club, which
was named Irene a. memorial TO the
| first member to die, Irene Tracey, and
also because Irene signifies peace-and
| peace because the Irene is the only or
ganization of its kind which does not
| require bylaws or rules and regulations
- a
the Thirty-eighth Street Working Girls
Club, with quarters at 22S West Thirty
eighth street
| Organized by Mrs, Speyer. Miss Grace
Dodge and Mrs Richard Irwin. Il has
been the inspiration Of number Of the
city's most notable working girl insti-
buttons From a membership OF eight
II has grown to approximately 400. The
purpose OF the club was to teach needle
work. millinery. cooking, bookkeeping
and other vocational pursuits and 10
provide entertainment and social diver
sions And as the club grew older and
members married domestic circle was
formed for the married members to as
| sist the club sponsors. And, although
most of the pioneer members were pres
ent last night with the domestic cir
cle," there was a good number of girls
| in attendance who have belonged to
the club proper since Its earliest years.
Members Daughter Entertains.
The entertainment started of with
Muriel Schumacher. the child OF char
ter member. Mrs. Mae Schumacher. pan
tomiming tho birth OF the Irene. She
rocked a doll baby in a tiny cradle and
lsped a poem written by her mother
about the first years OF the society. Then
there was a tableaux by Mrs. Buchanan,
who, from the day the club first came
into being has been known as little
mother" She was seated between two
pupils OF the bygone day. Mss Margaret
Stock and Miss Mary Degenhard, who,
although advanced in years. are still
members OF the club They recited girl
ish verse, and were dressed as girls and
for all their looks and manners were still
TIE girls they were when taught by Mrs.
Buchanan back there in the old Thirty
eighth street club place.
written on occasion OF another ami
| versary OF the Irene (the club Is fond
OF anniversaries, being Jealous OF its I'M
! mortality. Weakened by ceaseless
charity efforts Mrs. Speyer had fallen
in her Fifth avenue home. sustaining in
juries which confined her to bed. from
| which she had risen last night for the
| first time In order to attend the ami
Nersary celebration. Mrs. Gertrude
| Poole another charter member. IN a
voice that would never have betrayed
her years, sang Aud Lang Syne."
The rest OF the programme was de-
| there were girls from knee dresses &c
gray locks who sang and danced and
| ecited and pantomimed to picture the
history OF the Irene