Kepoet of Boaed of Women Managers. 185 



reforming,_and generally unknown beyond a small circle. A madrigal 

 club, a ladies' morning class (vocal), a ladies' orchestra (24 members), 

 wliich existed four or five years during the last decade (these now- 

 extinct), a choral club (60 to 90 members), which was started 20 years 

 ago, a string quartette (men), which has existed as long, and a music 

 club (150 members), recently organized, are among the best known. 

 Amateur operas, more often burlesques, are frequently given. 



" Eleven hundred and sixty churches in the State employ choirs. 

 All the counties have not been heard from, nor has the information 

 received always been sufficiently definite. 



" It has not been possible to obtain a satisfactory list of musicians. 

 Over 500, however, are reported. Since composition is a part of every 

 student's education, the fact of publishing songs and small pieces does 

 not entitle the writer to be called a composer." 



Committee on the Loan Exhibit ©p Laces. 



Fans, Miniatxhres and Antique Embroideries. In one of the early 

 interviews that Mrs. Palmer had with some of the members of the 

 board she called attention to the fact that many ISTew York ladies pos- 

 sessed rare laces, etc., from which a fine collection ought to be made for 

 exhibition. The executive committee took the matter up and at one of 

 its early meetings appointed Mrs. Corning chairman of a committee to 

 make a collection of laces, fans, miniatures and antique embroideries, 

 the chairman to have the power to choose the members of her com- 

 mittee. Mrs. Corning declined, and Miss Love and Mrs. Wadsworth, 

 being offered the chairmanship successively, begged to be excused also 

 as they were burdened with other work. The position was accepted 

 by Mrs. Burton IST. Harrison, of New York, who appointed her 

 own committee. Mrs. Harrison and her committee began their 

 work vigorously and obtained the assurance from a number of 

 individuals of some fine loans if a guaranty could be had that a 

 heavy insurance should cover their possible loss. The subject of 

 the insurance was a continual thorn in the flesh of those who had 

 charge of the loan exhibit. Mrs. Harrison considered that a policy 

 of not less than $500,000 should be taken out, and when the matter 

 was referred to the Board of G-eneral Managers Mr. Thacher said that 

 the exposition authorities were responsible the moment the exhibit 

 entered the exposition grounds, and, therefore, the guaranty must be 

 issued by them. Application was at once made to Mrs. Palmer to 

 secure it. In course of time a promise was given that the collection 

 would be heavily insured, but the request was made that the article'^ 

 should be itemized as to their value. The difficulties in the way of 

 obtaining this minute information was very great. Meanwhile, Mrs. 

 PlarrisoB had resigned her chairmanship to go to Europe, Mrs. 

 William Greenough consenting to take her place. There was to be 

 an insurance taken out by the Board of Women Managers on the col- 

 lection during the few days that the articles were being gathered 

 together to be packed and during transportation. The anxiety per- 

 taining to this work Mrs. Greenough felt too great for any one out- 

 side of the board, and although she offered to do everything in her 



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