The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-05


board of the organization is located in
New York City, having the supervision
of work all over the United States and
under that board are ii fields Miss
Gary is employed in the town and coun-
try work as field secretary. Vermont
lies in the northeastern field.
A specialist has been secured for rec
reation work, etc, and, having the ma
chinery and workers, the national board
comes into Vermont The recent girls
meeting in Rutland brought forth a
spontaneous response. Out of that came
a demand for teachers conference,
which will be held at Bishop Hopkins
hall, Burlington, the last week of June
and first week in July.
There is now demand for help for
the recreation leader, who will have one
or two months in Vermont this summer,
mapping out plans. Groups of towns
may put on pageants or like affairs.
Girls need more physical training and
their leaders are not always resourceful.
They must bring the play spirit back.
Special work will be attempted this year
with the high school girls, and women in
industry is another phase which must be
| touched.
The work is slow and not spectacular,
but the building Of the idea will be sure.
Wise leadership is needed and the rest is
assured.
Child Welfare Report.
| Miss Berenice 4. Tuttle of Mortified
presented her report for the department
of child welfare, saying that a health
campaign had been started in the towns
of Vermont, feature of which was the
weighing and measuring of children.
This was great factor in finding defects
and remedying them. In 80 towns in
the state this weighing and measuring
campaign was carried on. 1t has been
year of advance for the children of
Vermont, especially for dependent chill
| dren Publicity is an important factor
| in the work Miss futile made %
speeches during the year, with SO visits
| in 40 towns on different calls for chill
dren's welfare During February and
March Miss Pease of Burlington can
vassed the state to find out conditions
following the epidemic of influenza and
her Investigations showed that by the
| disease 90 women were left widows with
267 children, As men were left widowers
with 100 children and 90 children were
left full orphans. The special work of
looking after these cases was undertaken
| at once.
Because Of the many children left
| without suitable homes, a call was is
sued asking communications from any
who would adopt them and responses
| have come from 20 towns. Another step
taken is the securing of provision by
which no more girls are to be sent from
poor farms to the reformatory at Yer
gennes simply to get them away from
| their own towns into an institution,
Clubs and individuals must devote them
selves to the interests OF the children.
Rural Communities Needs.
Rural Communities Needs" was the
top'c of the report of Mrs. f. /. Ingalls,
of Burlington, who stated that addition
al emphasis had been placed in the past
year on rural schools, teachers, transpor-
tation and social work, although the in
huenza prevented much action for a time.
All the clubs in the federation are doing
community betterment work, such as
providing or urging the employment of a
| district nurse or school nurse; and by
co operation everywhere Montpelier has
Community club with 1874 members
One club in the state reports a junior
activities club for boys and girls, which
leads in social work.
| Sane supervisors are needed in rural
| communities and the summer months
are good for social activities There Il
a special field for community recreation
al departments. Community singing has
proved helpful in many localities.
Art Department.
Mrs. Edward G. Smith Of ST. Adams
not being present, her report as chair
man Of the art department was read by
the recording secretary, Mrs. l., d. Wheel.
er of White River junction. The special
work Of the art department in the past
| wear has been the establishment OF a
linen weaving industry in ST. Adams, a
class having been established there tive
years ago in which several young women
were taught the art and now they are
turning out product that is recognized
as exceptionally fine. besides giving the
women profitable and pleasing trade
Such articles as tray cloths, luncheon
4 sets and everything in the finer line OF
| linen pieces are made in st. Adams, the
principal market for them being in New
York City, where the quality of the work
| is so appreciated that Mrs. Smith has
been asked to make an exhibit of ii in
that city. Almost fabulous prices are
| realized for the articles Mrs. Fiske
who taught the girls, has also perfected
vegetable dyes so that some very fine
shades have been produced for use in the
weaving process. Private individuals
have financed the work
Recital Last Evening.
An enjoyable organ recital and must
Gale preceded last nights meeting, con-
sisting of three organ numbers by Miss
| GLADYS Gale. two violin selections by