Wayne County, Indiana - Richmond Clubs, 1912

Clubs are societies of persons united for social, scientific, artistic, literary, or political ends, or for the purposes of recreation. The etymology of the word "club" in this sense is obscure. It may be derived from the Saxon cleofian, to cleave, in allusion to the division of the reckoning of the guests of an ale-house; but in its present signification, it is perhaps closely allied to cleave, to adhere. It is also said to be derived from the Swedish klubb, as meaning a clump, or tightly packed body of men. Carlyle, in his "History of Frederick the Great,'' assumes that the vow of the chivalric orders (Gelubde) in vogue 1190 A. D., passes to us in the singularly dwindled condition of the modern word "club." The Friday Street Club, or, more correctly, Bread Street Club, in London, was long regarded as the first in England; but in the reign of Henry IV there was a club called "La Court de bone Compagnie," of which the poet Occleve and probably Chaucer were members. About the beginning of the Seventeenth century the famous club at the Mermaid Tavern, in Bread Street, was established. It had Shakespeare, Beaumont, Fletcher, Raleigh, Donne, Selden, et al., as members. About the same time Ben Jonson founded a club which met at the Devil Tavern, between Temple Bar and Middle Temple Gate. In 1659, the first political club, the Rota, was established, meeting at the Turk's Head in New Palace Yard. In 1669, three years after the great fire, the Civil Club, which exists to this day, was established in the city, all the members of which were citizens. Some of these early political clubs played important parts in the history of the times. Such was the October Club, of which Swift was a leading spirit. .Another unique club, the Kit-Kat, famous in literature, dates from the year 1700. Its curious name is said to be derived from a noted mutton-pie man, Christopher

Katt, whose christian name was shortened to Kit. Among the members were the Dukes of Marlborough and Devonshire, Lord Halifax, Sir Robert Walpole, Congreve, Cranville, and Addison. Contemporaneous in origin with the Kit-Kat were the Tattlers' Club in Shire Lane and the famous Beefsteak Society. Readers of Boswell are familiar with the Ivy Lane Club, established by Doctor Johnson at the King's Head, and the Literary Club, founded by Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1764, which had among its members Boswell, Goldsmith, Burke, and others famous in literature. The purely social club of the present day owes its origin to the famous coffee-houses of the eighteenth century, where congenial spirits used to meet for social intercourse and comradeship. The period from 1815 to 1855 saw the establishment of the palatial modern clubs lining Pall Mall and Piccadilly, which form so important a part of English social life. Of the purely social clubs of Richmond little mention shall be made. The growth in the United States of clubs for women is one of the marvels of a century prolific in new movements. In March, 1868, the first club, Sorosis, exclusively for women, was founded in an experimental way, in-New York City, "for the promotion of agreeable and useful relations among women of literary, artistic, and scientific tastes, and for the discussion and dissemination of principles and facts which promise to exert a salutary influence on women and on society." Its formation was due to the refusal of the committee on the Dickens dinner, from the Press Club, to allow women to participate equally with men on that occasion. Twelve ladies, including Mrs. Jane Cunningham Croly, popularly known as "Jennie June," organized Sorosis, whose name is a botanical term, derived from a Greek word signifying a heap or collection. The interest in such associations has grown until it is estimated that there are in the United States 500 clubs, with an aggregate membership of not less than 50,000. Mrs. Croly has said: "One of the strongest fears expressed in regard to women's clubs in the beginning was the fear that they would tend still more to the separation of sexes. This result has not followed. On the contrary, club life is bringing men and women together, and the latest outcome of the woman's club is the mixed club of men and women, with higher standards than men's clubs have before known, But this would not have been

