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Mrs. David Nachman
Reviewing the Work of a Brilliant Woman
By Joseph Leiser
-K
Mrs. David Nachman, of
A u oust a, Ga.—a real
leader among women's or
ganizations—is a woman
who possesses dignity and
charm that is quite befit
ting the important part
she plays in her work.
A MERICA’S indebtedness to the women’s
clubs will be better recognized in the future
‘than it is at present, although the nation at
large appreciates the disinterested service rendered
it by these associations of women, banded together
to improve themselves by study and collateral
reading. The nation is also aware of the mag
nificent service the women have given in bettering
living conditions for all people of the nation—for
all people of the world for that matter, since this
movement is not confined to the western conti
nent but is equally strong in Europe. Everywhere
the women’s club is the potent force that has dedi
cated itself to the cultural enrichment of the na
tion and the cultural aspect of their endeavors
have always been disinterested pursuits.
The communities that have an active women’s
organization are indeed privileged. I hose cities
and towns so favored are better places to live in.
Augusta, Ga., is a better city than it might have
been had there been no federation of women’s
clubs and had the city not had the advantage of
counting among its inhabitants Mrs. Rose (David)
Nachman, who has been active in the modern aids
of better living, which is the large purpose for
which these clubs are formed.
It was indeed a fortunate shift of fate that
brought Mrs. Nachman to Augusta, where she
came as the bride of David Nachman, a cotton
merchant, and where she has since lived, honored,
revered and loved:
Born in Washington, D. C., in a cultured home,
Rose Herzog attended the public schools of the
Capital. Early in life she associated with men and
women of high ideals who gave themselves gen
erously to those causes that "lift the car of prog
ress up the slope that is so steep and long.”
These early influences in disinterested service
for humanity have been a directing force in her
'life and enabled her to render great service to
Augusta, drawing her into public affairs and help
ing to condition the lives of her fellow citizens
far better than they might have been had the city
been deprived of her presence.
A radiant personality, of fine appearance, com
bined with brilliant mind and a gift of spontaneous
utterance, Mrs. Nachman evidenced a concern in
the welfare of Augusta that resulted in the forma
tion of those various organizations which now
are functioning in this city.
M rs. Nachman is proud of the chairmanship
which she holds of International Relations of the
(ieorgia Federation of Women’s Clubs. She is
also a member of the Advisory Council of the
League of Nations Association, and her past rec
ord as president of the Augusta Woman’s Club,
The City Federation of Women’s Clubs, the
Council of Jewish Women and the Temple Sis
terhood of Congregation Children of Israel.
It is to the credit of Mrs. Nachman and in
keeping with her personality that she was one of
the charter members of the Augusta Woman’s
Club and served as its president several years.
She was also the first president of the Federation
of Augusta Woman’s clubs when the expansion
of the club movement among women here made
it expedient to unite these different organizations.
During the war Mrs. Nachman was one of the
Red Cross captains in charge of a canteen during
the encampment of the troops in this city and also
served as secretary of the Woman’s Committee of
the Council of National Defense.
After the armistice, when the movement against
war was started, Mrs. Nachman became one of
the strong supporters of this cause and is today
identified with the organization in an official ca
pacity. Her interest in the
cause of peace has brought her
into close association with some
of the leading men and women
of the nation. She agrees with
Elihu Root that a nation think
ing in terms of peace will in the
end establish it. But if we are
war-minded and think in terms
of war our swords will not be
beaten into plough shares.
The city of Augusta cannot
forget the valiant service she
rendered the stricken city in one
of its most devastating floods.
There was three feet of water
in her own newly-founded
home at that time. But after
the waters subsided and she was
able to entrust the care of her
young children to other hands,
Mrs. Nachman offered her ser
vices to her distracted fellow-
townsmen. She was then prac
tically a stranger in the city, but
her splendid enthusiasm was in
Joseph Leiser
Presents a vivid portrait of one of
the most interesting personalities in
the South.
stantly recognized, no less than her exceptions |
executive ability. She was placed in charge or
the responsible tasks confronting the city during |
that emergency and her help was one of the fac
tors that brought order out of the chaos of th<«*r
troublous days.
Actual experience as well as conviction, her con
tacts with the desperate needs of people impressed
her with the value of personal service. She re
solved to make her life more beneficial to hu
inanity rather than to satisfy personal whims. She
began to adjure the easy way and purposely elected
a course of action that drew her into the larger
sphere of public affairs.
Mrs. Nachman is the mother of three children:
Herbert, Edith and Morton. She is first and forr
most wife and mother and the adoration bestowed
on her by her family testifies to the unfailing
devotion she has given them at all times.
Mrs. Nachman is a lover of books and litera
ture, a keen critic of fiction, a good judge of the
drama and has a fine appreciation of poetry. Read
ing is with her as it is with Ellen Glascow, an in
tegral part of her life. She is a firm believer ir
the value of self-culture, insisting that even
woman who has the leisure cannot afford to fritter
away her spare hours in senseless inanities. Oneot
the rules of conduct which she has set up for her
self is to make herself successful as the manage
of her own household. For on this basis one ran
then apply for admission to a club of women. I he
only valued membership in a woman's club is tha*
woman who has made her home a haven of refuge
against the storms and stress of life, for one who y»
orders her own domestic affair*
is then in a position to partici
pate in the activities of the li
brary board, the playgrounds a*
sociation, parent-teachers, juvr
nile courts or whatever public
affair it chances to be.
Being richly endowed in
heart, mind and spirit she ha*
been able to give herself to tho*e
causes and movements which
brighten, sweeten and human
ize. In large measure she illu>
trates the glorious career o:
Jewish women who have pat
terned their lives after the vali
ant woman of Proverbs, whose
price is above rubies. Augusta
has received the tokens of her
worth in many splendid acts ot
unselfish service and returns in
grateful acknowledgment, a
genuine appreciation of all these
generous services.
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■ THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE