Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-17
-E REyEL PHOTOGRAPHED.

By this time all the people at the long
table were seated, with the President at the
head, the celebrities down the center and
the guests at the foot. In another room the
members of the club arranged themselves
about the small table, chattering like spar
rows. Pretty women, called custodians,
futtered around the table, Introducing and
serving people, and the revel began.
Being ladies' luncheon, of course its
elements were bouillon, croquettes, patties,
salad, ices and cake; its active principle,
water, of which quantities were consumed
with every course, and the conversation
never ceased. On one side the talk was of
the naughty Western Union telegraph girls
who were discharged for smoking cigarettes,
and one of the old Snrosis members said: II
more than the men," and on the other woman
was telling that she had no trouble keeping
house. When some of her perplexed sisters
ir qured into it and found out that she had
two old servants that had been with her for
years, with two younger ones for extra occa-
sons, and that she never went into her kitchen,
the wonder ceased. "What is Mrs D-s opin-
ion on the subject?" said one, and another an
swered: Haven't you known her long enough
to find out that she hasn't any? / never had
any fame or celebrity, but thank God have
opinions"
And so the stream of talk flowed on and on
gathered into the large room around table
behind which the President sat, mallet in hand,
and the garrisonlike features of her face brist-
ling with igurative hayOne;s.
SOME wELL-KNowN FEMALES.
Beside her Jennie June sat nervously opening
and shutting her fan, thinking of the speech
she had to make. She has a strong, resolute
face, with great intensity of expression and an
extremely nervousness of bearing. Across the
table Alice Cary's favorite niece, the little
"Lncy" of her writings, sat with quantity of
short curls beneath her bonnet and attended
by little maiden satellite with dark curls and
side with black satin dress. her
smiling face framed in black bonnet.
She is fair woman with blond hair, Just
touched with silver, and bright intellectual
terest in all about her. Marion Harland, Grace
Greenwood and host of other celebrities
gathered about in conventional bonnets and
gowns, scarcely distinguishable from the but
terf1ies and bees of social and domestic life.
Not once, but manv times the little silver NAL
let struck the table, accompanied by The de-
cideu "Ladiesi ladIe>! order. order. please"
Before the silence fell and the roll was called
someone sang love song and May Kyle Dal-
las read little original poem about 'Cupids
School" in a sweet low voice with her little
peculiar lisp. "Mrs. ThOmasl o, excuse me,
Mrs. President" came from far corner, I'VE
didn't hear, please have her read it again. We
don't know any more about love than we did
before" So Mrs. Dallas began to read again.
The lines that she said possessed one great
merit that of brevity. Still they could not
hear, and at last, standing the elastic springs
of her chair with what dignity she could mus
ter and laughing like schoolgirl, she read
the lines and the women ah'd and ah'd in con-
cert.
SWEET SOUNDS AND MAGNETISM.
There was some more love music, some sigh
ng nightingale's ode to something or other
and then the serious business of the day began.
1t was debate as to whether the condition Of
the working women would be most benefited
by individual effort or legislation. The first
speaker called was not a Sorosis woman, but
one of the invited celebrities, with bunch Of
carnations glowing on her breast and silver
King sDaughter's cross cleaning beneath them.
She was an impassioned. magnetic speaker who
pictured the wrongs and expressions of work.
ing girls in touching, thrilling tones. Half OF
The women in the room were in that delicious
condition just preceding q burst Of tears.
There's nothing the average woman SO revels
IN as pathos, and they were all thinking they
never would wear a ready-made ruffled SKIRT
again, which women were starving while
When the ten minutes which limits
n SOrosis speech came to an ebd, and cracking
down upon the flowers OF the speakers elo- |
quPnce fell the little silver hammer.
20, please, Mrs. Thomas. let her finish. I'll |
give her my ten minutes" said woman who |
had been talking all the time, and all over the |
room there were entreaties from the women.
Tap-tap-tap went the silver hammer, and |
Ladies" came the clear, calm voice. Some |
one must move suspension Of the regular Gus
tom in this instance"
"Imake that motor" shouted 10 or II women, |
and II second it, supplemented 10 or 20 more. |
SO the speaker resumed. The ladies slowly |
dissolved into an &c tasy of tende ness. Little |
snitfs were heard here and there, and per-
fumed handkerchiefs futtered fragrance as
she concluded that the silver cross of the |
Kings Daughters was to close the breach be- |
tween capital and labor. No one quite under |
stood which side of the argument she supported. |
The veteran debators of Sorosis shook their |
head ominously and futtered their fans ner- |
vously, as old war horses champ the bit and |
paw the ground while the enemy maneuvers, |
impatient that the fight does not begin, so they |
onged for the attack of the question itself in |
and parliamentary discussion.
ELoQUENCE BUT NO POINT.
Then gentle, low-voiced woman Of the |
Kindly Club read a long, beautifully written |
paper on protoplasms, and the individual ele |
nent of germ life or star mist or something of |
he kind. 1t was exquisitely written. The
'ound full phrases flowed smoothly on and on
ike broad calm river, full of carefully chos-
IN. high sounding words and expressions and |
rs near as could be determined, the efforts of
he Kindly Club were TO transform the wick 1
,dness of the employer to generosity 1t was
,ut a marshaling Of troop, not the roar of
nusketry and the old war horses champed the
Dit and fretted more than before.
'''Why doesn't she touch on the question:
.asped the President as she rnse to call her to
rider, not realizing that she couldn't stop that
orient of words. 1t flowed on peacefully to
he close.
Then another visitor with rarely practical
IDEAS and thorough knowledge of the working
tall lnpn ssho
.llowed, whereupon an old Sorosis member rose !
lu city, delivered herself of four sound ideas
n less than 40 words. and sat down. One alter
he other came the clear arguments, cutting like
word tnrusts straight at the knot of the argu-
nent, and the war hurses pricked up their ears
nd neighed in answer.
Then a pretty pink and white girl fluttered
'ut on the platform, and began a speech
ry. She was brim full of inspiration. ecstasy
nd politics. She knew Just how to set every
hing straight, although she was only 22 She
Dared along on the wave of her argument like
bird ON full-spread wing until suddenly bang
rent the icOnoclaStic hammer of the President,
rashing into the pretty images of her fancy.
he had touched on the doctrines of free trade,
nd all political discussion is prohibited in
'orosis. She righred herself up again, and once
lore began to soar aloft, when the sound of the
lallet called her back to earth again.
LAID OUT BY LAND REFORM.
This time it was the land reform that laid
er low. Said the President: II am very
Irry, but we do not allow party politics to
nter into our discussions"
But this is no Land Reform party" said the
of the debate, who was the speakers
mend.
Il must differ with you," said the President
nd firmly and decidedly she called the lady to
rder.
There was buzz all over the room, indignant
rotests at the Presidents decision. equally in
ignant objections to the speakers unfortunate
iusan. In the midst of Ii all the girl herself
as getting white about the lips and her cheeks
nd ewes were blazing. The DISPUTE waged
lst and furious and in vain the silver maIIet
ing out its warning sound; but never once did
le President lose her temper, her dignity or
er official smile.
At length a. white haired U.yses of the camp