Let us look for a little while at the clubs of Richmond: The Taconite Society (pronounced by the members "Talk and Eat") was founded by Dr. Verling Kersey. His purpose was to bring together at stated periods, fortnightly, men from various callings and diverse views for their mutual pleasure and profit. It was without a constitution or by-laws or rules of any kind and without officers and assessments. Its meetings were held at the residences of the respective members, beginning with Doctor Kersey and in alphabetical order-thereafter. At each meeting a dinner was served, after which the host proposed a subject for discussion. Each member was given an opportunity to express his views. When all had spoken, the host summed it all up and the talk was closed. The subjects discussed were political, historical, and social, and the greatest latitude was allowed in the expression of individual opinion. The host alone knew the subject to be submitted, and the members were therefore relieved of the trouble of preparing anything before-hand. The meetings were limited to the winter months and were attended only by members. They were continued for years and until the membership was greatly reduced by death, ill health of some and change of residence of others, when, without any formal act of dissolution, the meetings were discontinued. The membership was selected upon organization by Doctor Kersey and four were taken each from the medical and legal professions, four from the ministry, and four from among those engaged in other business than the professions. The charter members were as follows: Verling Kersey, James F. Hibberd, Jacob Weist, and Dougan Clark from the medical profession; Jesse P. Siddall, John F. Kibbey, Charles H. Burchenal, and Daniel W. Comstock from the legal profession; Isaac M. Hughes, Ferdinand Hunt, John B. Wakefield, and Charles F. Coffin from the ministry, and John W. Grubbs, James F. Reeves, John Nicholson and William F. Spencer as the business men. Vacancies were filled by the selection of Dr. Charles A. Kersey, Dr. Iutzi and Dr. Ballinger, who later moved to Chicago, and by William Dudley Foulke, in the legal profession. In the ministry, vacancies were filled by Dr. Young of the Evangelical Lutheran, Reverend Gilchrist of the United Presbyterian, and Rev. Theodore Hallam of St. Paul's Church; and in the business class by Daniel Surface, Edwin C. Martin, J. Frank Reeves and John F. Miller. i on Tuesday evening and was composed principally of professional men and their wives. Mr. Foulke was always president. It lasted about twenty years. The Club elected by ballot five officers at its first meeting - a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer - who performed the usual duties of these offices, and six additional persons, who, with said officers, constituted the Executive Committee. They adopted by-laws and transacted all the business of the club, but they had a provision that at the request of three members of the committee any matter of business might be referred to the club. Five members constituted a quorum. New members were admitted to the club only on the written invitation of the Executive Committee and after the Constitution had been signed and the year's dues had been paid. All nominations for membership were left open for one week. The program for each evening consisted of one paper and an oral discussion, to be led by two members appointed by the committee. No persons, except those who came provided with a member's ticket, and non-resident guests having a written invitation from a member, could be admitted, except to the one or two open meetings during the season. The annual dues were $2. Occasionally noted people were asked to address the club, as Felix Adler (a Jew), Senator Beveridge, John L. Griffiths, of Indianapolis, Julia Ward Howe, and Richard Dana, of Boston (a Norwegian). The papers by the members were very well prepared and the ability to debate was soon well developed-

The Cycle was organized in 1885, with fifteen members. It was a literary club. Two years were spent on the literature of each country. It was a very active organization until 1900, and also very popular. The fifteen members, in 1899-1900, were: Mary Baer, Ada Stubbs Bernhardt, Mary Day Burchenal, Francenia Dale, Mary Reeves Foulke, Elizabeth Laws Hibberd, Martha Evans Martin, Cora Van Aerman Peters, Caroline Middleton Reeves, Isabella Reeves, Mary Longstreth Starr, Mary Thompson Starr, Emily Mendenhall Stubbs, Lydia Starr Tabor, and Jennie McCarthy Yaryan. The hostess was the presiding officer. The Club was called "Cycle" because they had no one meeting place, but met alphabetically at the homes of the members. Mrs. Lydia Starr was the first secretary and treasurer; later, Mrs. Benjamin Starr had the honor. Mrs. Foulke, Mrs. Horace Starr, and Mrs. Yaryan were on the program committee, and history and literature were studied principally.

