Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1867-1875

18

Ashland, 5th month 28th, 1868

The Association held its 9th meeting at this place this afternoon, 10 members, and several guests present. The absentees were H. J. Moore, M. M. Miller, M. L. Roberts, U. C. B. Scott.

The meeting came to order & the minutes were read about the usual time, after which M. Farquhar read a review of the History of Maryland.

2nd S. H. Stone "The Pot of Geranium", a little story to show how the innate love of beauty and order may be awakened in the most slovenly by suitable means.

3rd M. S. Hallowell told her experience in churning the same cream twice, getting butter each time; and also that lettuce will grow again & put out sideshoots, if the top only be taken off and the roots left standing.

4th B. J. Lea read about "The Rat Catcher", a wonderful picture by an artist without the use of his limbs, with an interesting account of his manner of working.

5th R. E. Gilpin spoke of the yeast made with raw potatoes grated as good; and showed some recipes for pudding & cake.

6th E. G. Thomas, "Now and Then"

7th J. Porter, "Honor your Business"

8th L. G. Thomas, "Home-life".

(Your secretary must beg indulgence and forgiveness for the meagerness of these minutes. The distractions of Quarterly Meeting, and various social engagements intervening between our last meeting and any written record of it, have made it impossible to remember details.)

9th E. D. Bentley, "Table talk", an essay by Emerson inculcating a higher tone of conversation common society - and more sincerity.

10th M. W. Kirk, read what she called "a dry piece', about the useful and the beautiful, but we found it interesting; & also a touching little poem called "Charlies Horse"

Adjourned to Lea's Mill next month.

19

Lea's Mill, June 25th 1868

The Association met the 9th time at this place, again only 8 members, but there were guests to make up the usual number. As generally happens in this month, horses were so in demand for farm-work, that it was difficult to obtain one for carriage-use, which is presumed to be the reason of the non-attendence of some.

The secretary was delayed, for want of a conveyance, 'till far past the appointed hour: and several articles were read before the minutes. 1st S. E. Peirce, who came as guest, read from Friend's Intelligencer, a letter of E. L. Comstock about "Help in Families", lamenting that so many should need help, and at the same time so many others suffer for want of employment - and suggesting as some remedy that all who feel that they can do so should "take a child to bring up, or an ignorant girl to train".

2nd E. D. Bentley- A letter from Florence about the Studios of the Artists there, expecially that of Powers, and describing his ingenious inventions to overcome or lessen the difficulties in the way of all sculptors.

3rd M. Farquhar, after the minutes, read an extract from a speech of Burlingame about the future of China; also an interesting sketch of Sandy Spring, in a book published in London, by M. D. Conway.

4th B. I. Lea, A curious account of a floating city of Siam; and another of the tallest chimney in the world, one in Glasgow, 700 feet high & 32 broad at the base.

5th M. L. Roberts "Excess of Reading", an extract from J. S. Mill, asserting that because so much is read in these days, nothing is studied as it ought to be.

6th J. Porter (by proxy) "How to Cook a Husband" an amusing recipe.

7th S. H. Stone, some statements about the habits of the Rattle-snake, & effects of its poison.

8th L. G. Thomas "A Wife's Influence" - her husband's fortunes are in her hands.

9th M. W. Kirk had nothing to read, but recited for us Mrs. Herman's "Invocation."

Adjourned to Plainfield next month.

20

Fulford, 7th Month 30th, 1868

The first meeting of the Association at this place, was held this afternoon: 4 members were absent namely B. I. Lea, M. L. Roberts, C. B. Scott and E. G. Thomas. Several guests were with us.

Socially, it was a very pleasant occasion, but there was less literary entertainment than usual, - only half the members present contributing in that way. Perhaps the remissiveness of the rest may be attributed to the excessive heat of the weather, which has certainly been unfavorable to much mental effort.

After the minutes were read, the first contribution was:

1. M. M. Miller, who read "Buried Alive" - an urgent appeal to all who have any thing to do with burials to be quite sure that life is utterly extinct before consigning a friend to the grave, and to run no risk of placing any one in that most horrible of all situations being "buried alive."

2. H. G. Moore, an article on the uses of Affliction, stating that from suffering come some of our best lessons.

3. E. D. Bentley told us a good deal that was interesting about life at Atlantic City - and read a poem called "God in the Soul".

4. M. S. Hallowell, "Our little newsboy", a very good little story.

5. M. W. Kirk recited Mrs. Heman's "Graves of a Household"

After which we admired the garden - and still more the numerous and happy-looking family of chickens, listened to a short discourse on their management by the proprietor, took supper and adjourned to Plainfield in September.

21

Plainfield, 9th month 24th, 1868

The Association met here the 8th time - 9 members present, 5 absent - but more than as many guests in the place made a large company, though the day was unfavorable.

About the usual time the minutes were read and afterward:

1. M. Farquhar read from "The Living Age" an article on "Mental Discipline" reprobating the habit of some students of confining themselves to one study, or course of studies, and neglecting or despising others instead of seeking information from all sources - in every direction.

2. P. Farquhar (a guest) being requested, read Moore's poem "There's nothing true but Heaven," and a very good parody of it.

3rd L. G. Thomas, "An Appeal to Women" - about extravagance, etc.

4th J. Porter, "American Artists in Rome."

5th M. L. Roberts, the Address of the Lady President of the Ladies Club in Boston and several other speeches delivered before the same.

6th E. D. Bentley. A description of a huge Aerolite, deposited in Tennessee.

7th C. B. Scott, a short account of Lady Collingwood, an exemplary character.

8th M. W. Kirk, "Lines addressed to a sheleton" by an unknown author; and also Bryant's beautiful address to "The Firmament".

9th H. G. Moore, a little piece of poetry describing a curious family relation, arising out of the marriage of a father and two sons with three sisters.

A good deal of social conversation followed; and after supper we adjourned to Alloway next month.

22

Alloway, 11th month 15th, 1868

Again the weather was unfavorable, but most of our members, and some guests came to the 5th meeting here of the Association. The absentees were R. E. Gilpin, M. W. Kirk, B. I. Lea, and C. B. Scott.

After the minutes were read, M. Farquhar read the last chapter of Horace Greeley's "Recollections of a busy Life," in which he gives a touching account of the great promise, and early death of his two sons, and other children.

2. M. L. Roberts gave a recipe for tanning skins with the hair on, at home, - with a mixture of Saltpetre and Alum - one part of the latter to two of the former.

3. M. M. Miller asked how to prepare green tomatoes for pies? Ans. Slice thin and put on to cook - pour off a good deal of the juice, and add 1 lb good brown sugar and 1/2 pint vinegar to every 4 lbs. Finish cooking and put away, and spice to suit the taste at the time of using.

4. H. G. Moore, 2 recipes - 1 for Tomato Marmalade, and 1 for "Lowness of Spirits" - which is here to appended.

5. M. S. Hallowell (per E. D. Bentley) 2 pieces of poetry - "On My 40th Birthday", and "Without the children."

6. D. A. Lea, "Little Foxes" an excellent little poem.

7. E. D. Bentley, "A Sublime Truth" - a short, good extract.

8. L. G. Thomas, An account of the Cayuga Asylum for soldier's orphans.

9. J. Porter, Extract from giving the writer's idea of the true intent of religion - it does not forbid innocent amusements.

10. S. H. Stone. "The dying Summer", poetry and "Love as measured by serv

11th E. G. Thomas (per M. Farquhar) the concluding chapter of Holland's "Kathrina". A beautiful description of a thrilling scene.

Adjourned to "Sunset", the 19th of the month, 12 M.