The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-16
AN INNOVATION TRIUMPHANT.

dN 4NNOfA11ON LII U MI nAN1s
Although much has been said by way
of jest and sarcasm concerning the glib
manner in which women use their
tongues, it is yet a matter of history
that until comparatively recent date
twenty-five years or thereabouts ago
women had not discovered that they
had tongues that they could use in pub
lie to the mutual profit Of themselves
and others. If since then they have
celebrated the discovery with persist
ence, and in the face of all obstacles, it
is surely no wonder. That they have
talked to some purpose, is clearly evil
denced by the manner in which their
lectures are received, and the treatment
accorded to the lecturers themselves, as
compared with that of even five years
ago. But the knowledge that they can
speak, and the use of that knowledge, is
not all that women have learned and
practiced in the past quarter of a CEN
tury. They have found out that fine
words, even when waited to an audi
ence in tones persuasive or eloquent, or
addressed to their reason in the most
cogent logic, is not all that is required,
and having proven to men that they
can lecture, preach, plead, and even
lobby, quite as successfully as can their
brethren, they are now turning their at
tention to other things.
1t had been so long declared that
women had no talent for management
and no tact for the conduct of affairs,
that when it was first proposed to form
a "woman's club" the idea was secuted
as chimerical in the extreme and savor-
ing largely of presumption. Women,
however, who had faithfully stayed at
home and earnestly labored for years to
entice their husbands or brothers to for
sake club-rooms for their companion
ship in vain, began at length to weary
of the hopeless task, and partly, per-
haps, as panacea for loneliness, partly
for self-improvement, and it may be,
partly from little wicked desire "to be
even," which is not all feminine, they
conceived and carried out the idea of
the establishment of woman's club.
Men said it must not be; but it was and
is. They declared it could not live; but
after steady trial of years, it continues
to thrive and grow.
The New York Graphic says "that
while most of the news clubs in that
city are heavily in debt, Sorosis, the
woman's club, which for years was
target for ridicule, has over 81, 500 in its
treasury" This is easily accounted for,
for mems clubs are convivial, and for
this reason exceedingly expensive,
while women cOntrive to make theirs
sufficiently attractive without the use
of stimulants. The paper above quoted,
in concluding an article upon the sub
ject, uses these words:
The conservatism, which is one of the strong
elements in wOman's character, is one reason
of the success of these associations. 1t has
kept them from introducing questionable top
les for discussion, or sanctiOning crude and
loose social theories, or admitting persons OF
doubtful reputation to membership, and, per-
haps, were woman to take part in politics, she
would be conservative rather than reforming
or innOvating force, and possibly, Judging by
the way she re-elects officers, might advocate a
third term. The Radical Club, in Boston, owes
its success very largely to the conservative in
Stinct, tact, and discretion of Mrs. Sargent, at
whose house it now holds its sessions. 1t is a
purely literary and intellectual association,
and has shown what the organizing capacity
of one woman can accomplish in that direc-
ton. The club in Dubuque has something of
the same character and influence. In short,
the wOman's club is a demonstrated success.
1t has survived opposition and answered criti-
cism by what it has become. And while the
clubs of the other sex are entirely for social
interchange and conviviality, the wOman's
club has ventured in more than one instance
to render needed and useful service in philan-
thropic fields. The Brooklyn Club has set a
fine example in this direction, and its members
have surprised themselves quite as much
they have astonished and delighted others by
what has been achieved. The next ten years
will doubtless witness a large increase of these
institutions, which will have an important in
finence in forming public opinion and direct
ing social movements to the best ends.