40 Proceedings oe Nioth Annual Mes^Ting 



with the help of our clubs, in a few years you men, who have 

 worked so hard to rid our state of the Jersey pest, will accom- 

 plish results. We may not be able to run drains through acres 

 of meadow land, but we can arouse interest, and explain what 

 these ditches will do. ''The hand that rocks the cradle rules the 

 world" is as true to-day as ever, and because women have gotten 

 away from the petty things such as dish washing, how to make 

 the best bread, etc., doesn't mean that she isn't a good wife, an 

 understanding mother, and a good housekeeper. By virtue of 

 these new duties she only does her work in the home the better. 

 Each outside interest becomes a decided mental stimulus and 

 keeps her abreast of the times. Many a problem in both home 

 and club work has been solved by myself while working with my 

 washing machine. I think more clearly when my hands are busy, 

 and the young people of to-day need thinking, understanding, 

 broad-minded, firm parents, and a good club woman is generally 

 all of these and something more. (Applause.) 



There are, as Mrs. Olsen has told you, 3,5,000 club women 

 to-day in New Jersey. Each woman influences her family and 

 her friends. So you can see the wide possibilities if each club 

 woman's interest is aroused. Women who have done the work 

 in the Pines, organized and run the Haversack, built the Mc- 

 Dowell Memorial and our beautiful Science Hall in New Bruns- 

 wick, surely can battle with as small an insect as our mosquito, 

 and the war we wage will reach to the uttermost parts of our 

 state, and the battle will be won. 



During the coming year, as a mosquito commissioner, I would 

 like to see a day on every club calendar set aside to be devoted 

 to His Highness, the "Mosquito." How can this be done? One 

 very effective way is to interest the vice-president of each dis- 

 trict in securing a speaker who understands this subject and who 

 can explain it in detail to club members. There are nine districts 

 in our state, which comprise the twenty-one counties. The dis- 

 trict in which Mrs. Olsen and I are most interested is the third, 

 with Mrs. C. A. Prickett, of Metuchen, the vice-chairman. All 

 district chairmen I feel sure would be willing to help, and would 

 always be open to any suggestions made by you men of experi- 

 ence. In June we hold the national convention at Chautauqua. 

 At this gathering will be women from all over the United States 

 — ideas here might be exchanged, and a place given on the pro- 

 gram. Of course, this would have to be done, if at all, through 

 our state president. Mrs. A. B. Proal. 



