Clinton County, Ohio - Chapter 15: Women's Clubs and Fraternities, 1915

The Six-And-Twenty Club

A number of Wilmington ladies met at the home of Mrs. George W. Wire on October 11, 1898, called together at the suggestion of the hostess and Mrs. R. C. Stumm, that a club should be organized for general literary study and the circulation of books among the members. At this meeting Mrs. Stumm was elected president; Minnie Farren, secretary; Mrs. J. M. Moore, first. vice-president; Grace D. Browning, second vice-president; Mrs. G. W. Wire, treasurer. The plan of work adopted at that time has been changed but little during the seventeen pleasant years the club has worked together, and it is a remarkable fact that more than half the present members were present at its birth.

The first regular meeting was held on October 28, 1898, at the Browning home two weeks after the organization. Ellen H. Smith was a guest of the hostess, and, after a somewhat heated discussion as to a suitable name for the club, Miss Smith suggested "The Six-and-Twenty," that number having been decided as the limit of membership. The name was instantly adopted and Miss Smith made an honorary member. The following is the roll for the first year: Marshie Austin, Grace D. Browning (Mrs. R. T. Ballard), Mrs. F. D. Blair, Mrs. T. M. Burnett, Mrs. Bishop Dickinson, Minnie Farren, Henrietta Gardner, Mrs. H. H. Hague, Mrs. W. F. Hains, Mrs. C. Q. Hildebrant, Mrs. F. S. LaMar, Mrs. R. J. Lacy, Mrs. L..W. Lacy, Mrs. Susie R. Mory, Mrs. J. M. Moore, Mrs. F. S. Mills, Jessie Owens (Mrs. J. E. Orebaugh), Mrs. R. C. Stumm, Mrs. W. W. Savage, Mrs. C. W. Swaim, Emma M. Browning, Tacy Walker (Mrs. Austin Robinson), Wilmina Walker (Mrs. J. S. Kimbrough), Mrs. Charles Welch, Mrs. George W. Wire, Mrs. J. W. Sparks and Ellen H. Smith.

The Six-and-Twenty, while organized as a means of literary culture, has emphasized the social side of life. After the program is completed an hour is spent in conversation during the informal teas that it is the custom of the members to serve as they become hostesses in succession. The program consists of the usnal business - calling of the roll, reading of minutes, report of committees, etc., which usually is followed by a paper on the author and book assigned by lot to members at the annual business meeting. This is followed by a general discussion of the book by the club, and, while the utmost freedom of individual opinion is maintained, the esprit de corps of the club is one of its most delightful features. A leader of current events calls the attention of the members to the important questions of the day, and the members are again permitted a free discussion of subjects. At roll call it is expected that quotations will be given. The program is simetimes slightly changed, leaders preparing papers on other subjects when the author has previously been before the club. Bach member pays yearly dues, which cover the cost of books and running expenses. At the Clinton county centennial home-coming in August, 1910, the Six-and-Twenty Club was awarded the first prize of seventy-five dollars for the most beautiful float in the civic parade, and this sum is a nest egg for the future

The officers for 1915 are: Mrs. M. J. Farquhar, president; Mrs. J. E. Orebaugh and Mrs. W. G. Fisher, vice-presidents; Mrs. C. C. Nichols, secretary; Mrs. C. R. Burns, corresponding secretary; Mrs. C. W. Swaim, treasurer.

In all the years of its existence the club las lost but two members by death - Olive Linton Welch (1912) and Mary Lacy Wire (1914), and they are held in loying memory. To the Six-and-Twenty the members bring their best intellectual gifts and their warmest fealty, feeling that it is good to be there at every meeting. Incidentally, they feel that the club has meant a good deal to the community in the five hundred (approximately) carefully selected books that they have presented through the years to the Wilmington library.