Society of the Orthodox Friends' Meeting. In 1886, Mrs. Mattie Curl Dennis organized a reading circle from members of this society, which met every Tuesday afternoon at the home of some member. The first year was given to the study of Whittier and the second year to Longfellow. After this came the other American authors, English authors - principally the "Lake Poets"' - and some of Shakespeare's plays. There were no permanent officers, with the exception of Mrs. Dennis as leader, and a simple series of resolutions governed the society. In 1891, the society was christened the "Tuesday Aftermath" and the membership was limited to forty. The first printed program was in 1892-3, with Russia as the study; 1893-4 and 1894-5 were devoted to French history and literature; 1895-6 and 1896-7 to Germany. In 1897, with the death of their beloved leader, a reorganization became necessary. A constitution and by-laws, with regular officers, came into effect. Civics and social problems were studied in 1897-8-9; household economics, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Current Events in 1899-1900; household science and George Eliot in 19Q00- 1; Shakespeare and Ruskin, in connection with the University Extension Lectures, in 1901-1902; Shakespeare, social and civic studies, in 1902-3; Spain and topics on civic improvement in 1903-4; architecture and sculpture in 1904-5; Italian painting in 1905-6; French painting in 1906-7; art and life in Spain and Netherlands in 1907-8; Germany and civic improvement in 1908-9; modern England and civics in 1909-10; modern England and civics and current topics in 1910-11. The subjects are treated by giving either talks or lectures, with an open discussion following. The club belongs to the National, State and City Federation of Clubs. There are the four officers, and these, for 1909-10, were Mrs. W. Middleton, president; Mary A. Stubbs, vice-president; Mary A. Wilcox, secretary, and Mrs. Frank M. Clark, treasurer. The officers are elected by ballot, and the dues are $2 a year. The club has moved along with little friction. The motto is "Ohne Hast, Ohne Rast" - Goethe. The extension work of the Tuesday Aftermath has been far reaching, devoting their attention especially to school gardening. For the past five years the Aftermath Club has distributed flower seeds to the children of the public schools, visited the flower beds and given premiums for the best results - two premiums to each of the eight school districts of the city. The "Cat Club," unique in name, was founded in 1889 and held its meetings until 1897. It happened that all the members had beautiful Angora cats and consequently spent a little of the evening talking about their cats, which were always in evidence ; so, for lack of a better name, the club was called the "Cat Club." The members were Ray Robinson, Roswell Harris, Elwood Martin Conley - who later was acting consul-general to Mexico City and wrote the "Life of Diaz," - -Mae Thomas, Harris Hettie Elliott, Lida Byer Davis, Olive Kaminski Robinson, and Howard Mac- Cormick, an artist in New York. The club studied Emerson, Beowulf, Richard Harding Davis (short stories), and several of Bishop Spaulding's books. One year they wrote a novel, called the "Blue Print," to demonstrate that heredity can be overcome. Their special social meetings were confined to a banquet held on New Year's Eve at the home of one of the boys. They formed a camping party in the summer.

On Feb. 18, 1889, the Tichnor Club was organized by the members of the Aid Society of the First Presbyterian Church. It has no connection with the church now. It was a society for the encouragement of home study. Miss Anna Tichnor, of Boston, outlined the work for the members. Mrs. Leonard Lemon was secretary of the club and corresponded with Miss Tichnor once a month. The work for the month was sent to Miss Tichnor, upon which she commented, and the work for the next month was sent back. This was kept up for three years, after which the club planned its own work. The club was named in her honor. The season began the second Monday in October.

