New Britain Herald Newspaper, May 4, 1916, Page 5

NEW, BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1916. mbership At Y. W.C. A. Increased 282 in Past Year Reports of Officers Presented at Annual Meeting Last Night, Show Association Is Becoming Big Fac- tor Among Fair Sex of New Britain. The annual meeting of the Y. W. C. A. was held last evening in association building on Hungerford Court. The exercises opened with a parade by the members from the general secretary’s office to the recrea- tion hall. Mrs. C. E. Wetmore, president of the Y. W, C. A., presided and the following reported for the various activities of the institution: Mrs. F. J. Porter for the boarding committee, Miss Flora L. _for the lunch room committee, Mrs. W. F. Brooks for the educationai de partment, Miss Mary E. Rogers the physical department, Miss Flor- ence P. Andrews for the religious committee, Miss Louise H. Nonle for the social committee and Miss Edith M, Bradley for the membership com- mittee. The report of Miss Emma L. Zan- zinger general secretary, showed the institution has been very popular with its members during the year. The at- tendance has been doubled during the past six months, from 3 to 450 girls enjoying the building each week at present. The following were presentel for members of the directorate by the nominating committee whose report was accepted: Miss Florencs 3. An- drews, Mrs. William E. Broo Miss Elizabeth R. Eastman, Mrs. Philip B. ‘Stanley, Miss Rose Churchill, Mrs. C B. Parsons, and Miss Bertha Sheldon. The latter three names were presented as successors to Mrs. Justus A. Traut, Miss Edith Bradley and M Edward J. Skinner, whose terms pired. The various reports follow: General Secretary’s Report. Since which the public has always been in- terested, we feel that they, the public, are justified in asking, “what have you done this year?” And as we try to look at the work and its results we would answer, very comprehen- sively, also by asking a question,— “what have we not done this year?” The term whirlwind must no more be exclusively applied to campaigns, | oR |hard things accomplished, for certanly we have had a whirlwind of activitles during the last twelve months, which you will already have surmised from the reports of various committees. Our fiscal year begins at an awk- ward time,—April first, therefore last summer's doings ,must precede winter’s work, and last summer's do- ings stand out very vividly as con- | ‘sisting chiefly of men working -at every corner and angle of the house, | both inside and out,—a few perform- | ing acrobatic stunts on the roof which was badly in need of repairs, | others hanging in mid-air applying much needed coats of paint, others indoors with paints and brushes per- | . forming longed-for miracles,—and still others tearing up floors here and | there for the purpose of installing | electricity,—and the result of it all | was very much worth the expense ! of money and patience, for we looked more like a Christian association in the fall than in the spring. The com- mittee who had this work in charge . gave themselves untiringly during those trying summer months, and this would seem a fitting time to say a “thank you” to the Boarding Home girls who bore with us so patiently the confusion of a house being re- Juvenated. It would seem as if the summer have been devoted entirely to the improvement and brightening of thc " inanimate, but not so, girls of all sizes and ages found their ways in and out of the building in spite of con- fusion, and the progress of the mew building was very much in the minds of all our members. There were conferences to attend during the summer and vacations to be planned at our association camps. Three of our younger girls were sent to the High school Girl's Conference at Altamont Camp, New York in the Helderberg mountains; three dele- went to the Industrial Girls' Conference at Makoniky Camp on Martha's Vineyard; and eight enthu- siastic members journeyed to Silver Bay on Lake George, N. Y., 10 attend the City Conference. The in- spiration gained at these conferences always supplies a considerable amount of what we might call “back- bone” to our future success. Besides the conferences, and many plcnics and outings of both large and small groups, the Ramona club, a club cf fourteen year old girls. had a camp- ing party at Bast Hampton with their club leader, Miss Randall, where they spent a week never to be forgotten by one of them; and a week that has convinced us that the Y. W. C. A. ought to have a small place of its own, or the use of some one’s unused cottage where our girls may spend short vacations in- expensively, and come into more per- sonal touch with our workers as fis always possible when actually living together on these camping trips. The summer was scarcely over when the completion of the new bullding warranted our inhabiting the same, consequently we had our week of Dedication on September 19 to 26,—a week full of pleasant hap- penings, and you will all remember the jov and eagerness with which the many exercises were attended. Our joy was indeed great when at last we were able to have our membership banquet 240 our own building. Our new building, or recreation hall has heen a very popular piace during its first six month of existence, and 2s it was impossible to erect, was at first planned, the two build- ings at one time, on account of the high cost of materials, we have had gates for the | Humphrey | for | the Young Women's Chris- | tlan association is an organization in | the “shnrlng