The Wilmington Woman'S Civic League

The Civic League, a group of women imbued with the thought of the betterment of municipal conditions in Wilmington, has been the outgrowth of an idea first suggested by Mrs. Katherine Denver Williams, who has been president since the organization of the lengue. On March 17, 1911, a joint meeting of representatives of the three literary clubs - the Six-and-Twenty, the Conversation and the Progress - was held at the home of Mrs. E. J. Hiatt and the following committees were appointed: Lxecutive - Mesdames R. J. Lacy, C. W. Swaim, F. D. Blair. of the Six-and-Twenty Club: Mesdames C. R. Van Tress, N. E. Bennett and H. B. Farquhar. of the Progress Club, and Mesdames F. L. McDonald, J. L. McWilliams and Carrie Ent, of the Conversation Club. Ways and Means - From the Progress Club, Mesdames I. N. Lair. C. W. Austin and Virginia Martin; from the Conversation Club, J. T. Doan, IF. G. Williams and Effie Allen, and Mesdames K. D. Williams, G. W. Wire and Ellen H. Smith. from the Six-and-Twenty. Constitution - Mesdames Marshie Austin, C. L. Hildebrant and R. T. Ballard, from the Six-and-Twenty Club; Mesdames J. W. Frazer, D. IK. Hempstead and Lida Moon of the Progress Club, and Mesdames FE. J. Hiatt, Auber Peebles and G. M. Austin, of the Conversation Club. 'The following ladies signed the roll at the initial meeting: MWKatherine Denver Williams, Marshie Austin, Mabel C. Browning, Fanny D. McDonald, Ellen H. Smith, Virginia R. Peelle, Isabel Y. Peebles, Emma L. Blair, Harriet M. Hiatt, Grace D. B. Ballard, Estella W. Hempstead, Mary L. Wire, Bertha H. Doan and Effie Allen.

The form of the constitution was suggested by Marshie Austin and provided for an executive council, to consist of nine members, from which the usual officers would be chosen and which would act for the lengue between the quarterly meetings of the entire body. The members of the first council were Virginia Martin and Mesdames R. T. Ballard, H. L. Campbell, B. J. Hiatt, W. F. MeCoy, Auber Peebles, K. D. Williams and G. W. Wire. Mrs. Williams was elected president; Mrs. H. J. Hiatt, secretary, and Mrs. H. L. Campbell, treasurer. Mesdames Hiatt and Ballard have remained with Mrs. Williams on each succeeding council.

At the first meeting, garden contests, clean streets, the work of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a stricter observance of the ordinance against spitting on the side-walls, ete., were discussed and the work of the league has been along these lines, with many amplifications, ever since.

No membership dues have ever been charged, and the treasury has been kept up in various ways, rubber, rummage and provision sales providing the first money to be snent "for Wilmington," the watchword of the league.

On February 6, 1912, the league had the pleasure and honor of presenting to a Wilmington audience Madame Jane Osborn-Hanna, the distinguished epera and oratorio singer, who had gained an international reputation since leaving the town of her birth, where she is still lovingly remembered as Jenny Osborn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parker B. Osborn. The opera house was crowded and a royal reception was given this beautiful and talented woman. She was accompanied by Madame Katherine Lively. a Chicago pianist. Following the concert. a reception was held in Madame Hanna's honor in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge room. graciously offered for the oceasion, and hundreds of old friends greeted the prima donna. The jewels she wore were not brighter than the happy tears that made only more lovely her great brown eyes as she recalled names and faces familiar to her in her childhood. The receipts from this concert were five hundred fifteen dollars and eighty cents, Madame Hanna returning into the treasury her share of the proceeds. She is a life member of the league. The following year Madame Hanna's engagement permitted her to give another concert in Wilmington, and the triumphs of the first one were repeated. At this time a beautiful reception was given in her honor at the new Masonic temple. permitting the people of Wilmington an opportunity to see the handsome lodge rooms before they were dedicated to the uses of the -fraternity.

