Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/430

Rh toward the erection of the club house for this work. But while these substantial gifts have come from men, the actual carrying on of this splendid work has been entirely done by women, largely college women, throughout the country, and is only another of the many different avenues of work along educational lines being conducted in this country by our women. The Washington Travel Club was organized in the Strathmore Arms—the home of Mary S. Lockwood, in January, 1880. Judge Lysander Hill, Frank Eastman, Mrs. Sara Dean, Miss Emily Brigham and Mary S. Lockwood, arranged for the first meeting. The officers were to be a "guide," to preside at the meetings; a "courier," whose duty it was to secure speakers and readers; a "journalist," to keep a record of their travels, and an "executive committee" to form the itinerary and choose the subjects for papers, and a music committee. One notable feature of the club in its organization was the determination to have no exercises of a miscellaneous character—no recitations, reading, declarations, or literary fireworks of any kind.

Every Monday night during the winter months, for sixteen years, this club was sustained with unflagging interest. Different countries were selected from year to year, papers read and the addresses given upon all subjects connected with the chosen country.

The home of this club was historic inasmuch as it had been the home of many distinguished people: General and Mrs. John A. Logan, Senator Edmunds, Judge Harlan, Senator Ingalls, Senator Farwell, Governor Boutwell, Thomas B. Reed, Governor Carpenter, of Iowa, Judge Ezra B. Taylor,