Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1928

3. Mary Gilpin and Isabelle Miller had no selections.

Hallie Bentley read of an old negro woman who wnated to make her will while she was still in her right mind, in order to avoid trouble in the future, but upon realizing that she would be compelled to will her picture of General Lee and her cabin to some one - her children - she reconsdered and decided to live longer.

Mrs. Probert and Eleanor Bentley Hawkins had no contributions.

Margaret Bancroft read of a club for boys who serve as golf caddies.

Mary Robison told of the Italian authoress of "The Mother" who received the Nobel Prize.

Helen Shoemaker asked what is the best substitute for leather for chair seats? Panlasote and fabrikoid were both reccommended.

Lena Weld said she was pleased to be a member of the Association - and that she had found Sandy Spring a very neighborly place in which to live.

Margaret Moore told of the Automatic subway six miles long 80 feet under ground, controlled from above ground, which moves the London mail between stations. Also a poem - "It takes so little to make us sad - or glad".

Emily Massey's selection from our poet laureat, Margaret Sangster, admonished us to remember all who help and serve us chauffeurs, telephone operators etc. She then told of Harry Burroughs who started as a news boy and as a successful lawyer has set aside one hundred thousand dollars to educate young people. She asked what is the right thing to do with the Near East Literature? Many had the same experience of receiving it in large quantities, but no solutions of its disposition was given.

Mary Nichols read of Benj. Franklin the patron saint of Cartoonists, his "Join or Die" being the first cartoon in America. An article telling of many things which were first in Philadelphia - First Savings Bank, Mint, Medical College, Circulating Library, Fire Insurance Co., Water System, Fire Dep't., Newspaper etc.

Mary H. Stabler, "Keep-a-going" -- persistence always wins.

Miss McElroy read one of her favorite poems "The House by the side of the Road."

Mary B. Brooke's selection was written by one who does

not love the country as we do--nor who can appreciate none of its blessings.

Elizabeth Stabler gave some suggestions to Grandmothers for starting bank-accounts for their grand children. - and told of a Bazaar to be held in Baltimore for the benefit of a free kindergarten.

Florence Bond recommended having photograhs taken by the "Automat" in Hecht's basement - very good, and very cheap; - a verse, "In a Friendly Sort of Way." - and a joke.

"In a Friendly sort o' Way. "When a man ain't got a cent, and he's feeling kind o' blue, And the clouds hang dark an' heavy, an' won't let the sunshine through, It's a great thing, O my brethern, for a feller just to lay His hand upon your shoulder in a friendly sort o' way.

"It makes a man feel curious; it makes the teardrops start, An' you sort o' feel a flutter in the region of the heart; You look up and meet his eyes' you don't know what to say When his hand is on your shoulder in a friendly sort o' way.

"Oh, the world's a curious compound, with its honey and its gall, With its care and bitter crosses, but a good world after all;

An' a good God must have made it - leastways, that is what I say,

When a hand is on my shoulder in a friendly sort o' way."

"ROXY".

Rosie Gilpin asked "Are all children as ignorant as those in Brookeville School"? Our own home gardens are more satisfactory than the more pretentious ones kept by professional gardeners.

Mary Reading Nichols - a very humous reading about "Aunt Glory's Marriage Certificum."

Corrie Brooke asked what was the report on conveying colored children to school in Rockville? Must wait until next year.

Helen Farquhar - Along the Garden Path, the ideal garden of the seed catalogue to which all should aspire.

4. Duane Stabler a short verse showing that the mountain and the squirrel each has a place to fill.

Marianna Miller read from the old minute book of meetings at "Avalon," "Plainfield" and "Alloway" in 1870.

Cousin Helen Lea sent an article that was read at a meeting of the Association many years ago, telling of the Centennial Birthday of Phoebe Thomas when 200 relations assembled to celebrate the event. At the age of ninety she drove about, alone, to visit friends and to Meeting.

An infant's dress, made by Rachel Gilpin for Cousin Thomas J. Lea (who will be ninety years old on the twenty- first of February) was passed around for all to admire painstaking and beautful work done in former days.

None of the Standing Committees had anything of note to report.

Margaret Jones made a motion, seconded by Estelle Moore that dues to the Traveller's Aid be paid. Motion carried.

No report from the County Federation.