An important part of the work of the league has been the bringing to Wilmington of the highest class of musical and literary talent. Madame Lively gave a concert in 1912, a brilliant Russian violinist appearing with her. Marion Craig Wentworth, author of "War Brides," and a highly accomplished reader, presented Maeterlinek's "Blue Bird." Through the Edward's bureau. of Cincinnati. Wilmington audiences have enjoyed concerts by Bernard. violinist, and Julius Sturm. 'cellist. who rarely play out of their own city, and never before in so small a town. Walter Vaughan, the tenor singer, has appeared here twice under the auspices of the league, in 1915 in concert with Gretchen Morris, the young dramatic soprano. who was made doubly welcome from the fact that she is a grand-daughter of the late Isaac Morris. of Chester township, and a niece of the late R. C. Stwnm.

At the first fall 'festival in 1914. the league was invited by the Commercial Club to have charge of the home arts department. Two booths were provided. the entire frontage of the then postoffice building and the other across the street in front of the Egan building. These were crowded to their utmost capacity by the displays in cake. bread, butter, fancy work, canned fruits and jellies. An unprecedented fall of rain during the entire festival did not dampen the enthusiasm of either the Commercial Club or the Civic League in their highly successful show.

The league has been instrumental in bringing from the state board at Columbus men and women to talk on subjects of importance along lines of civic beauty and betterment, public health, ete. For two summers the league employed a man to keep the streets in the business part of town clean, and had its abundant reward in the neat appearance of the town and the prestige Wilmington gained, pleasant mention of the town being made in far distant places.

The limit of this article permits touching on only a part of the league's activities, all of which have been fostered by the interest and indefatigable work of the president, Mrs. Katherine Denver Williams. Associated with her as the council for 1915 are the Mesdames E. J. Hiatt, secretary; Eva M. Holland, treasurer; R. T. Ballard, J. R. Clevenger, E. S. Collett, G. P. Thorpe, F. C. Whinery and Kelley Hale. The league roll embraces the names of one hundred of the progressive women of Wilmington, about seventy-five of whom are actively interested in the work of the league.

With the slogan, "We must sail, not drift, nor lie at anchor," the Progress Club was formed in Wilmington in January, 1909, for the purpose of literary, social and moral advancement. It has always endeavored to live up to its name and has done some really serious work, as is shown by its programs. The first year of its existence its program was of a miscellaneous character and made up of book reviews and discussions of current topics. In 1910 a study of the western hemisphere was undertaken. This study was wide in its range, covering the flowers, birds and animals as well as the literature and history. In 1911, the club took an imaginary trip from New York and, by way of Liverpool, visited England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Sweden and Norway. In 1912 the Progress Club visited Africa, making a general study of the countries, peoples, cities, lakes, fauna and flora of that continent. The next year, 1918, the club remained at home, studying the national parks, waterways, holidays, coal fields, schools and colleges and the Panama canal. In a similar manner it studied Switzerland in 1914. The program for the present year is one of a miscellaneous character, but most of the topics assigned have a pertinent connection with the present European situation. a

The club was formed by the following twenty ladies: Mesdames N. E. Bennett, Te. Austin, L. G. Bangham, T. J. Moon, H. B. Miars, Henry Farquhar, Fred Stoltz, Frank Marble, C. EB. Zahn, W. T. McCoy, J. W. Frazer, F. M. Clevenger, A. C. Stone, A. E. Caudle, C. W. Austin, Charles Farquhar, G. W. Huls, I. N. Lair, D. K. Hempstead and D. F. McCoy. The first officers were: Mrs. W. T. McCoy, president ; Mrs. L. G. Bangham, vice-president; Mrs. F. M. Clevenger, secretary ; Mrs. H. B. Miars, treasurer. The present roll includes the names of Mesdames C. W. Austin, D. ©. Austin, L. G. Bangham, N. EB. Bennett, F. M. Clevenger, Charles Farquhar, H. B. Farquhar, J. W. Frazer, D. K. Hempstead, I. N. Lair, E. L. Lacy, Frank Marble, W. F. McCoy, H. B. Miars, Lida Moon, J. J. Richards, Fred Stoltz, A. C. Stone, C. R. Van Tress and Miss Virginia Martin. The present officers are: Virginia Martin, president; Mrs. D. C. Austin, vice-president ; Mrs. H. B. Miars, secretary; Mrs. I. N. Lair, treasurer; Mrs. Lida Moon, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. E. L. Lacy, critic. Mrs. E. A. Caudle and Mrs. H. L. Campbell are honorary members.

