Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-30
VERMONT WOMEN
MEET FOR CONFERENCE
Representatives Of Various Or.
kanisatiens Explain Their In
&tyiduai Lines of Work and
Lpek with Favor On a State
Y, w. G. A.

- WI W 1hS
A very enthusiastic conference of
wSAaeA interested IN the work Of the
young Wemen's Christian association
WAS heA IN the pafloie OF the New sher-
weed Hetel Tuesday, about 30 women
ffeM all over the State being present.
Hhe meeting opened at A e'eieeh with a
aevetisAal service, led by Mrs. W. j.
Van fAtteA. Mrs. nj. d. Chittenden,
whe Dreaded, then outlined briefly the
purpose OF the meeting, saying that rep
FeseAtAtives Of the ainfefent ersaniza-
tfsAs had been called together TO ex-
plain their Individual lines Of work and
to plan 10 cooperate for the good of all.
1Ae sAid that Vermont women were for.
tNhAte IN having with them at their con-
ference Mies Anna NJ, Clark, northeast
era flela secretary, OF New York city, and
Misa Mary Dunbar, secretary Of the war
Werk council Of the 7. W. c, A" New
England divislen, OF Boston, Az the
{llAt speaker ehe Introduced Misc Mabel
Seathwie& who answered the question,
SlA Vermont ready for the Y. w, G, Az
Niles Seathwtck said that It could be
answered IN the affirmative very en-
phatieally, Judging from the wistful way
she was asked, while travelling In the In
terest Of the Y, W c, A. war work coun-
ell Il there was later going to be a
Y, w, e, A. She said that the southern
part Of the State seemed to he moro ia
mtliar with the Y W, e, A. than the
northern probably because tho people
there were nearer larger centers whore
associations already were established,
These girls understand the work and
want the association. but those Of the
northern part need It even more and
many az them have never heard Of the
Y. W, c. A.
II hope" said Miss Southwick. THAT
the girls OF every one Of those comfort.
able towns In the south half Of the
State may enjoy the privileges Of 7. W
c. A. OF course, I'd like to have Bur.
linston have Y. W. c, A., also st
Albans, Montpelier. Newport. Morrisvillt
and their like. but the girls for whom
I'd like to make q special plea, at thu
risk Of encroaching upon Mrs. Watkins
subject. are those girls, more prevalent
In northern than southern Vermont, whit
live In those little isolated settlements o.
on those farms miles and miles from an,
other dwelling. with only the hills 70
neighbors. I know that to some of thos'
women they are the lonely hills rathe
than the friendly hills"
Miss Southwick told OF the almost un
believable conditions she had found, boy
who had gone to war unable 20 read ant
write. etc, The war" she said. IVA
probably a blessing In disguise for som
Of those boys and the many others VIII
had had a little schooling, but hardl
knew that there was a world outsid
their own little sphere. But their sister
haven't had such a revelation. If tn
boys return. are they going TO be rathe
contomptous Of those girls because Q
their Ignorance? To such girls the Y. "
c. A. would be a real fairy god-mother.
Mn 6outhWick told of the lonely farm
hou8es she had seen ON the side of almos
fmpasBable roads and also of the grez
enthuaiasm these people showed In carry
ing through any drive to he,p win II
war. She told of the civic Improvement
which had come in some Of TIE sma
towns. slowly but surely and said II
Of succeas- '.This is the opportune mt
ment." she said, ''for the establishmeI
Of tho Y. w. c. A in Vermont. I b,
lieve that we want to catch that wa
ensendered enthusiasm on the reboun
stirred by the war to almost a frena
Of self-sacrince, and with the exalt<
feeling that came from working for sue
q cause with such a splendid union of q
ages, classes and sects, there came ali
a greater understanding OF and sympati
with humanity and its needs. Wherev
one went there seemed to be prevails
the spirit Of Tiny Tim with his 20,
! ble65 us everyone"
: Miss Anna M. Clark followed MI
: 8outhwick with an explanation Of VIII
constitutes town and country work. MI
Clark said that she had been workh
Mt some OF tho concentration camps a
told of The work which ia done by t
Y. W. c. A. there. She told of the e
thusiasm with which the girls In tho
small towns near the camps WELDON
the association and gave a general i'd
of the programs carried out In the tow
She said that everywhere no matter WI
was suggested for the girls to do. tn
| had something bigger and better tn
wanted to do.
There Is a certain idealism," said M
Clark. running through our women a
girls to-day that we must catch and u
One thing we need now is world sy
pathy. The fact that OAR President
in France now shows that, and our be
have fought side by side with q natio
We cannot take our place in the wo
- . democracy unless the women poss
d world sympathy. We must be rea
for the boys when they come back.
must prepare our girls for that hor
coming and must make a new drive
wholesome recreation. and we must g
our girls and women a new idea Of wo
ANA 1f.tt -It Lo<.
made between the individuals and
world.
Another problem we are to face is t
OF the unmarried woman. There Is
physical motherhood and spirit
motherhood. The unmarried won
should develop that spiritual motherh
and be a mother to the whole conn
nifty. Another thing we women must
Is to start crusade against wrong
for right.
". w. c. A. work in Vermont
town and country work for that dc
with all towns of a population un
$4,000" Miss Clark outlined the
ganization of the Y. w. c. A. and $
that instead of one secretary for Ell
Btates there would now be eight
retaries. She described a play day
New York State and one in New
sey whore the Y. w. c. A. and
church ran such a day together. :
are dreaming" she said Of a great
woms<fnoUu in this country worthy
be Americans and we must realize
dream"
Miss Bertha Terrill gave talk
fThe Opportunity the Y W. C. A.
with the Vermont Girl" Miss TIE
said that she knew from expert
Just what life of a Vermont girl {
farm was. She said, II believe
In