The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-18
HRS Julia Ward Howe and the Wo-
mans Club of New Orleans.

There is in New Orleans an institution
called "A Woman's Club" 1t was call
ed into existence by the belief that some
way should be provided whereby wo-
men, earning their own living, could
have a pleasant, cheerful room, with
books, papers, magazines, chess, and a
piano, 70 which they could resort in
their leisure hours; and reserve fund
fr IN which they could draw IN their
time of need. They are a band of earn
est women, realizing their deficiencies
and needs; and, believing in the inner
ent capabilities of their sex TO rise TO
purer, higher and more healthy heights
of intellectual life, have banded to-
gcther; first, as means of personal inn
provement To each OF them individually
aud then as a nucleus to all women who
genuinely desire The elevation of them
selves, aud their sex To this club, aud
all other working women, Mrs. Howe,
the efficient head of the Woman : De-
p@rtment at the Exposition, delivered a
lecture several nights since. This was
treat | hailed wit delight; and ii WAS
with my appreciative faculties sharpen
ed To the utmost that | repaired to the
hall of delectaIion with my charming
chaperone-no masculines being allowed
70 enter the cherished precincts. There
1 found assemb ed a vast number of,
not only wOI king women, but many
fashionabes- including in their midst,
brilliant intelltcis and much rare cub
ture. Alter a few moments waiting,
which were spent IN admlring contem
plation OF the tasteful decorations uf
the room and of the beauty OF The
youthful president uf the club, who sat
upbn the ru>, rum with other ladies'
Mrs Howe appeared and WIS led with
quit dls ultH 10 the place OF reception,
aud very gracefully intr"ducod to the
autil-nct. OR t, e. rested upon an old
lady, cad la mourning garments, with
Il white camciia at her throat. On her
gray hair rested "A very pam, white cap,
caught at the back with two small dla
muud plns. IL has been SAID that she
has the manners of duchess On the
rO>i rum she Is all WOmHiIiint s. ana Dig
nIty. combined with rare powers ut
intellectual attracGiVeueSs. she b-gau
by addressing ii few remarks 10 the WO
mans Cluo. Ihe object and system OF
which she Was lully acquainted, belong
ing tu one OF the same order Ia Boston.
rnen followed d fuil description of this
Boston Club, winch "f cours-, is perfect
in its way, as all things III Boston
usually are. This led her To speak
of. her travels abroad land of her
lectures To foreign womeA." Then fnl
loved discourse on the sex generally
their widening sphere OF social and
public activity. She advocates strongly
professional women, in fact, speaks beau
tIfuliy encouragingly of ioork for the
sex whatever its nature may be, believ-
ing thoroughly that Il true woman can
fiji any position she may be called on to
occupy, with dignity and honor. Thi,
is the ring of the metal we should all
feel. Q, how do hope and pray that
our Southern women will catch the fire
of the progressive spirit with which
Mrs Howe is imbued, and push aside
the walls of frowning propriety which
has proved barrier 10 their aspirati ms
heretofore, and declare, by their actions,
their power to cope with a world which
has made their sphere Of action so harrow
and helpless Numbers of women were
quoted VINO had gained success and APP
plause in the different avocations and
professions. 1t is being done constantly
by the women of the north. Why may not
we AT one Jlllle L WAS As indignant 1T
the thought OF northern woman being
appointed the head of the Woman's
Department at the New Orleans Exposi-
ton as numbers of Others we're; but
after having heard Mrs. Howe's broad
views of life and human affairs generally,
and after considering her national char
acter, the fame she has gained by her
strength of mind and nature. her ex-
tended experience and cultured Thoughts.
/ have become beautifully reconciled
aud now cry, all honor to Mrs. Howe,
the upholder and honor of her SEX
the "Woman's Club" am sure will
meet the appreciation and support of all
thinking women. May it grow in pros
perity and strengthen and deepen
in its far reaching powers of good. May
its meeting room prove haven of rest
to the tired brains and limbs of the
toiling many, where world IF care will
he shut out, a world of intellectual,
moral, and spiritual enjoyment shut in.
A MADISON GIRL.