Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-08
Mrs. Hoover Given
Life Membership
In PIT. Congress
Attends Luncheon and
Session at Hotel; Dele
gates Enthusiastic.

Mrs. Herbert Hoover was made life
member of the National Congress Of
Parents and Teachers today, an honor
which the First Lady of the Land CRATE
fully accepted, because, as she explained
to the enthusiastic delegates, she has
nurtured secret fear that being a
grandmother might bar her from re-
neWing her existing membership in the
organization for another year.
The bestowal of the life membership
by Mrs. S. M. N. Mars, national presi-
dent, came as a pleasant surprise for
Mrs. Hoover at the conclusion of the
mornings session in the Washington
Hotel. Mrs. Hoover came early and
evinced her interest in the work the
parents and teachers are doing to pre-
serve American home and school rela-
tionships by remaining throughout the
session.
She returned at o'clock to attend
the Rural Life luncheon, at which Sec
rotary of Agriculture Arthur M. Hyde
presented, as a reward for the most
meritorious service rendered by State
to the work of the national organiza-
ton during the year, an historic gavel
to Mrs. A. F. Ranger, president of the
Florida State Federation Of Parent
Teacher Association.
form with the national officers at the
business session. told the delegates that
while she was happy to attend the ses-
sion, she had done so In her own right
as regular member of the orgal.iza-
ton.
AS she was about to resume her seat
Mrs. MARI presented her with a GER
tificate. Now we want Mrs Hoover to
be life member and wear our emblem"
the national president said in present.
ing it.
Suggests New Order.
Mrs. Hoover in graciously accepting
the compliment, implied that she really
should belong to a grandparent-teacher
association.
You know" she added, Gin the nat
ural course of human events I have
felt that I would have graduated out
OF my association during the coming
year"
Mrs. Hoover's reference to being a
grandparent caused a ripple of merri-
ment TO pass over the crowded hall. in
which she joined herself.
Now you can feel safe In being
great grandmother" Mrs. Mars told
Mrs. Hoover expressed regret that
she could not attend the Founders
dinner Monday evening, but added that
she was very pleased you let me come
TO this discussion and have given me
an idea what it is all about"
AT the rural life luncheon, presided
over by Miss Florence E. Ward. in
charge Of extension work of the East
ern states, Department Of Agriculture,
many leaders in rural work were among
the guests. These included, besides
Secretary Hyde, Senator Capper of
Kansas, William John Cooper, Commits
sioner of Education; Mrs. Mars, the
national president; Mrs. Giles Scott
Rafter, District of Columbia president;
Mrs. A. H. Reeve, president of the In
ternational Federation of Home and
School, and Miss Julia D. Conner. as
sociate director Of the bureau of rural
life.
Speeches Are Made.
Three-minute speeches on the high
points in the open country from many
States We're given, under the leadership
of Miss Connor.
The gavel which Secretary HYDE pre-
sented to Mrs. Fanger of Florida will
go to the parent-teacher groups of Pr
nellaS County as having carried out
most completely the program LAID down
for the year by the national congress.
The handle OF the gavel Is made from
a tree grown at Mount Vernon
and the head from timber taken from
the White House.
Mrs. Fanger in her report on work in
Florida said that from an estimated
number of rural families with children
in school about 2,538, SO per cent, were
members OF some parent-teacher aSso-
citation.
This afternoon Mrs Mars will pre-
side at a tree-planting program at
Mount Vernon and tonight the Gold
Star" dinner of the Child Welfare Mag
azine and editors will be held.
Home Engineering Topics.
Mrs. Lillian Gilbreath, engineer, of
Montclair, N. j., the principal speaker
at last nights session, spoke on "Engi-
neering the Home" in which she ex-
planned the application of scientific
methods in home relations.
Among the things she said must be
done is to conserve and develop the
beauty and furnish leisure and inter-
est with which to enjoy it" in the
home.
The engineer is interested not only in
the skill which makes 1t possible to run
a home effectively, and to handle the
human relations within the home
smoothly. she said, but also in the
Satisfactions which accrue from all
these activities.
The meeting was followed bv
recreation hour, in which the delegates
were taught new games and methods
of recreation by Miss Loula C. Woody.
field leader Of Recreation and PIay.
grounds Athletic League, Baltimore.