Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-10
DESCRIBES FIELD THAT WAR
 OPENED FOR WoMEN,s WoRI

VII bH0HIE EN . VOElN
 An inspiring talk on Woman's Work in the World was given by Miss Mary l.. Benton of Carleton college, | Minnesota, at the January meeting of the Park church parish house associa- ton held Friday afternoon at 2.S0 at | the Osgood Memorial. Miss Benton used as the basis for her remarks the work done in devastate France by the Young Womens Christian association | during and since the war.
 Mrs Allen Latham, the president 4 | called the meeting to order, and after the minutes of the November and De- cember meetings had been read by the 1 secretary, Mrs. James A. Bidwell, the l president stated that a series of ten 1 cent teas. in general charge of Mrs. John $. Blackmar, was being planned, | and called attention to the annual 1 meeting, preceded by supper at 6.30, to | be held this month. It was voted on motion of Mrs. George D. Colt to send l money and clothing as soon as possi- | ble to a home missionary in which the l church is interested. The chair ap- | pointed Mrs. James A. Bidwell to the l office of vice president which Mrs. l Herbert R. Branche has resigned. The vacancy of secretary, so well and | capab4y taken by Mrs. Bidweu for I three years, will be filled by Mrs. Ray mond B. Sherman.
 | The musical entertainment for the afternoon was furnished by Mrs. William Grove. who sang Drink to Me 1 Only With Thine Eyes and Some Day. Mrs. Groves lovely fresh soprano voice was heard to best. advantage in l her songs. accompaniments for which were artistically played by Miss Olive Linton.
 Mrs. Latham introduced Miss Ben ton, who gave graphic descriptions as her talf progressed of trips taken in military automobiles over Paris, of one night spent on a desolate battleefild in l her motor car which had stuck fast in the mud, of de5olation such as a hundred years of earthquakes, fires and deluge could no equal.
 1 Miss Benton's official position in France was one of the two delegates appointed by the American colleges to select the young French women | who were to come to America for scholarships. One hundred and four ten young women were Selecetd for further study at American universi ties, each ono the possessor of her own degree. While in Paris, during her leisure time, Miss Benton became in terested in the work of the Y. w. c. A., and it was as volunteer worker of that organization that she visited Lille and the other ruined towns. This organization has done an enormous amount of good in France. not only hpysicaTly and spiritually, but mental ly, for the French women, wonderful 1 as they are. have never learned that get-together spirit which so charac- terizes Americans, and all great move mentS must start that way to be sue cessful. The French girls and women made magnificent workers as individ-
 uals, but the institutions of France had not developed the same feeling of oneness we know in our country. Once developed they made great strides in their common work together. At Lille conditions were 'thoroughly investigated. The Red Cross and the Belgian relief were already there. who , reported that the greatest suffering 7 during the four years of the German army of occupation had been among
 the young girls. many of whom A through etrror will remain all their l lives in a state of arrested childhood" induced by frightfuI condition The
 people in Lille loved the Americans, and when asked why. invariably re- piled Because they fed us!' Lille is is at standstill Wars sudden ten sion, terrific action and long waits have induced idleness; the government is anxious about the situation. as the
 people seem to be all too willing to remain dependent on what is called "idleness wages" The moral upheaval is noticeably unhealthy.
 Lithuania also is calling for help. A part of Russian Poland before the war, it declared it's independence be- fore the armistice. hut has been unable to rnair+ain it T7+a Gerroans now permit them to rule. but hold the rail
 roads and telegraph wires, so are practically masters. Miss Benton in company with the Countess Laura Turczynowicz was one of the two first women of the allies to cross the Ger
 man border after the war, carving sixteen boxes of Red Cross supplies, a box of surgical instruments and a little food. all the Swiss government would permit. In this way they brought the message to the Lithuani- ans. who had waited for four years to learn that great-hearted America was thinking of them.
 The conditions in Lithuania have been terrible and very little hase been done fo rthem. Serbia and Roumania need our help and Armenia most of all Conditions there beggar descrip-
 tion, and still, some optimists think the war is over. Far from itis De- it takes years to rebuild. We put bil- lions of dollars into the destruction
 of our fellow men through munitions, and now-the work of reconstruction has it's demands. financially, also.
 It is scarcely fifty years since wo- men entered into her rights of educa- tion. and now. the dawn of day has come. It is wonderful how woman s work had begun to establish itself be- fore the war, and how the war devel- oped it. Now that there is so much to do, we can't afford to fall back into apathy and contentment. Woman's $ work for women should actuate us in America. Through the Y. w. c. A
 and the churches we can send our power to the ends of the earth. en- riching our own lives thereby. beyond belief,
 Ayr Miss Benton's stimulating me Oge, on motion of Mrs. Edward J
 Granam, a rising vote of thanks was given by her appreciative audience
 Another charming ballad, Felice was then sung by Mrs. Grove, after which [ the meeting adjourned.
 Ring Market Incorporated. The new Ring market in one of the . | Thayer building stores which is soon