Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-04-21
From the Home Journal
T H E LODGE OF ODD WON E N

RED to death this week, there are to be SO many
balls 81
What was the surprise Of the friend who accom-
panied Mrs. Wimot In her shopping expedition, t.
hear the dressmaker, after an apparent attack o
strabismus on Mrs WIS part and sudden affection
ate grasping of the seamptresss hand as earnestly
engage, she had before refused, have the WORK
ready by Thursday afternoon.
Mrs. Wilmot," exclaimed the friend, when at ;
safe distance from the door of the fashionable estab
lshment " what magic spell did you cast arounC
that memorable woman to bring her so suddenly te
be an accessory to the ' dash on Thursday night
Mrs. Wilmot smiled with ill-conceaed triumph
as she replied "My dear Mrs. Willoughby, you have
witnessed very surprising change in that most i'm
portant and rather independent creature-adress ma
ker. What think you could have produced this
change !'
Nothing could conceive of but that attack oil
strabsmus, and the afectionate grasp you have the
girl But was the one to ask the reason of the
change-a marvel certainly.
at is one of the many advantages of our order
Mrs. Willoughby; such delightful benefits are oc-
curing every day. am member of the l. o.
O. W."
"The what, Mrs, Wilmot"
"The |. Q. o. W."
"The l. o. o. w! What new confederation I'M
der the sun is this'
"Why, you have probably heard of that benevo-
lent institution called the l. O. 0, F., bound togeth-
er by delightful badges and secret. The papers
are full of l. O. O. f. and the cities, towns aud vii
lagos from that ussy eastern boundary to the brist
ling Mexican line, are full of the lodges of o. o..
F."
But what have these /. 0. o. F. to do with your
|. O. o. w. and what has your l. O. o. w. to do
with the dress-makers startling amiability?"
"Be patient Mrs, Willoughby, while explain
1t is easily done.
a should think not by the time it takes " CHM
ed in the nervous friend.
You must know that we ladies have established
a benevolent order similar to the |. o. 0. +. with a
secret in it think of that secret Mrs. Wioughby,
which has been kept faithfully by all its members
for three months The men are dying with curiosi-
ty to find it out but we have promised and we con-
slider the word of a woman good as the oath OF a
man."
But the dress SNEAKER, Mrs. Wilmot; do come to
the dressmaker, that's the mystery"
aOur order is called the Independent order of Odd
Women, and our husbands say we shall be odd in
deed if we keep anything to ourselves"
"Ah that is it Mrs Wilmot; begin to be enlgh-
tened So that strabismus and that pnching are the
signs by which you can tell sister, eh!'
sYes, my dear friend, that attack OF strabisrnus as
you facetiousEy term it, was a peculiar turn of the
grasp which if received by sister of the order, OBJ
lges her to help us all she can This dress-maker,
it seems was a sister, who, understanding the signs,
promised the favor desired"
An excellent institution, Mrs Wilmot! Do you
give anything to the poor?
We did intend at first to set aside the entrance
fee for their exclusive benefit but really the expense
OF fitting out the Hall in which hold our meet
ings and purchasing the regalia of the order, has
l.,
ing little shall have TO spend pic mic, which
will come off soon 1t isn't necessary that we shall
have much to give that way, for we cannot help any
out of the society. 1t is of the rules that she
alone who can return the look and grasp odd-wom-
anishly can be assisted ifin want; and as all our
members are comfortably provided for, we shall not
probably be troubled much q
If a sister should be sick you would watch with
her l suppose 2"
"Probaby But the members are all very heal
thy don't think there is any danger OF any serl-
Gus attack among them, and II there should be, sick
people always prefer friends to strangers so If you
should become one OF us, you Wouldn lose your
sleep"
Ny dear Mrs, Wimot asked the nervous lady
'do you have goat?'
Mrs Wilmot laughed aloud and merrily, to the
great wonder OF the Broadway promenaders, at this
mention of the distinguished animal attached by
Islander to the edliying ceremonies OF the l. y. o.
and replied halt convulsed that they used that do
mestic purrer which, from its docilty requires no
tying and can be SO easily procured
"But you must join us Mrs. Wllloughby, SAID
the member as they reached the house OF the Tor
mer lady, you must certainly JON US, we have
such delightful meetings We have to leave our
families 10 be sure quite often, and complaints are
sometimes made but really the insignia and secrecy
are SO fascinating Our homes are not half SO excit
ing as the services at the hail. and then the tnmm-
ngs have so pretty an elect over white not to say
anything of the good we mean to do
Well will Join you, il the inltiatory ceremo-
ny isn't very alarming replied the tmid Mrs. w;
and again the musical laugh of the member was
heard awakening to echos of square up town,
and answering not very she passed on to her own
home.
Mrs Wiloughbv received through the voice of
s,ndrv ivory balls of friends whiteness (the black
balls of dssention lay generally untouched by the
lovely voters) unanimous welcome to the inner
mysteries of the lodge And when the hour came
for the first step in the silent hail. when the closing
of the door through which she had entered gave
warning that there was no retreat, the hmid neo-
phyte remembered the dark sayings respecting the
awful initiation OF |. o. o. +. and felt the INNER
most spiritual sensation ainting away within her,
and no apparent way OF getting out to the clear Tree
air OF heaven until she had gone through-Oh what!
Those mysterious side doors which were opened on
" to the highest rank, might they not burst with
the horror OF their pent up story and overwhelm,
by their rey ealings, her unsophistcated soul She
was very nervous woman, 1t was unnecessary to
entertain such but then she had been mystlhed OF
late with the unexplained and notwithstanding
ceremonies of J. O. y. +. and had considered it a
miracle that each new member had passed through
the terrifying frstiorms alive
But word about the hall. 1t was fine large
room. fitted up in beautiful STYLE and now filled
with the order O. w in their full regalia Do moi
mistake those initials O. w. for old women, dear rea
der. Tor they were young and pretty, most OF then
and looked charmingly in their different colored caps
and badges OF the sisterhood.
Four thrones of blue, purple, crimson and black