The Cycle Club being somewhat exclusive and not able to take in all who applied or wished to become members, a new one was formed, called the Tourist Club. The credit of founding this club should be given to Mrs. James A. Carr. It was brought about in this manner: Mrs. Carr had a cousin visiting her from Hamilton, Ohio, who belonged to a Tourist Club there, and with her suggestions a club was formed. Mrs. Mattie Curl Dennis gave the impetus for it. At a meeting at her home, Miss Eleanore Robinson, Mrs. Florence Lodwick, Mrs. Leonard Lemon, and Mrs. James Carr each brought a list of forty couples. As the list was read the others checked off the same names on their list and, with a few others, these persons composed the charter membership of the club, Unmarried people belonged, but there was always an even number. A man and his wife had to both belong. It is certainly a very nice club - in fact, an ideal club in its organization of bringing men and women together. It began in the winter of 1890-1891. Different countries, taking the places of interest, are the subjects for the meetings. At first, the order of procedure was quotations, a paper, a talk, and lunch, all of which they strictly adhered to in the beginning, but the club has gradually become more social. The season begins on the second Friday in October. The motto of the club has been, "He who a traveler would be, bridle well his tongue, proceed with steady step, take no large pack, set out in the morning's prime and leave black care behind." The meetings are clever and bright and the club is very popular.

The Musical Club was organized some years ago. It had its first meetings in the parish house of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Later it met in the Masonic Temple, then in the Pythian Temple, and now in the Starr Piano Company's rooms, which it offered to the club for its meetings. In truth, this Musical Club of 250 members disbanded and the Musical Study Club was organized in April, 1904, and this club has had its meetings in the Starr Piano rooms, meeting in the morning. Of the old club, Mrs. Cathell was president for probably fourteen years. Other members of the club were Miss Strickland, Mrs. Henry Gennett, Mrs. Charles Marvel, Mrs. E. R. Beatty, Mrs. Harry Downing, Mrs. William Earhart, and Miss Alice Knollenberg, the last three of whom have been presidents of the new club. The Pythian Temple period had concerts to which people paid admission. Lee Nusbaum led the chorus at first and then Mr. Earhart did. It was a mixed chorus of from forty to seventy members and it met once a week in the evenings; the fee was $1. The chorus was kept up for six or seven years. Membership consisted only of those who could perform. Membership of the Musical Study Club is limited to forty. Their meetings now are held every two weeks and they are private. They have larger meetings to which one is admitted by invitation. The object of the society is to study music and its masters. There are the customary officers and an advisory member who also serves as an officer. All directors are elected by ballot at the annual business meeting. Application for membership may be presented to the Executive Committee to be voted upon by the members of the society, requiring two-thirds majority for acceptance. Any member failing to perform any duty assigned to her or him shall himself furnish a substitute. Membership shall be forfeited by the absence of any member from two consecutive meetings without the excuse of illness or absence from the city.

teacher, and the class took notes. More exactly speaking, Mrs. Dennis' work was lectures. At one time there were 300 members. The club studied different subjects and bought many slides. They studied architecture, landscapes and painting, beginning with the early Byzantine and taking up to modern painting, and also sculpture. After 1894, under Miss Emma Zeller, the History Club was formed and the members wrote papers. Mrs. Howard Dill also did much for the club. In 1907, Mrs. George Dougan was president. Later, books on different countries were studied by the members of the club. They had many stereoptican lectures by the different noted men of the town.

The Commercial Club was organized Feb. 15, 1894, by a number of business men of Richmond - about fifty. Fifteen of these men have died. Their first great effort was the building of the Westcott Hotel. The name was given by vote of the club, as Mr. Westcott had more stock in it than any one else. He later bought the hotel. Messrs. Edward Iliff and Louis Emmons were the early promoters. The purpose of the club with 200 members was the promotion of the commercial and manufacturing interests and the general welfare of the city of Richmond. It gave men a chance to bring up certain projects, to influence legislation, to help put the wires on Main street underground, etc. It aided the American Seeding Company in closing Fourteenth street. It had much to do with freight rates, shipping insurance, fire protection, and the dust nuisance. It instituted the Chautauqua and kept it up for three years. For six years it has backed the May Musical Festivals. It has had many public speakers, such as John W. Kern, Hon. John W. Foster, et al., to speak here. The annual banquet is the only social feature. Governor Willson, of Kentucky, was one of the speakers. The club made the first effort to secure the Cincinnati, Muncie & Richmond railroad, which was to be electric, but it turned out to be a steam road. It brought the underwear factory here which is on North Tenth street. The club has put down commercial nuisances, such as advertising on Main street, and it has watched the city franchises. Two years ago the freight cars were taken off Main street and put on North E street. The club assisted in helping Earlham College to raise her debt. The club is an incorporated organization with fifteen officers. The Board of Directors elect the officers for two years. All business comes before the Directors. Members pay $10 a year. The secretary is the only paid officer. The club often passes resolutions on legislation and sends them

