SOCIAL AND POLITICAL.

ur work is many-sided, but among all the rest the social side has not been neglected. When department work was first taken up, in 1880, a department called "Drawing-Room Meetings" was placed in charge of Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, of Brooklyn, who for two years was the superintendent. The following year Mrs. Margaret Bottome, of New York, now at the head of the order of King's Daughters and Sons, was the superintendent. In 1883 the department was changed to Parlor Meetings and united with Mothers' Meetings, Mrs. Dr. Horace Eaton being given the superintendency. She was succeeded by Mrs. Van Benschoten, of Newark, who filled the position for two years. In 1886 the two departments were divided, and Mrs. A.M. Wickes, of Attica, was given that of Parlor Meetings, holding it until the present time. In the convention of 1893 a beautiful chocolate pot was presented to the union at Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, for having held more parlor meetings during the year than any other union in the state.

Ten years ago the Department of State and County Fairs was adopted, and Mrs. H. R. Edgett, of Fairport, was made the superintendent. She has given ten years of faithful service to this line of work. In 1889 a committee was appointed to consider the work at the state fair, and, if deemed practicable, the state was to engage in the work. Mrs. Mary T. Burt, Mrs. Ellen L. Tenney, and Mrs. Edgett were made such a committee. Correspondence was immediately opened with the officers of the agricultural society as to the feasibility of erecting a building on the permanent fair grounds at Syracuse, and shortly after a circular-letter was sent out, asking for contributions for the same. Arrangements were made to commence the work there at once, not waiting for the building to be erected, and the fall of 1890 found our standard raised for the first time on the state fair grounds. The building is not yet accomplished, but with $2,065.99 already set aside for it, it is certainly an assured fact, and but for the illness of Mrs. Burt would no doubt have been erected during the summer of 1894.

The heroic labors of Mrs. Burt during these years deserve more than a passing notice. Upon her rested the burdens of the work. Her courage in encountering difficulties, her patient endurance of fatigue and exposure, and her wonderful executive ability, made her a wonder to all. The sun has not always shone during the state fair, and through storm and sunshine—mostly storm—she has stood at her post, thinking no sacrifice too great if thereby our cause be advanced. Mrs. Mary D. Ferguson, of Syracuse, has always stood bravely by, aiding in every way possible.

A paper was issued, called The Fair White Ribbon, and fifteen thousand copies distributed freely on the grounds. For two years the paper was edited by Mrs. H.R. Edgett, when, her health failing, Mrs. Ferguson acted as editor and publisher. Advertisements were secured by Mrs. Ferguson, and a handsome profit of $139 was the result the second year, and $147 the third year; while the good accomplished through the presence and efforts of our standard-bearers on the grounds cannot be measured. In 1891 the Department of Coffee Houses was added to the social lines, and Mrs. S. W. Stoddard, of Horseheads, was placed at the head of the department. No change has been made in the superintendency, and a new impetus has been given to this work since it has been made a department.

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POLITICAL.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has frequently been called a political institution. While we smile over the accusation, knowing how small a part woman can occupy in the politics of this country, yet with great earnestness we back up the smile with the thought that when we are a political institution—or, more properly speaking, a voting institution—the backbone of the liquor power will be broken, the saloon must go, and the era of happy hearts and happy homes will be ushered in. That we have always taken an interest in politics is true, and always on the right side. Away back in 1876 we find the following:

In 1883 our convention received the following telegram from Syracuse:

The reply sent is found in Joshua i., 9.

The convention of 1884 adopted the following resolution, only twelve voting against it:

In this same year our president attended the nominating convention at Pittsburgh, as delegate from the Prohibition convention.

In 1885, Mrs. Burt in her annual address referred to what is known as the St. Louis resolution, which reads as follows:

Mrs. Burt adds:

During the years that have followed these eventful ones we have always come up to the standard, and have given no uncertain sound on this question, and in closing this chapter we cannot do better than to quote again from Mrs. Burt's address of 1886:

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