New-York tribune., 1870-05-21
THE BROOKLYN VOMAN'S CLUE.

THE EXPERIMENT A SUGGESTIVE BALLOT
ESSAYS AND DISCUSSION on DRESS-PETRo-
LEUM V. NASBY Is TO ADDRESS THE LADIES.
The Brooklyn WOman's Club held its last
meeting of the yesterday afternoon at the resi-
dence of Mrs. Laura c. Buard Nearly all the members
present in the danest and pretest Of Summer
tunes. The President occupied dgnifed armchair,
and dscoursed herefrom with graceful superntendence
Several Committees appointed and their Summers
work prescribed The President made pleasant little
address, which she congratulated the Club upon the
of its experiment "an experiment." she said,
"that at the outset seemed very doubtful But in the
few months of existence the Club has increased from
a handful TO q membership OF between so and 90;
meetings have been largely attended, and char
acterzed by an intensity Of interest and unanimty of
feeling in regard TO aims and activities believe
that express the sentiment of the Club in saying that
while its object is primarily educational this is not in
tended to be its only function The desire promote
the best interests Of humanity, which in Constitu
ton is stated of objects, will, it is hoped,
prove stimulating influence TO the various Committees
and also TO the Club organization. That this Club
may be body Of independent thinkers composed ofndi
viduas in the best Of the term; Of women who
look at subjects with their eyes, arrive at their
conclusions and sOuty maintain their own convictions,
the supreme good that desire for it. There Is nothing
the women Of the age 80 much need as TO learn TO
do their own thinking. and to have faith in
their own convictions. Accept no man against thy
own SOUL is the admonton OF OF the wise Of the
past and somewhat prone 10 set oraces
of their own sex, would add nor woman either Le'
whether of public opinion or of the opinion OF those we
belle We in womans right the ballot, but still more,
believe in her right 10 be an individual and 1t is only as
means to this greater end that insist upon her poit
cal equality No doubt the ballot is very important
means but is only OF many and while we lack tins
one should be all the more ygilant In making the
most of every other-in thinking bravely and acting
nobly in the whole range of our activities II our Cq6
every member, and power for good to the comIn-
nity-it must be made up OF ndividuals, M ~ n. must
not be one womancpower; nor must lts le consist IA IN
the activity of its officers however energetic and devoted
sponsbhty making every meeting instructive and in,
teresting, and the organization great reservoir OF
months that viii intervene between this and next
meeting much earnest work will be done for the Club
that spirit e hepuness which has been the object of
the Club to incucae, and that reverence for humanity
that will sn9ss % on The Sd
vised that the gentlemen associate members SHOULD be
didn't believe in mems clubs nor In womens except as
Mans and woman's thought" she remarked by way OF
peroraton "man's and wOmans work in every depart
| world"
The Club listened to its President with gloved appreci
ation and resolved to go in the way that it should
Several essays read the subject OF Clothes "a
subject apparently full of interest it was continued
from the last meeting. One young lady discussed the
fascinating matter in all imaginable directions advocat-
ing dress for woman that would fulh preemnen
viduaity in dress, reinarking that women dress 700
much from the outside In recognzing ,e det % vi & ,o
careless, perhaps COARSE costuner and not their own
timid consciousness OF grace and beauty Happy will be
the artist world when dress from the inside out
when our clothes shall assist in personal
| assertion, and not blend all together
| in an inane crowd Of peripatetic popinjays!" The
President thought that much could be done by sensible
10 influence public opinion in the matter OF dress
In proportion barbaTians become civilized they give
up gaudy ornament and the attention woman bestows
dress is Of the strongest evidences OF her IN
ferior position She strongly condemned the habit OF de-
life styling 1t mpertinence She thought that, amer
oil hadt
out gaining any real beauty member feared that long
dresses were about reappear in the streeher dress
maker had told her The President said she would be
sorry TO see any member of the Club trailing long dress
the streets and Immediately all the ladies shook
their heads and murmured grave assent. Another
member thought that would be difficult Tor one person
TO assert herself against such thing there must De
body of ladies 10 do it, dasbing lady In charming at
tire said that she thought women dressed pretter now
than they ever had before Another member remarked
that women always think OF the existing fashion,
third thought that they had arrived at point OF freedom
and convenience in dress never arrived al DelOie.