A number of young ladies, about fifteen years ago, desired to have conversations on art, literature, and music, and so, with no definite place of meeting, they called themselves the Nomad Club, limiting it to twenty-five members. Miss Alice Unthank is considered the "mother of the club" and was for years on every committee. They have open music meetings for the purpose of hearing the music of the country which they are studying. The season opens with a picnic and ends with a banquet. Many of the programs have been very clever. One year they gave "Mr. Pilaquoddy" (a farce), which was splendid. They have given several farces. The Hindoo drama, "Sakusitala,'" and Maeterlinck and his dramas have been studied; they bought different stereopticon slides and have had many lectures. The original work of the club has been in the field of music. Their manner of procedure is to study the life of the composer, the times in which he lived, the character of the music, and then to have the music illustrated. The Musical Club and others have adopted this plan.

The Magazine Club was organized in:October, 1896. There are no Officers, except a secretary. The hostess for the day is the presiding officer. The responses are current events. The club discusses any subject that is among the best articles of the day. The day of meeting is Monday, and on the first Monday of the month a good story is read from a magazine. Some meetings have been open and favorite recipes are given which are of benefit to man as well as woman. The season is closed with a banquet, to which the husbands are invited. The club is limited to twentyfive members. There is a membership committee of three, appointed at the first meeing, which takes all action in regard to new members. No names are carried over from one season to the next. The meetings begin the second Monday in October and continue until May 4. Nancy Bailard was the founder of the club, while Mrs. Belle Kinsey organized it. There are no dues, except twenty-five cents at the beginning of the season for the flower fund. There is one guest afternoon during the season.

The Athenea Club was founded in 1897. The colors are pink and green, which Mrs. Miriam MeDivitt has made the subject of a very clever paper. The flower is the carnation. The club has the regular officers and four committees, which are the Prograin, Entertainment, Flower and Civics representative. There are forty members, with a long waiting list, and five honorary members.

The programs are much varied and very attractive, and interesting as to subjects given. They have studied Shakespeare's plays and other plays, have studied civic questions and home duties, and music is always a feature of the program, They have studied the different countries and the places of interest in each, and history. The meetings begin the first week in Octoper-and close the last of April. The club is a member of the City Federation. There is often an afternoon during the season devoted entirely to music. The literary work of the club is of -high order and the club stands in very high esteem just at present.

The Art Club was organized in June, 1897. It was started by the combined influence of the public schools (Miss Mendum and Mr. Mott), the local artists, and a number from the History Club. All three parties arranged for the next exhibit. Mrs. Melville F. Johnston, the loyal and untiring worker of the Art Association, was chairman of the meeting; William Dudley Foulke was elected president; Mrs. Johnston, vice-president; S. Gillilan, secretary, and later Mr. Neal was made secretary, followed by Miss Lesh. Miss Ada Woodward was treasurer. Mrs. Johnston was elected the second president and has held the office ever since. For seven years the association ran under by-laws, when it was incorporated under the laws of the State. There are now five officers and twelve directors. Anyone may become a member who pays fifty cents. All these persons form the voting body of the organization. There are now over 400 members. The president has the power of directing affairs to the committee. The object of the association is to promote and encourage the mechanical and liberal arts; to promote the welfare of art in the city of Richmond by giving appreciative encouragement to all local art workers, by providing ast lectures and by giving an annual exhibition which contains the work of the Art and Manual Training Department of the public schools of the city of Richmond, the work of local artists and craftsmen, together with the exhibits of the work of representative American and foreign artists and craftsmen; to promote and encourage the study of the literature of art, and to establish and maintain a permanent collection of works of art, and to acquire and hold real estate and improvements thereon for the purpose of maintaining a permanent art collection in the city of Richmond. This association has had a great influence on school decorations. Fifty-seven pictures are now owned by the schools. The Art Gallery in the new high school has been the result of the Art Association. The associa-