The Yani Club

This club was organized with the original idea of making a special study of literature, although their constitution did not limit them to this line. During the past two years they have studied standard plays and famous men and women. For the last meeting, in the spring of 1915, a paper was prepared by Georgia Ireland and Anna Hummel, which was read and discussed by the other members. The Yani Club was organized May 3, 1913, with twelve charter members. The original officers were: Anna Hummel, president; Esther Doan, secretary-treasurer. The present officers are: Louise Probasco, president; Nell DeVanney, secretary-treasurer. The membership is limited to twenty-five active and honorary members.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is the outgrowth of the temperance crusade of 1873-74. The Wilmington Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in 1876, with Rachel McGreggor, president, and Alzina Barlow, secretary. Among the charter members were Mary B. Farquhar, Hannah Farquhar, Louisa McGregor, Martha Doan, Maria Doan, Amanda Marble, Martha Morgan, Lucinda Gustin, Mary N. Hadley, Rhoda Worthington, Caroline BH. Harlin, Tamson Kibby and Betty Kelley.

The purpose of the organization is to educate public sentiment up to the standard of total abstinence, to train the young to save the inebriate and to secure the legal prohibition and complete banishment of the liquor trafhe. It has for its members persons of all ages, beginning with the babies in the cradle roll, with the mother pledged to teach her child the principles of total abstinence and purity; the Loyal Temperance Legion, with the children from six to fourteen years, who are taught the effects of alcohol and narcotics on the human system; the Young People's Branch, whose object is to unite the young people of a community for the promotion of total abstinence, purity and the prohibition of the liquor traffic, with their triple 'pledge against drinking, tobacco and profanity; and, finally the Woman's Christian Temperance Union proper, with its forty different departments of work.

With efficient superintendents at the head of each department the Wilmington Woman's Christian Temperance Union has carried the following departments, viz.: Antinarcotics, purity, scientific temperance instruction, Sabbath school work, flower mission, jail work, juvenile court, mercy, parliamentary usage, mother's meetings, parlor meetings, contest work, evangelistic work, franchise, literature and infirmary.

The present membership of the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union is one hundred and thirty-one active and eight honorary members. The present officers are as follow: Mrs. Orpah Morgan, president; Mrs. Laurenna Farquhar, vice-president; Mrs. Carrie Wright, secretary; Mrs. Mercie Brann, treasurer; Mrs. T. J. Moon, corresponding secretary. :

June 24, 1915, was observed as flower mission day. The appended program was prepared by the superintendent of parlor meetings, Mrs. Bertha C. Peelle, and her assistant, Mrs. Harry McKay. Mrs. C. G. Fairley, superintendent of flower mission, both local and county, added much interest to the occasion by giving excellent reports of work done through her department in the way of sending bouquets and potted plants to the sick and shut-ins, visits to the sick, delicacies taken to them, outings given, clothing and food given to the needy ones, and many other charities.

After an interesting musical and literary program, refreshments were served and a social time enjoyed. The names of Mrs. Ada Jenkins and Mrs. Sarah Thornburg were presented for membership. Flowers, which had been brought in quantities, were made up into thirty-two bouquets, which were tied with white ribbon with scripture text cards attached, and sent to sick and shut-ins, list of such persons having been presented to the meeting.

, At the present time a committee of four members, Mrs. Emma Hale, Mrs. Orpah Morgan, Mrs. T. J. Moon and Mrs. Blanche McCoy, stand ready to work in conjunction with the men's committee to push forward the work of the campaign for "Dry Ohio in 191517 :

The Woman's Relief Corps of Wilmington, auxiliary to Morris McMillan Post, Grand Army of the Republic. was instituted on October 6, 1886, three years after the organization of the national body at Denver, Colorado. The local corps, named Morris MeMillan Relief Corps No. 154, began work with thirty-one members. Department Senior Vice- President Mary E. Bancroft, of Columbus, Ohio, afterward department president, served as instituting and installing officer.

Of the original thirty-one members, thirteen. including the first president. Mrs. Sylvia A. Matthews, have been called to their home beyond. At the present time the tal corps has one hundred and twenty-seven members, with the following officers: Fannie Shelton, president: Jennie Baker, senior vice-president ; Ellen Hazard. junior vice-president; Anna Irene McCoy, secretary ; Emma Barrere. treasurer; Sarah Riley, chaplain; Martha South, conductor; Flora Shidaker,. assistant conductor; Mary Bock hill, guard; Ella Baker, assistant guard; Lulu F. Huffman. patriotic instructor; Mattie E. Doan. press correspondent; Bettie Moon, color bearer No. 1; Emma Henry. color bearer No. 2; Susie Holaday, color bearer No. 3; Rose Crumley, color bearer No. 4; Nellie Bonecutter, musician.

Primarily. the sole object of the Woman's Relief Corps was the caring for the Union soldier and his dependent ones, but as the years have come and gone, the work of patriotic teaching has claimed much of their attention. The Wilmington corps has placed large silk flags in each room of the city schools, in Wilmington College, the children's home, the infirmary, public library, the Sunday school room of each city church, besides a number which have been given to schools and churches in adjoining towns and districts. The last flag presented now floats over the new high school building of Wilnington. .

The policy of this body of patriotic women, representing the largest. organized body of women in the world, has always been to keep unpublished the charitable deeds, but many, not members of a soldier's family, have been made happier and more comfortable through their efforts.. The local corps is considered among the best of the two hundred and twenty corps of Ohio, with a total membership of twelve thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven. It has always responded to calls for the Madison Home fund, where the soldier's widew is cared for, and the Sandusky Home, where many dependent soldiers are comfortably housed, as well as the Christinas fund of the Xenia Soldiers' Orphiuns' Home. The orphans' home is taking care of about seven hundred children at the present time - more than half being descendants of Civil War veterans, the others belonging to Spavish War veterans - but its labor of love at Christmas time knows no difference. At graduation time, in June of each year, the Woman's Relief Corps of Ohio distributes prizes amounting to one hundred dollars to the children having the best grades. The Wilmington Relief Corps has recently given twenty-five dollars towards the higher education of one of the young girls graduating from the home at Xenia last June. Anna I. McCoy. secretary and past president of the local corps, served as chairman of the Xenia Christmas committee in 1914 and personally superintended the 'buying for the 'seven Lundred children, the amount expended, as furnished by the various corps of Ohio, being six hundred and sixteen dollars and ninety-eight cents.

At the present time the state organization is especially interested in the erection of a peace monument at Columbus, Ohio. Lulu F. Huffman, of Wilmington. is a member of the peace monument committee. Five thousand 'dollars has wiready been raised and it is hoped to have the full amount required in a short time.

Morris McMillan Woman's Relief Corps No. 154 has been signally honored in having the department secretary and treasurer twice chosen from its ranks. In June, 1910, the department convention assembled at Xenia and the following members of the Wilmington corps were chosen as officers: Lulu F. Huffman, department president; Anna I, McCoy, department secretary: Lydia E. Barrett, department treasurer. Wilmington was the home of the department of the Ohio Woman's Relief Corps until June, 1911. Again, after a lapse of only four yeurs, this honor was conferred on the local corps at the convention held at Mansfield, Ohio, June 21-24, 1915. when the following three ladies of the local corps were chosen as officers: Anna I, MeCoy, department president; Lulu I. Iluffiman,. department secretary: Emma Barrere, department treasurer. These three officers will attend, . officially, the national convention in Washington, D. C., the week beginning September 27, 1915. In June, 1916, Mrs. MeCoy will preside over the convention of the department of Ohio at Marion, Ohio, this marking the close of the present administration. The only other corps in Clinton county is the Jonathan Casto Corps No. 37, at Blanchester. :

Daughters Of The American Revolution

George Clinton Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was named in honor of Gen. George Clinton. for whom Clinton county was named. Clinton was a brigadiergeneral in the Revolutionary army in 1777. the first governor of the state of New York, and at the time of his death was vice-president of the United States. The chapter was organized on January 30, 1896. Mrs. C. C. Nichols had been appointed chapter regent for Wilmington in May, 1895, by Mrs. Elroy M. Avery. of Cleveland, state regent. This appointment had been confirmed by the officers of the national organization and Mrs.

