Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-12

| In an adaptation" by kyrle Bellew OF Shakes-
perre's antony and Cleopatra" Could Mrs.
Potter hear the way the town is talking, it
ought to bring bushes to her cheek. The gen.
eral verdict Of the public is that her play
should be put in the same plane with ''Black
Crook, !" 'sMathias Sandorf'' and such spectacu-
lar extravaganza, in which there Is little else
but gaudy show and the display Of the feminine
form. Everybody has seen that picture Of
Cleopatra, Of Egypt, in her barge, which has
been so broadly circulated BY means Of engrsv-
ings and Autographs, and everybody, Of course,
remembers that Madam Cleopatra had very
little on in the way of clothes in that picture.
Well, in the play Mrs. Potter is exactly that
sort of o Cleopatra. And there isn't any re-
deeming feature to this display in the way Of
where she should be powerful she is petulant,
| and her lines are maltreated in utterance and
emphasis as if she could not understand their
! meaning The mounting and costuming Of the
| play is magnificent but II Shakespeare doesn't
arise from the grave to protest against this
| burlesque upon his beautiful tragedy, the bard
| isn't the man took him to be, and my faith in
spiritualism is shaken. And yet Mrs. Potter
will draw. Oh, for an Anthony Comstock to
qu"'h the work of antony Bslle"'
There are probably girls in Washington who
are imbued with the foolish notion of coming
| to New York to make their living some time or
other. Every city and almost every village in
the Union has more or less young women who
look upon New York as the place Of all others
to give them adequate return for the talents
| they possess or think they possess. There is
no use telling these girls that they are better
off at home, for they won't believe it, although
| this fact has been preached to them through
| newspapers, churches, and their own parents
| 1 n
| note from young woman of no little talent and
| considerable common sense who came to New
York two years ago because she could make
''only bare living" in the western city where
| she had been born and reared, and because OF
the broader opportunities" New York afforded
| for advancement in her especial talent The
note merely said: Il don't know anything
about pawnkrokers, but want to pledge my
watch and rings and would you do it for me?"
The girl was too proud to give up and go back
to her parents, where she had a comfortable
| home, but she said that night when called in
reference to her note, "Oh, if I had
only believed what 1 heard and read
about the folly Of seeking a fortune in
New York, would not now be friendless and
| penniless. thought even if others had failed
| | would succeed, and God knows have tried"
And indeed she had tried. Not a new gown,
| not a new hat. not even SO much as a new rib
bon had she purchased since coming here, and
| she had worked from morning until night,
| through sickness and health, trying to obtain
recognition for the talent that at home had
been certain if only q small source of in
come. Wherever she went she found numbers
| of women, most Of them az capable as she, be-
| fore her. The supply was ten times in advance
of the demand, and she could only market her
| productions by producing something more
novel or more beautiful than the others could
devise, and then the remuneration was no
compensation for the extra time spent on the
| work On Monday secured this young woman
| lodgings in a semi-charitable institution for
| poor girls. as she could no longer pay for &C.
commodations in even cheap boarding
house, and yesterday the girl whose pride for
babe her to return to her welcome home and
! confess her failure gave up her art that she
had spent years Of study to acquire, and began
canvassing downtown Offices in an attempt to
sell letter copying book on a commission Of
| 10 per cent.
The annual banquet of Sorosis was held last
night at Delmonico's. This society of women
is known by reputation in every part of this
country, and there is much speculation as to
its intents and purposes, especially among men,
who are not admitted to its membership. To
its annual banquets, however, which are held
during the month of January each year, the
despised sex is invited, and some OF the bright
est and most distinguished men and women in
New York assemble on these occasions in such
numbers that Delmonicos great dining-hall is
sometimes put to severe test to entertain
them all.
Sororsis was founded as the result of feminine
pique. In 1868, just before Charles Dickens
departure from New York for his home in Eng
land, the Press Club gave him dinner at Del
monicos. Tickets were sold and eagerly
snapped up at SIS apiece, but nobody who
didn't receive an invitation could buy ticket,
and no ladies were invited. Several Of the
most prominent women in journalistic life in
the city, however, made application for tickets
to pay the same price for them that the men
paid. The committee of the Press club hav-
ing the matter in charge showed very little
courtesy in their response to these applications,
and granted the favor asked only at such late
hour that the permission to attend was not
availed of. The ladies thus discourteously
treated were, as q matter Of course, highly
and it may be said justly indignant, and they
then and thereupon determined to form press
club Of their own. The project was in the
discussed, and it was finally decided to form
an association Of women on a broader founda-
foundation than that of connection with news
paper work, and Sorosis was the result A few
bylaws for guidance were drawn up, and the
following brief platform was adopted:
The object Of this sssociAton is to promote agree
able and useful relations among Of literary and
aiism or psrtisanship ~ ''S'''n'
S..s sns be-
have found s.pFsssc%n in SGty.rd life and work
aims 10 estaDusu KIM OF IreenlasOOry among
women OF similar pursuits, to render them helpful to
each other, and bridge the barrier which Gus
tom and social etiquette place in the Of friendly
intercourse.
Il affords an opportunity for the discussion among
which promise to exert an important influence the
future of women and the welfare OF society.
Armed with this succinct statement of its
purposes, twelve women became charter men,
bers of the society, which has since created SO
much stir everywhere. Alice Cary was its first
president, Jennie c. Croly, vice-president, and
Kate Field, corresponding secretary. An in
itiation fee of 525 and annual dues Of $5 were
fixed upon, and badge, consisting Of a rosette
of white lace pinned upon the left shoulder,
with gold enameled .'S' inscribed with the
society's name spelled out in Greek characters.
AT one time there was considerable talk Of the
purchase or erection of club house for the
use of Sorosis. but the project was abandoned
on recount Of its cost, few of the members be-
ing rich and most of them being dependent
upon their professions for a living. The
society's meetings are held twice each month
Except during the summer) at Demonicos.
The social" meeting, held on the first Monday
in the month. is preceded by lunch, and the
members may invite their friends to listen to
the music, essays. readings and discussions
OF vital current questions which follow the dis
cussion Of the lunch. At the '.business day.n
however, on the third Monday Of the month.
the lunch follows the exercises instead of pre.
ceding it, and the meeting is strictly private.
and only concerns the practical needs and well
fare OF the society. The election of officers
occurs only once every three years, and al
4 . -.~<~ II. H.. =.