The Clear Creek Sketch Club, often termed the Richmond Sketch Club, was composed of Edward Forkner, Mrs. Lewis D. Stubbs, Miss Anna Newman, Miss Harriet Foulke, Miss Margaret Mooney, Miss Carrie Lesh, Miss Hattie Elliott, S. C. DuVall, Strickland Gillilan, et al, generaly twelve in number. The object of this club was to promote'art culture among its members and to advance the interests of art in general. It met from 1899 to 1904. The meetings for the year 1901 were confined to sketching from pose, the members of the club taking turns as "victims." The work of the summer was under the charge of Mr. Forkner. Much out-door sketching was done and much good work was the result of the effort. Many exhibits by local artists were held and many good papers were read. Mary Greenleaf Bramcamp had an exhibit of pretty water-colors in the tower room of the Morrisson-Reeves Library, May 24, 1903. Mr. Seaford had several exhibits. Wilbur Macy Stone, of New York, loaned a collection of book plates. In April, 1904, Frank Bowers, of the "Indianapolis News," gave an illustrated talk on "Cartoons and Cartoonists" in the high school hall. Several very artistic programs were gotten out. Mi. Forkner is now in the Auditorium, teaching, and is gaining quite a reputation. The Sketch Club should be able to do more active art work and include a greater number of members interested in art from any standpoint. It was agreed that any one interested in art in any form, whether it be sketching, painting, ceramics, wood carving, needle work, draughting, or any other form of art, should be considered eligible for membership.- The Sketch Club should be a branch of the Richmond Art Association. For five years the club did active work and has laid the foundation for a future club.

The Browning Letter Club was founded about five years ago. It has had two meetings. The members may live in any city or in any country and they are said to be on the circuit. The work is all done by correspondence. As the name suggests, the club studies Browning's poems. By the fifteenth of the month every member has his comment on a poem ready, and the first member sends his to the next member, who puts in his comment and also criticizes the first member's article; then it is ali sent on to the next member. Mrs. William Dudley Foulke, Mrs. Lee Yaryan, Prof. Elbert Russell, Doctor Lyons, Miss Mary A Stubbs,

The Alice Carey Club is a small club, composed of fourteen members. A country is studied each year. It elects its officers annually and meets on Thursday afternoon every two weeks. At each meeting there is a paper, current events are discussed, and there is some music and a lunch. The season closes with a picnic.