Nichols was authorized by that body to organize a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Wilmington. Mrs. Elroy M. Avery was present when the local organization was effected, with the following charter members: Mrs. C. C. Nichols, Mary C. Nichols, Jessie IT. Owens, Mrs. Margaret A. I. Owens, Mrs. Katherine J. S. Foos, Rebekah H. Strickle, Maria E. S. Bickham, Lavina V. Telfair, Maria 'T. Telfair, Martha A. Telfair, Mrs. S. G. Smith, Mrs. R. C. Stumm, Mrs. W. R. Hale, Mrs. C. J. Lamb, Mrs. R. J. Lacy, Mrs. Nancy P. Bosworth Fife, Mrs. A. T. Quinn, Mrs. F. M. Wegman, Mrs. C. W. Swaim, Mrs. J. W. Wire, Cleopatra Rudduck, Ida W. Hale and Emma Hill. The first officers were, Mrs. C. C. Nichols, regent; Mrs. S. G. Smith, vice-regent; Mrs. A. 'T. Quinn, secretary; Mrs. R. J. Lacy, treasurer; Jessie T. Owens, registrar; Lavinia V. Telfair, historian; Mrs. N. E. Bennett, Mrs. F. M. Wegman and Mrs. C. W. Swaim, committee of safety.

The qualifications for membership are two, eligibility and respectability. The first means that all members must be lineal descendants of ancestors who aided in establishing American independence, descent to be confirmed by documentary proof from official records. The object of the organization is to foster patriotism and love of country, to encourage historical research and the protection of historic sites, and the preservation of Revolutionary documents and relics, to maintain and defend the institutions of American freedom, and to promote institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.

The work': of the local chapter has been along patriotic and educational lines. The greatest effort and the greatest achievement of the George Clinton Chapter has been the establishing, maintaining and the management of the Wilmington library and museum, a public institution for the benefit of the people, with funds necessary for the erection of the building furnished by Andrew Carnegie. The city council of Wilmington now makes an annual appropriation towards the library. The laying of the corner stone of the library was attended by appropriate ceremonies «and the building was completed and occupied in June. 1904. - :

The chapter has planted buckeye trees on the public school grounds of the city. The picture of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of Independence live been placed in all the city schools. The graves of Revolutionary soldiers in Clinton county have had markers placed over them and are decorated with flags and flowers each year. All patriotic days are observed with suitable ceremonies. During the Spanish-.\merican War in 1898 several boxes of supplies were sent to hospitals. Books and magazines have been contributed to the Ohio alcove of the public library at Manila. Philippine Islands. Contributions have also heen made to the Wilmington library, to Continental hall, which was erected for use of the national society in Washington. I. C.. and to the Martha Berry school and other schools in the South.