Margaret Jones had been unable to attend the meeting of the Executive Board and Council of Presidents of the State Federation so asked Mary Reading Nichols to report on this meeting. This she willingingly did, telling of some of the plans of the Maryland Delegation to the Biennial Meeting in Texas in May - of Mrs. Sippel's Campaign, of a talk by Mrs. Atherton and of interest in "Better Speech" - and of course for children who have imperfect speech. She also invited all who are interested to hear Dr. Joy Morgan, who will talk at the Farmer's Convention on the 18th.

The Meeting adjourned.

(signed) Margaret Elgar Sherman Jones, Secretary.

ERCILDOUN 848th Meeting. 3/1/1928

The 848th Meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association was called to order March 1st, 1928 at two o'clock in the afternoon at "Ercildoun" the home of one of our recent members, Alice Farquhar - the presiding offer being Mariana Miller.

There were no previous minutes at this place, this being the first time the Association has been privileged to accept the hopsitality of "Ercildoun". The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted.

The Treasurer's Report showing a balance on hand of $15.90 after paying dues to the Traveller's Aid $5.00 - The Social Service League $50.00 all paid with .50 still on hand.

Next meeting place, Tanglewood at the regular time.

Sentiment of Hostess: "Howe'er it be, it seems to me 'Tis only noble to be good. Kind hearts are more than coronets And simple faith than Norman blood."

and an article on our public schools by President Lowell of Harvard, who feels that our schools are not as effective as they should be - our children needing good mental training and habit of mind. Then a poem on the short skirt:

"Half an inch, half an inch, half an inch shorter The skirts are the same of Mother and Daughter. When the wind blows each one of them shows Half an inch, half an inch, more than she oughter."

and another verse: "Mary had a little skirt So near, so bright, so airy; It never shows a speck of dirt But it surely does show Mary."

Sadie Adams' contribution proved that a wholesome attitude makes an ideal, satisfactory home.

Margaret Moore read several poems - "The child Next Door" "The Faithless Flowers", "Animal Crackers", "Home Again", and "Work" all showing the real sentiment.

Julia Hallowell had no selection

Tibbie Such told of a very extraordinary Christmans Cake she saw in France.

Mrs. Cockey expressed her enjoyment of the meeting and our hostess's other daughter had no contribution.

Mary Reading Nichols' offering were "The Secretary" who

5. never does anything right; and the real value and meeting of the "Family Tree" in the old South.

Helen Hallowell- a criticism of "Mother India". Question. Where can flat stones for walks be procured? On the Rily farm - on Harwood Owing's farm - or at Potomac for $8.00 a ton delivered.

Estelle Moore - Walt Mason's idea of a "Spotless Home" which makes a man uncomfortable and unhappy. Question. - Should transplanted trees be trimmed? Yes, severely trimmed. What is the value of sheep manure for fertilizer? Very highly recommended but must be used with care.

Elizabeth Stabler - Motor touring has made American History and American Shrines very popular. She told of a new kind of blackboard made of glass lighted from the rear by electric lights.

Miss McElroy stressed the two sides to every question so hasty judgement should be avoided.

Mary Brooke told of the changed attitude towards Nancy Hanks' grave. - and gave a poem on "Can Be's" and "Can't Be Dones". Question. What will take greast spots from soap-stone hearth? Try Fuller's earth or Ammonia.

Mrs. Probert told of using foxes with ferrets for exterminating rats, and of a very prolific breed of sheep from Shanghai.

Ethel Thomas read some very ridiculous answers to questions given to (by) applicants for teacher certificates.

Hallie Bentley read of the charm of old-fashioned things, - a parody on the Star Spangled Banner, and some jokes.

Mary Gilpin's selection was "Who is my Neighbor"?

Rose Gilpin gave "Bits of Garden Gossip".

Mrs. Boyd had nothing to contribute.

Mrs. Trundle said she was enjoying the meeting,

Mary Nichols read of the Hammond Harwood House at Annapolis now owned by St. John's College,

Question. Who will do white-washing? Perry Budd.

Helen Shoemaker told of crepe-paper dresses for nurses.

Question: How get rid of rats? Azere mixed with Quaker Oats put in little bags and dropped in the rat-hole.

Emilie Massey - several jokes.

Helen Moore - the pros and cons of psychcology.