A TOWN RUN BY WOMEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2401, 16 January 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

A TOWN RUN BY WOMEN.

Somebody has discovered that, with one or two unimportant exceptions, the town of East (Jlandon,, Oiiio, lcomplerely under petticoat administration. Strangely enough, it is not : woman’s rights .stronghold. So stiff ragist has ever visited the place, anu yet women have all the public offices and, with two exceptions, are at tin head of all the commercial enterprises The only hotel in the town is held be a woman, and there is a post-mistress instead oi a post-master, the school iconducted by a married lady, aud liei principal assistant occupies the next responsible position. Mrs. Mary Goodwin is the physician, tho liewspapei correspondent is an unmarried lady, while the post- oi church sexton and .superintend ent of the Sunday-school are positions also held by ladies. The reason for this is that for years past all the voung men—and most of the oldei

ones—have left the t-own. to seek thcii fortunes in the big cities. The majority of the women, however, could not leave their *homes, with the result that before long they fell into the men’s places. MISS NELLIE CREATOR, POSTMISTRESS ; The manner in which Miss Nellie Cleator became the postmistress 't typical of the way these women have gained control of this community. Her father was postmaster before her, and he had hopes of making ono oi his sons succeed him. Ono by cue they left tho paternal roof to carve out their destinies in Cleveland, and the aged postmaster turned to his daughter to assist him. When she was old enough she was appointed liis regular assistant by tho authorities ai Washington, and on his death slm was appointed in his place. The husband of Mrs. Phoebe Sliaw. proprietor of the Sliaw House, died several years ago, and it was naturally expected that the business would descent to his two sons. They had no desire to spend their lives in East Claridon, however, and the burden of running the hotel fell upon their mother. Mrs. Mawson, the school superintendent, occasionally acts for the minister of the village church, and it is even rumored that she will eventualiy become pastor of the little congregation. A CHOIR OF GIRLS. As the young men deserted one alter another, there was no ono left who could All the position in the Sun-day-school so- well as Mrs. Hale. Finally, .in the choir there were no more men to sing, and so their places were filled by girls, with Mrs. Armstrong as their leader. Again, the man who acted as church sexton died, and Mrs. Dumiegan, who lives next door, took eare of things temporarily. Sho did the work so well that tho place was offered to her, and as the few dollars came in handy every month she accepted it. One ol : the most important personages in the town is Mrs. Mary Goodwin. the" village doctor. Sho has a largo practice in the surrounding country. That the women of the East Chiririon have fallen heir to the masculine energy which built the houses and farms around the little village is shown by the fact that women drive most of the teams that traverse the dusty roads.