The organization which has perhaps attracted the most attention recently is the Domestic Science Association. It was started by a few women, in 1905. Lectures, taking up the "work of the home," are given by members and prominent' persons interested along this line in the State. Mrs. Virginia C. Meredith, of Cambridge City, lectured on the "Relations of Household Economics to Civic Life' on March 28, 1906. One aim of the association was to get the schools interested. The association paid Miss Elsie Marshall $80 to teach two classes of children. A sale of donated food was made, the proceeds of which went for the Finley School Kitchen. Maher & Hadley, butchers, demonstrated the cutting of a beef before the club. One illustrated lecture was given by a Miss Burkhart on the "Care of the Sick Room." Mrs. Melville F. Johnston lectured on "Household Dress." Miss Mary Peacock gave a talk on "Household Economics in Johns Hopkins University." She is a graduate of this school and is now teaching Domestic Science in Columbia University. Mrs. Hessler, of Illinois, lectured on "Household Decorations ;" Mrs. James Morrison, Mrs, Chase, and Carolyn Foulke on "Food, Its Functions and Uses," with demonstrations; Dr. Harry Holmes on "Chemistry of Foods;' Mary A. Stubbs on "How to Keep Well;" Timothy Nicholson on "Prison Reform," and Mrs. O. N. Guildlin, of Fort Wayne, on "Head of Homes." In 1908 many women wished to study more deeply, so a "Study Club," limited to twenty members, to meet once a week, was organized. The association meets once a month and both have the same officers. The Household Economics Study Club took as text books the "Library of American School of Home Economics." Different lectures have been given by this club and good is being accomplished by it. Mrs. Frank C. Land has been president all the time and has been made chairman of the Home Economics Department of the State Federation. "For right living" is a short expression of the motto of the club. The club has seventy-five members, while the Study Club has twenty.

The City Federation of Women's Clubs was organized by the Athenea Club, and the president of the Athenea is the president of the City Federation. The purpose of the Federation is to be of civic benefit to Richmond, Cleaning day was under the auspices of the Federation one year. Permission was granted, May 31, to Mrs. Phariba W. Stevens, of the Federation of Women's Clubs, by the Board of Works, to install trash boxes - the places to be designated by the board. These boxes are for the accumulation of waste paper, scraps and other refuse. The Federation looks after the city jail, the Glen, getting bill boards off of Main street, the sanitary conditions of the Home for the Friendless, the sanitary condition of groceries, and to see and keep a matron in the juvenile court and the jail.

Trifolium means three-fold; the three-leaf clover is the symbol of the intellectual, moral and spiritual training. The Trifolium Club was organized in September, 1906, by Mrs. Oliver Nusbaum's Sunday school class. It is now separate and apart from the Sunday school. The club meets once a month and the different countries are studied in all lines of interest. France, Russia, Germany, and Scotland have been studied. It belongs to the City Federation of Clubs. It has an open meeting each year, which has been musical, illustrating the music of the country which was studied during the winter. The meetings are held in the Lutheran church. Current events are discussed at each meeting. There are about fifty active members, including men and women. They helped a student through Wittenberg College one year, The season closes with a banquet in June.

The Woman's Collegiate Club was organized during the winter of 1908-1909. The purposes are literary and social. The "Short Story," Scandinavia, the Modern Drama, and Philosophy have been studied during the different years. The club is limited to eighteen members, who must be college graduates. The season closes with a picnic. Mrs. Mabel Huff Bartel was the first president and Mrs. Fay Sproatt Murray first secretary. The charter members are Mesdames Mabel Huff Bartel, Pear! D. Coffin, Edna Ferree Harris, Mary Baylies Hale, Daisy Cox Hamilton, Olive Rogers Lindley, Zitella Lemon Lamar, Florence Kiarh Mc- Nown, Lucy Osgood Mendenhall, Fay Sproatt Murray, and the Misses Magdalena Englebert (now Mrs. Gaar Williams), Marguerite Hill, and Edna Johnson.

it has been a mighty force in the regeneration of the old Quaker City. It, more than any other organization, perhaps, has made the new title, "Panic Proof City," stand for a hustling wide-awake city. In its brief history it has accomplished two Fall festivals, the second larger than the first. It has entertained the good roads conference which has helped to bring the farmers to town. It has made possible the District Corn School, held in Centerville in 1909. It caused to be placed in Glen Miller Park the fitting tablet to the memory of Lincoln. It has brought conventions to Richmond. The club is composed of about 500 members, who are able and willing to further the interests of the community.

By these splendid clubs the members have become educated to the "needs of the community," and they have extended their influence and have been a stimulus to the life.of the city. The city of Richmond has become an art, musical and euiture center through the untiring efforts of its men and women.