Delegates are annually sent to the national Daughters of American congress at Washington. D. @.. as well as to the Ohio conference. Monthly meetings are held, with programs on patriotic and historic subjects. January 30, 1916, will mark the twentieth anniversary of the organization of George Clinton Chapter and plans are being made to celebrate the occasion with a birthday party on the following day. The members in 1915 are as follow: Effie Allen, Mrs. Bessie M. Hattersby Austin, Mrs. Cora Adams Burnett, Mrs. Clara Russell Burns. Mrs. Anna Gallup Carwright, Mrs. Grace [Peterson Colvin, Mrs. Alice M. Starbuck Davis, Mrs. Elizabeth A. S. Deuel, Minnie Fonen, Zenetta R. Gaddis. Mrs. Amy Fuller Hale. Mrs. Anna M. C. Hardesty, Mrs. Martha Benard Hildebrant. Emma Hill. Mrs. Louisa Fuller Huffman, Mrs. Lucille Curry Jeannot. Mrs. Mary W. Jordon, Mrs. Alice M. Peterson McMillan, Mrs. Sarah H. Walker Miller, Mrs. Elouisa Fitch King Nichols, Mrs. Clara A. Starbuck Padgett. Mrs. Mary Fisher Quinn, Mrs Sarah Luella Rannells. Mrs. Clara Coleman Richards, Dr. Elizabeth Shrieves. Mrs. Martha McKay Skimming, Mrs. Althea Moore Smith, Nella Marguerite Smith, Mrs.

The present officers of the George Clinton Chapter are: Regent, Mrs. Mary Bell Hudson Wood; vice-regent, Mrs. Susanna McKay Terrell; secretary, Mrs. Sarah H. Walker Miller; treasurer, Mrs. Martha Bernard Hildebrant; historian, Mrs. Amy Fuller Hale; registrar, Mrs. Alice Starbuck Davis. The committees are as follow: Year Book, Mrs. Louisa Fuller Huffman, Mrs. Elouisa F. King Nichols and Mrs. Lucile Amy Jeannot; patriotic education, Mrs. Louisa Fuller Huffman; historic sites and Revolutionary soldiers' graves, Mrs. Amy Fuller Hale; Daughters of American Revolution Magazine, Minnie Fonen.

There is a tradition that, perhaps, the oldest of the living literary clubs of Wilming- - ton owes its origin to the 'Mystic Three." Whatever of truth or error this tradition may contain, the fact remains that on one Saturday afternoon late in the autumn of 1897 ten young women, drawn together by mutual tastes, met at the home of Mrs. Frank L. McDonald and declared themselves to be a literary club without organization. It was decided that the meetings of the club should be held every Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, and that each member, in turn, should conduct the meeting and present a subject of her own selection, every third meeting to be a book review.

The purpose of the club was to gain a larger and more intimate knowledge of the various subjects which such an arrangement would insure and to develop the art of conversation by adhering strictly to the conversational method. The use of notes was distinctly discouraged and the meetings were characterized by the most informal simplicity.

For several yéars the club continued as it had been founded, calling itself the Saturday Afternoon Club. Later, upon the removal of some of the charter members, it was deemed expedient to open its doors to new members and to effect an organization, at which time the name was changed to the Conversation Club, and the meetings held bi-weekly. From time to time the ranks have been refilled and social features added. Despite the changes in form, the club has never deviated from its fundamental ideas, and for 'this reason its regular meetings still retain that charm of directness and simplicity with which they were marked in the beginning.

The fact that, with one exception, all of the resident charter members are among the most active of the present membership, proves the value of its educational and social advantages.

In its social life, the club has been as novel as in its literary life. The entertainments which its friends have enjoyed from time to time have been most unique and delightful. The mid-summer picnics and the autumn camp-fires have been occasions which have strengthened the ties of friendship among the members and testified to their culinary as well as their literary accomplishments.

The present membership consists of twenty-seven resident and six non-resident members. Four times in its eighteen years of existence, dark shadows have fallen and Mrs. Mary Carroll, Mrs. Gertrude Stiles Cheney, Miss Oma Hadley and Mrs. Adilla Hadley Lowes have departed this life. The charter members of the club were: Miss

Marshie Austin, Mrs. Fannie McDonald, Mrs. Alice Green, Mrs. Lucy Whinery, Mrs. Harriet Hiatt, Mrs. Eva Holland, Mrs. Jessie Orebaugh, Mrs. Myrtle McWilliams, of Wilmington; Mrs. Jessie Carroll Smith, of Whittier, California, and Mrs. Harriet Holaday, of Manchester, England.

The Conversation Club looks forward to many years of interest and activity, believing that it has contributed something to the intellectual and social development of Wilmington and that its members have been broadened and uplifted by its agency.