was especially | beautiful at Christmas | two clubs gave a party to some for- and socially, and we have not only increased our membership with 341 new members, all of whom Jjoined of |their own accord, but we have ,(louhlcd our members during the past winter from 250 to 475 indi- vidual girls coming to the association every week. Surely 475 girls of this city making the Y. W. C. A. their own, and taking an active part in its doings ought to speak for itself. It is interesting to note that almost entirely older girls, that is,—giris over eighteen years of age, are the ones who have been active in gymna- sium and swimming classes, and have used the swimming pool most. This does not mean, however, that the younger girls have been neglect- ed, nor that our work for adolescent girls has been less successful than {in the previous years. Strange as it may seem, our younger girls have stuck to their regular club work with a tenacity that has been surprising. | for we did expect that no one would want to know how to cook or do anythirg but swim and swing clubs. In we were most pleasantly d app ~d, and the outcome was that {thcr(* have been twelve clubs with a | total membership of 120 girls be- {tween the ages of twelve and eighteen leach club under the leadership of a | capable worker, each worker being a volunteer, and giving her time, i strength, ingenuity and sympathy most freely to her girls. These clubs meet weckly and have four or six weeks courses in cooking and table ! cetting, in sewing, embroldering, cro- cheting, stenciling, basketry, first aid and home nursing, folk dancinz, | reading and bible study. And now ithat we have such a splendid stage and auditorium nearly all the clubs |have been seized with the desire to {appear behind the footlights. and | this, with a similarly strong desire to | g0 camping this summer has brought about courses in dramatics, and two | plays are to be given very soon with {the hope of increasing the camping |fund. Then there are the council [ Jmecung‘———fimes for gathering around | the council fire to receive honors for and to make plans for sharing some of the good things received. This spirit of large and time when eign children, and another club pro- the | vided trees for two poor families and still another club. the Kolaha, boun- tifully played Santa Claus for a larce Italian family. The Girl Pioneers, our youngest girls, also had a share in the Christmas cheer, by making scrap-books for the children in the hospital. It might be well to mention again that these clubs are almost entirel self-supporting, and can do wonderful things with their club dues, such as furnishing supper for twelve girls for six meals for $3.91. The meals, of course were.very simple, but nourishing, and taught the lesson of economy in housekeeping. One of our clubs, as one of the club leaders expressed 1it, had a “soupy” evening, making several kinds of soup, and also a stew, 2.l for sixty cents. These lessons in cooking are generally converted into supper parties, the table being dec- orated, and macaroni and cheese, creamed codfish, prune pudding and such dishes being the menus for these banqueting occasions. Occasionally the cake is put into the broiler instead of into the oven, or baking soda used instead of baking powder, but who would want to learn without the thrill and pleasure of foolish mistakes. The out of doors, too, has many at- tractions for us all, and short walk- ing trips for studving flowers and birds, as well as for the fun of a meal over a camp fire, are very popular. We could not forget the Altamont and Silver Bay clubs, the Christian league and the boarding home. These groups have their happy times, too, and frequent matrimonial showers. The boarding home lost not only two of its secretaries in this way last year, but several of the family, and the Silver Bay club is rapidly mar- rying off its members. Our work is by no means confined to lunch room, boarding home, phy- sical or other departments, nor en- tirely to New Britain. There are times when we are called upon to reach out beyond New Britain, and such is the case when we are called upon to give Travelers' Aid assistance, by meeting young girls or women who come to our city alone; and also by keeping others, about to leave our city. One especially interesting case of the latter sort came to us in the fall. A girl of about eighteen was brought to our office by an elderly woman who asked that we give the girl advice about how to reach a city in the middle northwest, without falling into danger, because the girl knew so little about life and had never traveled alone. She was to start in a few hours, and looked much bewildered with the thought of her two days’' journey alone. She was a girl of little education and no ex- perience and answered a broad ‘‘yes marm” to every thing. She had to go west. Her father needed her help on the little farm on which he was starting life anew, and the rest of the family was to follow when finances should permit. Our work was to see that the girl reached her destination safely, so after a bit of advice about traveling, etc., tele- grams were sent to Albany to have the girl met on the 2 a. m. train, an- other to the Buffalo Y. W. C. A. to have them take care of her during a four hours’ wait there, and an- other to Detroit, and so on west proven to us that we did the better and wiser thing in erecting the Re- greation building first, both financially wherever a change was to be made. | Tetters from all of these places !reported the safety of the traveler, and