The Caddo Herald
August 19, 1910
Caddo Women’s Clubs
Showing Their Progress and Development
By Mrs. C. A. Bilbo
Thursday’s Musicale
‘Into the heart of every man
There comes a purpose and a plan,
By which he builds his life each day
Onward and upward in the way.”
The study of music, the love of and for music, and the dearth of music in our home town, was forcibly brought to the minds of several of our progressive women who began to plan the best means whereby these pleasures could be brought to us, and how to develop the talents given to the few, so that in the final count it would not be said their talents “shall be taken away even that which he hath” because they were not put to a good use, but “rather to him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance” Which is undoubtedly true where persistent use is made of the talents that are given us. So these few women decided the best means to the end would be in co-operation. So in February, 1905, the Thursday musicale was organized at the home of Mrs. Hancock. Mrs. Diffenderffer was elected as our first president and represented the Club at the South McAlester meeting of the Indian Territory Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1905. We joined this Federation, also the National Federation of Music Clubs, the first year of our existence.
At first we had no treasurer, as there were to be no dues, but as assessments nearly always prove to be one-sided affairs, this rule was changed and the constitution and by-laws were adopted and lived up to as well as clubs usually do. The color selected was white and gold, flower carnation, and the first Thursday afternoon in each month was to be the meeting day. Charter members numbered thirty. The meetings grew in interest, but as time passed had their seasons of dullness and inactivity, as many other organizations have experienced.
The Thursday Musicale Club has held its own socially as well, having held several open sessions and entertained quite royally their husbands, sweethearts and friends. One year seven Club babies were born. Francis Hancock, Margaret Boland, Margaret Manning, Josephine Rutherford, John Crutchfield, Jr. Mamie and Lois Chiles. The last named being sweet twins.
In March, 1909, the Club suffered a severe loss in the death of one of its most active members, Mrs. Mamie Chiles. She was always one of the leading spirits in anything that would promote the interest of the Club, but “nothing comes to us too soon but sorrow”, and “nothing now is left but a majestic memory.”
The Thursday Musicale, under the efficient leadership of Miss Vivian Allen, gave the musical comedy “The Merry Milkmaids” which was a decided success. Part of the proceeds from this entertainment was given to the Czerney Club to help make a payment on the piano which the Czerney girls had purchased for the public school auditorium.
During April 1909 the Edward Baxter Club extended an invitation to the Thursday Musicale to a recital, which was given at the Elk’s Home in Durant. This was promptly accepted by quite a number in the Club and enjoyed very much by all present.
The Thursday Musicale invited the Durant ladies to visit us during the Christmas holidays. Not having received official notice of their acceptance until the day before the event planned, we were in doubt as to their intentions and it was then too late to secure a building for the reception so we had to ask them to come to see us later, so that we could have things nicer for them. So on February 22nd we entertained them with a colonial reception at the beautiful home of Mrs. Dunlap, our president. This was followed by a dance given by the young men of Caddo complimentary to the visitors.
The Club has purchased Encyclopedia of Musical History, which has proven quite satisfactory and admirably adapted to the study of history of music.
During 1909 our Club president, Miss Ella Smith, was married to Mr. Henry Edwards, the first Club president to marry while in office. She served the Club loyally and to the best of her ability and made a splendid record during her term of office.
The Club Calendar for this year is one of the best books ever gotten out by the Clubs in the Federation.
In the near future the Club is to give an Indian program which consists of music, legends and poems. You should study music in order to beautify your own heart, and in order to make this world more beautiful to others and stick to your course. Forget to have a sigh. He conquers who says earnestly “I’ll try.”
Our president, Mrs. Dunlap, is away on a visit in California where Mr. Dunlap has gone in the hope of restoring his health. Our vice president Mrs. Crutchfield is proving herself quite worthy of the trust reposed in her.
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