The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-23
Meeting Of All the Talents and Graces.

reunions of various sorts and qualities, but
there have been none 30 remarkable as the
meeting and lunch there of the sSorosis" on
last Monday afternoon. Lest the reader I'M
learned in classical language should be startled
| by this peculiar and harsh sounding word,
| ''Sorosis," and should imagine it to be the
name of some strange animal, like the gorilla
| or cynocephalus, and that the lunch referred to
| is only fgurative way of mentioning the feed
| ing of such animals, we will explain at
| once that the word means sisterhood, or
something like it, and that the lunch was
simply a little repast or entertainment
enjoyed by thirty Or forty ladies of literary
and artistic fame. 'Soross," then, is the
| name of club, league or association of women
distinguished in the world of literature, art,
science, fashion and taste. The club or
society has not been fully organized yet, and
the meeting at Delmonico's on Monday was
held chiefly for the purpose of completing the
organization; but as the discussion of this
object among thirty or forty ladies necessarily
became discursive, and as the eloquent fair ones
could not be brought to the point, as we are
informed the business had to be deferred. All
will readily admit that a four hours session,
which was partly occupied in slipping lemon
ade and chocolate and in eating lobster salad,
sponge cake, ice cream and sundry other
things, was not long enough to accomplish
such an important object 1t will take, proba-
bly,, many such meetings to perform the work.
In little circular, which is kept very private
and only permitted to go into the hands Of
few privileged persons, and which we saw by
accident, the object Of the association and
names of the temporary officers are given.
1t is, as stated in the circular, ''to promote
agreeable and useful relations among women
of literary and artistic tastes" 1t processes to
be ''entirely Independent of sectionalism or
craftsmanship 1t recognizes women of thought,
taste, intelligence, culture and humanity every
where and particularly when these qualities
have found expression in outward life and
work II aims to establish sort of free
masonry among women of similar pursuits,
| to render them helpful to each other, and to
| bridge over in some degree the barrier which
custom and social etiquette place in the
way N friendly intercourse. 1t affords an
opportunity for the discussion, among women,
of the new facts and principles which are
constantly being involved, the results of which
promise to exert most important influence on
the future of women and welfare of society"
This is the platform of principles and the object.
Members are elected by ballot. The initiation
fee is two dollars, and every lady is to bear her
proportion of the expense incurred for lunches
| and other things. Meetings are to be held once
a month, and the committee is always to order
the lunch. Guests-that is, ladies only-may be
invited. The present officers are:-President,
Alice Cary; Vice President, Jennie c. Croly /;
Corresponding Secretary, Kate Field; and the
committee-Phebe Cary, Ella Clymer, Celia
M. Burleigh, Josephine Pollard, Lucy Gibbons,
| Ellen l.. Demorest and Charlotte b. Wilbour,
Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
At the meeting on Monday there were pre-
sent, besides the above named, Madame LIE
| Vert Mrs. Elizabeth Cakes Smith and mum
| Der of others known either in the literary or
fashionable world. Madame Demorest led off
| in fashion, as was proper, and it is said her
dress was superb. Indeed, we understand that
the toilets of the ladies generally were elegant.
| No doubt the esthetics Of dress will be well
attended to and fully discussed at all the meet
ings. and this may lead to another American
declaration of independence in the matter OF
fashion and against the tyranny of Paris. The
ladies do not, however. confine themselves to
the question Of outside adornment or intel
hi. ,n1 ,orJ
comfort form an important part of the business.
There was lady N. ID. present, but she did
not appear to exercise the functions of her
profession in regulating the diet. A little
advice in this matter would not have been
amiss, considering the delicate fair ones mixed
chocolate with lemonade and lobster sauce
with ice cream, and a number Of other things
equally as homogeneous. If it were delicate to
think about such matter at all we might
imagine the disagreeable sensations expe-
rienced after indulging in such mixed lunch.
II is quietly limited, though not openly avowed,
that this club is the beginning of a movement
to Offset the billiard room, club and other out
side indulgences of the men. Bachelors leave
the unmarried ladies in loneliness and hus-
bands their wives to go to clubs, leagues and
other more questionable places, and why
should not women associate for amusement?
But after all we advise the ladies of the
''Sorosis, among whom there is much talent,
grace and beauty, to do nothing in spite or by
the way of retaliation. If they confne them
selves to the cultivation of taste, literature
and their nteects, combined with social en-
joymcnt, they may do good and give high
and refined tone TO society; but let them
eschew mixed lunches of chocolate, lemonade
lobster salad, ice cream and other such moon
gruous materials at Delmonicos, or they VIII 20
.,ii il,. min and haVn 10 Nenu