later the girl herself wrote thanking us for saving her from un- pleasant experiences. One cannot put into words or on paper the things that count for most. ‘We must let the work speak for itself, and you must believe that New Brit- ain is richly blessed in having a Young Women's Christian associa- tion. To our board members, committee members, our ten volunteer club leaders, our volunteer swimming pool supervisors, to all who contributed so generously in our most recent cur- rent expenses’ campaign, the news- papers, and all those interested in what we are doing, we the girls, give our hearty thanks, and are glad that we have each other. Respectfully submitted, EMMA L. ZANZINGER, General Secretary Membership Commiittee. The membership committee met once a month during the yvear. The membership April 1, 1915, was 514. During the year seventy names have been dropped from membership, some having moved from town, others having married and did not wish to renew. We have added to our membership 341, making a total membership end- ing March 31, 1916, 796. Respectfully submitted, EDITH M. BRADLEY, Chairman. Social Committce. The social committee began the vear 1915-16 with an Easter party and followed it by a picnic in June. Ac- tivities for the winter started with a Hallowe'en masquerade. In Decem- ber the social committee and the membership committee gave a very successful party at which old members welcomed new ones. Two other par- ties, which consisted chiefly of danc- ing, were held in January and on Washington's birthday. Expenses have amounted to $71.70. Our very successful circus was the means of raising money for the ladder for the swimming pool. With the help of the physical education committee we were able to give it twice, with the result that the ladder—$86, was paid for and about $125 was cleared to be used in the purchasing of dishes for the kitchenette and other much need- ed articles. The committee met regularly every month on the third Wednesday. There have also been a few special meetings. Its membership now numbers twelve, four new members being added in the fall, Miss Helen Corbin, Miss Ruth Corbin, Miss Florence Parker and Miss Helen Bradley. Respectfully submitted, LOUISE H. NOBLE, Chairman. Religious Work Committee. The year 1915-1916 has been one of continued interest in this department and we hope, of slow but sure growth, which means in turn that our asso- ciation has proven to be a blessing and help physically, mentally and spiritually in the lives of the girls of New Britain. For those who may not know about our Sunday gatherings, let me say that the association building is open every Sunday afternoon from 3 until 10 p. m,, the vear round for any girl who may wish to come and rest in our cosy, homelike library, read or ex- change her book. Our new recreation building was opened with a beautiful and most fit- ting dedicatory service on Sunday, September 19, 1915. This was follow- ed by a week of social gatherings in which our new building was open for inspection by the public. We brought this week to a fitting close with a large meeting for girls, addressed by Miss Anna V. Rice. Commencing the first Sunday in October and continuing through the winter we have held informal vesper services on each Sunday afternoon omitting only Christmas and Easter Sundays. Sometimes these services take the form of a story-telling hour, sometimes a talk from one who has recently returned from the foreign fleld, sometimes a good homey talk which makes us strive harder through the coming week to forget self and think more of helping others to be happy. At least once a month throughout the winter we have held a musicel service. We have been very fortunate in securing capable leaders who from their wealth of knowledge of music and musicians have brought much not only of pleasure but help and enabled us to better enjoy fine music. The girls who attended the various conferences last summer, on differ- ent Sundays, brought much of help and inspiration from their stay at each of these places. Continuing our policy of bringing to the girls, those who are doing work for others, whether abroad or here in our own city, we have had representa- tives from various lines of work in New Britain among these Miss Os- borne, representing the Charity or- ganization, Miss Carroll from the Tu- berculosis society, and Mr. Klingberg from the Children’s home. The girls in this way have become acquainted with what is being done in our own city. Throughout the month of February our association with all other asso- ciations in the United States held a series of Jubilee Vesper services which were well attended. On Friday, March 3, there was a jubilee anniver- sary service at which time Mrs. Dwight Potter of Hartford gave a most inspirational address. After the vesper service comes our nice homelike gathering in the library for tea and a social hour and a chance to make new friendships as we chat for a few minutes gathered around the fireplace. Sometimes stories, exciting personal experiences or music: help to pass away the time until we one by one leave for our own churches or homes. We have held thirty vesper serv- ices with a total attendance of 1,261, an average attendance of forty-two. Our Christmas vesper service in charge of Mrs. Platt was our largest with an attendance of 125 and after the service eighty-five or more crowd- ed into the library, reception room, hallway and office, even overflowing into the dining room, for the tea and soical hour. As so many have le classes Z®ye been organized