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The Sterling Kansas Bulletin from Sterling, Kansas • 8

Location:
Sterling, Kansas
Issue Date:
Page:
8
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

8 THE STERLING KANSAS IJULLKTIN. Si 'Imp 5 v. 1 -tviii1 w-t HI J- THE BACHELOR GIRLS. Bachelor Girls' Club. This organization was accomplished four months ago.

During its short career it has been a source of unalloyed pleasure to its members and has furnished an object of Interest to those Sterling people who admire tho many beautiful features in the club. The Bachelor Girls formulated their organization in an unconventional manner, and while as individuals they are strict observers of proprieties, have endeavored in their club life to avoid the usual methods of social organizations and impart to their proceedings a spice of variety. In one sens the following lines from the Midsummer Night's Dream might suit them for a motto: "Thoso things do best please me That befall preposterously." The object of the club isi to secure congenial companionship and innocent amusement with the aid of novel oc-cessories and independent of the assistance of that crude social barbarian, man. While as individuals it is not believed that any prejudice exists In the minds of the club members against the opposite siex, the organization as a club has never felt it wise to in any way recognize beings of such uncouth personality and unfortunate gender. The Bachelor Girls holds bimonthly meetings, being entertained in' alphabetical order.

Elections are held every three months to install new officers. Possessing in Miss Jessie Piper and Miss Nettie Atkinson two versatile rendfitionists, the sessions of the club are enlivened with readings by those young ladies, the subjects chosen being the most, noteworthy of our modern novels. While listening to the readings the balance of the club engages in the production of those filmy creations of intricate needlework which beautify the center tables and chair backs of the parlors of all cultured homes. The club colors are red and yellow. While the Bachelor Girls are devoted to things artistic and aesthetic, they are devoid of foolish superstition.

It is known that several of them wear opal rings and their full quota of members has just reached that fateful number, thirteen. The officers and members are: Miss Grace Skiles President Miss Josephine Spencer. Pres. Miss Sarah Squire Secretary Miss Anna Quigley Treasurer Miss Nettie Atkinson Reader Miss Irene Bishop Musician Miss Minne Lees. Librarian Miss Jessie Piper Reader Miss Ellen Squire.

Miss Mary Wirshing. Reporter Miss Emma Clark Vocalist Miss Anna Kern Guardian Angel Miss Flora Jennings Mascot Sterling's Creditable Clubs. Thotographs by Steele. v' VS P9 CJ' (3" 13' The wrork accomplished by this club is of direct value to its members and it exerts a refining influence od the entire community. on alternate Fridays.

The membership is limted to twenty five. The club motto is: Thought once awakened does not slumber. Carlyle. White and gold were adopted as the club colors. The object of the organization Is, as set forth in its title, that of mutual improvement.

The study of English literature has been pursued since the inception of the club, but two years ago it was begun in a systematic manner, commencing with the period of the origination of the language. Scott's works are now being taken up. Evenings are devoted as, well to music, art, education and home. After the usual routine of business) is transacted a parliamentary drill is conducted. The literary work of the club has been of no small value.

Two composite stories have been written. For two years an entertainment course was conducted, the proceeds being devoted to the purchase of books for the club library. A set of encyclopedia was added two years ago. Three magazines are subscribed for. The tendency of the work has been to cultivate a more thorough appreciation of thoughtful books and famous writers.

Every succeeding yeai a formal reception is held to wnich each member is permitted to invite two friends. These anniversaries are social eventsi in Sterling and are looked forward to with much pleasure. A handsome year book is issued. The officers and members are: Miss Alice M. Brown, president; Miss Nettie M.

Atkinson, vice president; Mrs. Mary B. Thompson, secretary; Miss Anna Kern, treasurer; Miss Nettie May Atkinson, Miss Irene Bishop, Miss Alice M. Brown, Miss Emma Clark, Mrs. Maggie Duff, Mrs.

Lalla Hanna, Miss Lena Hanna, Miss Gladys Hunt, Miss Anna Kern, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Lindsley, Mrs. Dela S. Lees, Mrs.

Cora B. McVay, Miss Ora E. Pollard, Miss Frances Snyder, Miss Josephine Spencer, Miss Ellen Squire, Miss Sarah Squire, Miss Vera Strong, Mrs, Myra B. Thomson, Miss Blanche Terrell, Miss Cassie Wiggins, Miss Mary Wirshing, Mrs. M.

