The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-13
TELLS Of SMITH
COLLEGE UNIT
Mrs. Harriet B. Halves Re-
counts Relief Work
in France
ACTIVITIES OF
Is YOUNG WOMEN
Address Before Brattleboro Woman's
Club Largely Attended in Masonic
Temple-Business Session and Mu-

Club Largely Attended in Masonic
Temple-Business Session and Mu-
steal Program.
The hall of Masonic temple was we'll
He'd yesterday afternoon when the
Brattleboro Woman's club presented its
nnual education day program, which
onsisted of several musical selections
nd talk by Mrs. Harriet Boyd Halves,
tho was responsible for forming the
smith College Relief Unit of Is young
omen and who had charge of the unit
5hen it went to France in August, 1917
In the brief business session which
receded the program nominating COM
1ittee was elected, consisting of Miss
larry Croker, chairman, Mrs. J. Z. Rog-
rs and Mrs. c. G. Staples, and announce
nents were made by Mrs. G. L. Stickney
oncerning the address, My Home in the
ield of Honor, by LaBaronne Huard. to
)e given at an open meeting in the Audi
orium March 26, and the Daughters day
netting April ,, when daughters of the
lembers will furnish the program.
Miss Mary IIutehins, chairman of the
lusic committee OF the club had charge
the musical program which consisted
f patriotic choruses led by Miss Hutch
rs, Miss Marion Greene, Mrs. A. II.
Brasor, Miss Julia Filion, Mrs Arthur L.
Maynard and Rev. DIR. Herbert p Wood
n. with Miss Izetta Stewart as accompa-
list Miss Greene and Miss Ifutchins then
ang two verses OF Battle Hymn of the
Republic, the audience joining in the
'horus, and Miss Julia Filion rendered
hree vocal solos, accompanied by Mrs.
Arthur p. Carpenter at the piano.
After being introduced by Mrs. Halbert
L. Waterman, president OF the club, Mrs.
Halves told of being asked to speak of her
experiences i'll France III the winters of
1915 and 1916 at luncheon of Smith
college ahImnae held in Boston April 10
1911, and of her giving her consent with
he stipulation that she should be allowed
o speak OF something very near her
ieart at the close of her talk. The sub
ect which she broached was the Smith
ollege unit. and her suggestion for the
init met with the. hearty approval from
| he start, and the idea was adopted by
! he Alumnae ASSOCIATION in June. the unit
tarting for France in August, 1917.
She gave a brief description of Gre
/ curt, where the unit was established
/ fter landing with about 40 houses anC
IS church built i'll 1887. She told of th'
| destruction of the houses, the church be
'ng left in fair condition. and the popu
'ation lived in stables. She said severa
| rillages in that section were in differen
! 'ogrees of destruction, it being the plal
| the Germans in that part to tell al
eoople in seven or eight villages to as
omble in one of them and then for tire
'ays aud nights they destroyed the vii
'ges by explosions.
Mrs Halves gave a brief description 0
4 the portable buildings which were sen
from America for the use of the unit; c
he plan OF the unit in visiting other vi
lagos on fixed days, and Of the way
which they ministered to the peasant
lot through giving them clothing an
,ther articles, but by selling many {
hesc articles at greatly reduced pric
The first things the people bought, 81
aid, were kitchen articles; then can
toclincs and shoes, especially for ii
hidren. 1t was a noticeable fact, 81
n aid, that the French women did M
want poor materials, apparently belize
ng it was better economy to buy bett'
.rade as it would wear much longer. A
though little has been done in the way
rebuilding. The unit has done much in Il
way of distribution of furniture, bed
mattresses, etc, some coming throus
he Red Cross and the government.
IN mentioning the work with childri
he speaker told Of those in charge e
,ecting GO the first day but that /
anne, and that the number continued
Increase. A gift OF $1,000 has been r
'eived' by The unit TO he invested in bool
! 20 take the place Of those lost at t