Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
PRETTY WOMEN IN DEBATE.
The Ladies Give an Illustration Of Par
hamentary Practice.

|
The Ladies Give an Illustration Of Par.
hamentary Practice.
From the Chicago Tribune
"a room in fashionable hotel Eighteen Of
twenty ladies disposed in easy attitudes abou
the center table or in groups here and there
hum of voices like that Of girls school dur
ing recreation. President raps sharply on the
table with the edge of paper weight. Audi.
BILE silence.)
The President-Ladies, the programme fol
the club to-day is a discussion OF the question:
"Why Are Women Not More Businesslike2 p
with an endeavor to put in practice some OF
the simpler rules and methods by which proper
habits Of accuracy may be induced. Oh, I beg
your pardon! The subject ia not for discus
sion; it is treated in paper which Miss Page
has kindly consented to prepare, and which we
are first to hear read. hope you will all pay
| the closest attention.
Miss Page-(rising Pre-
Mrs: Ford (also rising)-O, please may say
| q word first? It's about
Miss Shallow quilting her by the dress)-
That's not right You ought to rise to a point
| OF order, or to make a motion, or something.
Mrs. Ford-Mrs. President, l rise
The President-Mrs. Ford.
Mrs. Ford-To say that there is a chance just
| board Of overseers and my husband says
Miss Quickly-I don't think a mans say has
| any right to be brought in here. This is wo-
mems meeting.
Mrs. Ford-But he's real woman's rights, and
he feels just as we do in this, and he says We
ought to have a representative just as much
The President-Mrs. Ford, I'm not exactly
sure, but | think you're out of order, or some
thing, and
Mrs. Ford-well, I'm sure this concerns
women, and this club is for women, and don't
see why we can't talk on the subjects we were
formed for-that is, as a club Imean.
The President (doubtfully) go on;
but
Mrs. Ford-Perhaps 1 ought to ask Miss
Pages pardon for speaking in her time; but
this is so important
Miss Page bows politely
Mrs. Portland my husband thought it had
| better be brought up now, and so l put the mo-
| ton.
CTwo or three speaking together-But what
| is the motion? What do yop want us to doO
Mrs. Ford-Why, I'm sure spoke plainly
enough-to have a woman put Oh
Several voices-Oh, that's all right! Women
ought to be put on everywhere! Well move
Mrs. Slender-I second the motion. There!
I'm sure that's parliamentary.
The President-But don't quite SEQ
Mrs: Slender-Why. dear Mrs. President! you
|
| trary minded, it's q vote" You are the execu-
| tive officer.
| Mrs. Ford-Yes, and an awfully sweet one.
| Blows kiss from her finger tips).
| Miss Quickly-I don't think this things been
done right at ALL There ought to be q COM
mittee and an investigation, and some one ought
| to say something about
Mrs. Ford-About what? Hasn't a woman
| brains enough to be an overseer if she wants?
and doesn't she know more than half the men,
| and
| The President-Ladies, really this must stop.
We must 60 on in order It has been moved
and seconded-why! I've forgotten what has
been moved and seconded ...o...
All in chorus-That woman should be
| The President-O. yes! Well now, that that g
settled, will Miss Page please go on?
| Miss Page-Mrs. President, ladi--
Miss Shallow-Just one instant Miss Page. or
Mrs. President, or whoever ought to address,
(The president looks toward Miss Page. who
bows resignedly).
Miss Swallow! o! You're both so good! ]
| just wanted to say word about a subject that
| appeals to every woman. It's about dress-a
| national dress. l want to ask why we can't
| have something original and striking. some
thing at once elegant and refined that would
/ mt every lady and that every lady would look
| lovely in, without having to potter so much
| around among dressmakers and
Mrs. Slender (ecstatically)-It would be the
|
or Greek, like those Jahrmarkt people, where
| every one looks so picturesque and where
| Mrs. Ford-But we don't want to copy other
countries. If we're going to do it at all let's
| have costume of our own, with long angel
| sleeves and a soft clinging train, and
| Mrs. Slender (who has pretty feet We don't
| want train. III woman is ever to be emanci-
pated from her present helpless condition she
| ought to wear short skirts-real short Don't
| you think so. Mrs. President?
1 h. Dc.
Miss QUICKLY don't think the president
has right to have any mind-Oh, I don't
| mean that! But she can't express an opinion
| while she's in the
Chorus-Well let her come out Of the chair,
| then. She has just as much right to her opin-
| ion as any of us.
| Mrs. Slender-Of course she has. and she
knows it would be better for her sex to wear
short skirts that won't pull on the hips, and
| no corsets, but just lovely loose folds that
would lap over the breast, and one of those
great beautiful soft sashes. They have some
now at Fields and
| The Pressdent-Aren't we forgetting the de-
bate, or rather the paper that we proposed
Several voices-Oh, bother proposing! Man
proposes, but woman disposes; and this Is our
| meeting.
Miss Page sits DOWN. ...
Miss Shallow-Well, then, let's take avote on
this. I'm sure there could be no better begin
| ming OF business training for woman than
to give her proper dress, SO we are beginning
| just in the right way.
Mrs. Ford-Don't you think we ought to de-
| eide what the dress should be irst-some of us
| mightn't like it?
| Miss Shallow-It must be made so that we'd
| all have to like it. And besides liking isn't
the point. We must keep to the subject, for
that's just what men say we can never do.
Now the point here is
Miss QUICKLY don't think there's any need
| OF going over that again. We all know that
point; only think we ought to be sure that
every one could do just as she pleased about it,
| My dressmaker won't do anything that ism t
| right, and l can't give up my dressmaker.
Mrs: Ford-But you must if you want purely
| American Dress ....
Miss QUICKLY shan't! If that's what you
mean by national won't vote for it. Catch
| me making guy of myself for patriotism.
Mrs. Ford-Well, never heard
The President-Ladies, really! am amazed
| to think
Several yoices-The nresident hasn't q riobf