in the various churches this past year we have not had any need for a large Bible class here at the as- sociation, but the Campfire clubs have had short informal courses on “High School Girls Ideals,” and “Outdoors in the Bible” which were very interest- ing and were given by capable lead- ers. I cannot close this report withoutin some way expressing on the part of the religious work committee our ap- preciation to those who have so kindly given of their time and ser- vices in this department, those who have so kindly come Sunday after Sunday to play for us, and also those who have given us pleasure with vo- cal selections. To the g of the Aokiya, Kolah, Rambler Campfire clubs, also Miss Mary Halls' Sunday school class, who by their faithfulness, patience, and sweet willingness have made pos- sible our nice teas and social hours each Sunday, we are epecially thank- ful, for many times it has meant a sacrifice on their part but their sac- rifice has been our gain. To the members of the religious work committee for their faithfulness and help, and to the secretaries of the association who have always been ready to assist, we would acknowl- edge our appreciation and gratitude. Respectfully submitted, FLORENCE B. ANDREWS, Chairman Religious Work Committee. Physical Ediication Committee. At last the long dreamt of Gym- nasium and Swimming pool are reali- ties, and we can look back over the first season in our new building. As the building was not completed until the of September this report recessarily covers but six months, and not a full year, Classes began on October fourth for the first term of fifteen weeks. The first month was an especially busy time for the physical director and the secretaries with the registra- tion of new members who joined the association because of the new privi- leges offered by the recreation hall, the enrollment of classes, and the actual beginning of classes, and the getting adjusted to the new surround- ings and. equipment so that every- thing was in systematic working order. The gymnasium classes have been &s fallows:—a beginners class, an advanced class, and a club girls class all in the evening; an advanced class, and a class in aesthetic danc- ing both in the morning. For swim- ming instruction a number of classes were formed, as well as private les- sens given. The enrollment in classes has been as follows:—total number enrolled in gymnasium classes 227, number in swimming classes 192, number of pri- vate lessons 48. The swimming pool has been popu- lar with experts as well as with be- ginners. The smallest number going in far plunges any one month was 72 in January, and the largest number 226 in March. The number of plunges for the six months was 1083, and the total number going into the pool for lessons and Dlunges was 3073, In February the Physical tlon committee assisted the committee in giving a ‘“Circus” in the gymnasiim to defray the ex- pense of a second nickel-plated ladder that was very much needed in the swimming pool. At the end of the swimming exhibition was given and the progress made by those taking swimming lessons was well demon- sirated. A gymnasium exhibition is Leing planned for the last of May at the completion of the second term of classes. If any still question, after the fig- ures given above, whether the swim- ming pool and gymnasium are being ed and appreciated, and whether the large expenditure of moneyv put into the building was worth while, let them come down some evening and see the girls gaining health and pleasure on the gymnasium floor, and hear the happy shouts and splashes coming from the swimming pool, and they will not remain long uncon- vinced. Respectfully submitted, MARY E. ROGERS Chairman. FEducational Committee, The Educational committee has not tried ta keep pace with the physi- cal training and gymnasium commit- tee. It has been the year for the jatter department and no committee has rejoiced more than its sister in the popularity of the swimming pool and the gymnasium. last uca- Social first term a committee Our sewing classes have been small and the clubs of younger girls have been the only ones to form cooking classes. But why should it be otherwise? Wha would make aprons only to soil them by cooking and washing dishes, if she could frolic in the gymnasium or play basketball? Who would make a perishable thing of straw and mil- linery when she could don a rubber cap and dive into the pool? Next year we hope the enthusiasm among the older girls will not limit itself to the new building, but we who remain in the old hope to see every class room filled, a result of the energy created and in storage. The clubs of which there have been twelve have had most efficient leaders, and in most of these there have been short courses in cooking, ewing, basketry, first aid, also occa- nal business meeting and frolics. The entire association suffered a serious loss in the removal in June 1915, of Miss Randall from our corps of leaders, and in her death vhich occurred a few months later. Miss T.oomis is a most successful teacher in English to the class of foreign born women who come each week. These lessons are free. Mrs. Hale has been the instructor in reed basketry, and Miss Simpson of Southington, the instructor in dress- making. The usual magazines have been supplied and there have been some books added to the list during the e — SHE’S THERE BECAUSE SHE PERFORMS— THE 38400 r. p. m. CHALMERS Most cars start alike. But very few finish alike, Therein comes a mighty difference. Step on the little button 10 