C. Roy, Mrs. F. P. Green, Mm O.

B. Beckham. Mutual Improvement Club. While this period isi called "the iron age, the epoch of industrial progress, the century of mechanical advancement and the era of commercialism," it must be remembered that all these terms in reality denote one thing, the improvement of the human mind. Society does not jump ahead wTith constant leaps in but one direction.

People of today have a desire, and a righteous one, to know something of all things, but such a diversity of knowledge is to be obtained only by personal experience. We must learn by the lives of others. Men and women are similar in their relations toward society to the delicate component parts of the mechanism of a well balanced watch. Each, part is necessay and useful, but without the concerted and harmonious action of them all, the watch is valuless as a timepiece, No solid results in the field of literature, or mental culture, can be accomplished in a community without organization, and properly defined methods of work. The Mutual Improvement Club of Sterling has, however, solved this problem, and it is no more than just to the city that these columns should contain a brief description of this club and the valuable work it is doing.

The organization was effected February 24, 1894, when seventeen young ladies met at the home of Mrs. A. K. Lindsley to form a reading club. Mrs.

Lindsley was elected president; Mrs. North, vice president, and Miss Berta Smyser, secretary and treasurer. There are only two of the charter members still in the club. Meetings are held The J. D's.

Sterling owes the same obligation to those who increase and foster her social activity that sne does to those wrho advance her commercial interests. Those people who coine here honestly seeking for a nice place to locate, build homes and educate their children, have also a question in their minds as to what social attractions can Sterling offer to their families and themselves. It is to show wihat has been done already in social organization in this city that we are mentioning the various club organizations, and, taken In connection with social affairs pure and simple, no club could better illustrate this point than the J. D'si. Organized nine months ago with no Home Culture Club.

In this edition it is not the purpose to set forth only the commercial and industrial advantages of Sterling to the exclusion of its equally important social features, which are so essential to the happinesis and prosperity of a refined community. Culture and refinement in a city can best be shown by the history of its social organizations and it is admitted in all parts of the civilized world that women are the natural directors of true social organization in its highest form. The Home Culture Club was founded twelve years ago and from its inception it was decided to limit the membership to twenty. This plan has been rigidly adhered to. Of the founders of the club only four (Mesdam.es Gasikell, Linds-ley, Bond and Smyser) still retain membership.

The object of the organization is. clearly shown in its title. By means of illustrations, books, and literature, and the preparation of papers by members, a systematic study of objects of interest to intelligent travelers, including both places and persons, was essayed. In this manner the club has visited all the noted cities in Europe and toured Egypt, india, Japan, China and other countries in both hemispheres. The study of literature was entered upon later, beginning with American authors, and English writers1 are now receiving attention.

The study of Shakesipeare has engrossed no small part of the time of the club. Beside the study of literature, during the past year some attention has been given to domestic science, The club subscribes for the Literary Digest, The Bookman, The Clubwoman, Harper's Monthly and McClure's Magazine, and forms as a body a co-operative reading circle. The local club is affiliateidi with the district and state federations of the clubs of Kansas. Two papers are contributed each year from, the Home Culture Club to the reciprocity bureau of the state federation, which in return sends two papers secured from other clubs. The State Historical Society has persuaded the Sterling Home Culture Club to write the history of Rice county.

This work has been divided and assigned to individual members. The history will be conscientiously and accurately compiled and will be, undoubtedly, of decided literary merit. The club meets bi-monthly, except from July until October, and its sessions are always well attended. The present officers are: Mrs. J.

T. Gaskell President Mrs. M. P. Shaak Vice President Mrs.

H. L. Laskey Secretary Mrs. R. D.

Kelsey Treasurer The other sixteen members at present are: Mrs. A. K. Lindsley, Mrs. R.

F. Bond, Mrs. W. C. Smyser, Mrs.

W. B. Wirshing, Mrs. C. W.

Hodge, Mrs. T. W. Conway Mrs. A.

W. Bishop, Mrs. M. E. Richardson, Mrs.

E. Kilbourn, Mrs. P. P. Trueheart, Mrs.

E. Newcomer, Mrs. J. T. Tyrrell, Mrs.

T. J. Allen, Mrs. C. H.

Strong, Mrs. B. D. Hammond, Mrs. M.

Van Patten. There is one honorary member, Mrs. Kern. l---. wati --mMMmjw yi 1 Li xi i a SOME MEMBERS OF THE MUTUAL I MPROVEMENT CLUB..

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About The Sterling Kansas Bulletin Archive

Pages Available:
18,074
Years Available:
1877-1930