months after date and you’ll readily note the inequality. One is sluggish, ‘‘dead”, without emotion, and re- sponds to the touch with the speed of old-time oxen re- sponding to the lash. The other is alive, alert, plunge ahead. This is the 8400 r. p. m. Chalmers kind. The other kind is the species known to the trade as ‘‘one-year’’ cars. Chalmers makes a five-year car. There’s many an old 1909 Chalmers 80 Blue Bird giving a good account of itselftoday. You’ll find the everlasting pep there five years irom the day you take your first turn at the wheel. Largely because of the 8400 r. p. m. engine. delivers mighty power with easy effort. It’s mostly in the design. The pistons are aluminum, about two pounds lighter per piston; the reciprocating parts lighter, which eases up the thrust on the bearings. Then the crank-shaft, which is very heavy, and bal- anced to the weight of a hair in aspecial Chalmers device, spins at the rate of 8400 revolutions per minute. It means excellent reserve power. For at 10 miles an hour the engine is turning up only 500 r. p. m. while at 20 she is doing about 1000 r. p. m. So that at excessive road speed she has the punch to deliver when called upon. 16% of her power is used at 10 miles an hour. So that she has 60% to 84%—when a twisting, hilly road looms ahead, when a sharp corner with a rugged grade hoves in sight; when the man ahead is showing you too much dust. You'’ll like the 8400 r. p. m. Chalmers for one single little reason. She sure can perform. Ask your dealer about Chalmers service inspection coupons, negotiable at all Chalmers dealers everywhere. This system is a most important consideration in buying your car. ready; radiates desire to Which Five-Passenger Touring Car, $1090 Detroit. Three-Passenger Cabriolet, $1440 Detroit. Two-Passenger Roadster, $1070 Detroit. Color of Touring Car and Roadster—Oriford maroon or Meteor blue. Cabriolet—Oriford maroon, Valentine green or Meteor blue. ‘Wheels—standard dark, primrose yellow, or red. Wire wheels optional on Roadster or Cabriolet at extra cost. CHALMERS MOTOR CO. E. G. BABCOCK, i 5ritain on the debit side of $62.97, | Those in charge should be | ulated upon good managemel | sidering the very expensive w: | every householder. Then we tinuance, so it was closed after a few I months trial. It is the aim of the lunch room committee to please all. We feel that it is your right to be satisfied, but when you are not, we feel it is our right to ask that you make your criticisms known to us and give us a fair chance to correct the faults. | The larger the lunch room, the better | the meals. Let us try for a real | success next year. | FLORA L. HUMPHREY. | MRS. F. J. PORT Chairman. | Chairman Boarding Home Ce Boarding House Commiittee. | - -~ hotel | Sick or nervous headaches result from a torpid liver or ordered stomach—treat the or sweeten the stomach, and head {s cured. The surest way is vear. 1074 books have been taken from the shelves during the vear MRS. W. F. BROOKS. Chairman of the Educational Department. Lunch Room Committee. The Young Women's Christian As- sociation not only looks after the spiritual, mental, and physical needs of its girls, it does more, it houses many of its members and boards still more. This past year about thirty- five different girls have lived with us, and our average is a family of twenty. Our aim is not to make money, but to set a clean, wholesome table, and live within our income, for we believe that if our department is to continue it must be self-support- ing, and not a drain on the associa- tion. A little over a year ago we raised the price of our board from $3.25 to $3.50 a week on account of the in- crease in prices, and we still feel that this is the least we can charge and meet our expenses. During the schoo] vear our average is fifty but during the summer and vacation sea- scn we drap to a few in excess of our regular family of twenty odd. This vear 24,255 meals were served. Ior all not boarding with us we charge 25¢ at noon and 20c each for break- | fast and supper. | cannot This winter it was decided to open | cost for the yvear 1915-1916 was for o tea raom (there being no such | rent, help, coal, gas and electricity, place in town). The experiment was | laundry and supplies $1,294.85, to pay tried but there did not scem to be | these expenses we received from rent cnough business to warrant its con- ' ing rooms $1,231.88, leaving a balance eral unforseen expensive suppl place, as a gas heater, linen, For the coming year we h great success, i. e, a full hous harmonious girls, and even b nancial results Respectfully submitted, On the walls of a charming one may read this line—"Ye canna expect to be baith grand and fortable."” It would hardly be fitting to write| that sentiment on the walls of our boarding home for we are grand over | our comforts, and our homs is fuily appreciated by our little family. The past year our rooms have been con- tinuously filled with girls following | various occupations, such as office, | factory and teaching positions, besides | one student, a city missionary and the secretaries. The variety of interests in | the world of lahor, is the best help furl the individual development | Now what does it all cost to main- | tain this home? Much in labor, de- | votion and generosity of spirit which | be estimated. In dollars the | com- ach trouble—quickly remove ness, palpitation, biliousness, gestion, constipation, etc. { Purely vegetable. Plain or Sugar ¢ | 80 YEARS' CONTINUOUS | PROVES THEIR MERIT. Dr. J. H. Schenck & Son, Phila