, 1890-10-16
OF FAIR WOMEN'S CLUBS.
THE CITY OF NEW YORK POSSESSES
SEVERAL THAT ARE NOTABLE.

Eminent Members-Ths New York wom-
Working Girls Twinkle Club.
Copyright by American Press Association
The Twinkle club-doesn't the name
suggest sparkling conversation, full Of
epigrams and repartee and bright stories?
1t means all that, and much more that
Is equally enjoyable. according to the
enthusiastic of the little com
pany Of women who nave banded them
selves together under that name. It is
the youngest and, II the aforesaid
women are to be judged unbiased wit
nesses, the brightest and most ENJOYABLE
woman's club in the city of New York.
Between its methods and p and
the methods and purposes Of Sorosis-the
oldest woman's club in the United States
there is II wide difference difference
which illustrates very wildly the change
there has been in women's clubs, and
women, too. since Sorosis WA formed.
twenty-five years ago.
Sorosis is, n has always been. a club
for mental improvement, and it is about
as far removed from the masculine idea
OF a club as the average woman of the
last generation was removed from the
average man in her ideas. occupations,
sympathies and ambitions. Sorosis has
had its internal storms, three or four of
them, each N of which has threatened
to break the club into several small, but
bright n happy, companies. But II
has kept itself intact, and has come GU.
Of every one Of them stronger than be.
fore. During all last winter it had a
long continued earthquake over tho
question of whether or not it shall have
q club house, and start out at this late
day to be n club after the masculine
idea thereof. Someof the members have
been strongly in favor Of leasing n large
and expensive house, fitting it up into
reception rooms, bedrooms, Libraries and
q restaurant, and starting out at club
housekeeping in the most approved style.
But the idea has been bitterly opposed
by some of the most influential members
because they think the club is not vet
ready financially TO take so important a
step. However. those in favor of a house
won, and by and by Sorosis will proba-
bly, maintain with matronly dignity an
establishment of as much nsequen
as the Union League or the Lotos.
Among the best known members CT
Sorosis, who are seen at its monthly
luncheons and discussions at Delmonico's
or at its annual dinner, at which men Of
national reputation enjoy the clubs hos
pitality and join in brilliant after dinner
speeches, are Mrs. Ella Dietz Clymer,
the president; Mrs. NJ. Louise Thomas,
Mrs. Marion Harland' Terhune, Olive
Thorn Miller, Mary Kyle DaIlas, Mrs.
Eliza Archard Conner, Rev. Phoebe Han
aford, DIR. Jennie Lozier, Mrs. Jenny
June Croly, Mrs. "Grace Greenwood
Lippincott.
The Working Girls club is probably
the largest and most influential woman's
club in New York. In the parent club,
and in the several branches that nave
been organized in different parts of New
Yorl' and adjacent cities, there must be n
membership, all told, approaching a
thousand. Miss Grace Dodge is the chief
officer OF the parent club. the originator
of the idea and the constant and Jealous
watcher of all its interests. She is loved
and revered by all the members rs sell
dom falls to the lot of any oma The
parent organization has a club house of
its own. and the several branches have
club rooms that are not only coy and
cheerful, but are useful in many prnc-
teal ways
The Meridian club would nave been
more appropriately. il less elegantly.
named had its founders called it the
Mum club, for its members never tell
anything that happens Mt its meetings.
And a year ago last winter it even de-
clined Sorosis' invitation to the conven-
ton of women's clubs because reporters
were TO be admitted. its membership is
limited to thirty, and these are elected
in the alphabetical order of their names.
There is no permanent president. but ut
eacn meeting n temporary chairman is
chosen, the members taking service in
alphabetical order. The club meets at
the houses of its members, and its aim is
supposed to be social enjoyment, with
intellectual development and a dash of
philanthropy thrown in. Each mem
Der can invite guests rs many and as
often rs she likes, provided eachone will
make n solemn promise before she
enters its doors never, never TO tell
what she is about to see and hear.
The Society for Political Study is a
very serious and Woodworking club.
During the winter season it spends one
afternoon n week discussing such ques-
ions rs taxation, the tariff, state aid to
education, wages, the relations between
labor and capital, and similarly weighty
subjects. Mrs. 7. B. Wakeman is presi-
dent. and DIR. Louise Fiske Bryson is one
Of its active members. Moncure d. Con
way once lecturel before the club, and
has nothing but words OF high praise
and admiration for its work and the
ability of its members.
The Woman's Art club is not yet two
years old, but is already active and Wig
orouS Il was formed with the intention
OF making ii primarily OF professional
usefulness, and the success it has already
attained is proof that artistic talent may
exist along with practical capacities,
No amateurs are admitted-only pro-
f~essional artists who nave had pictures
in public exhibitions. AT first its only
intention was to meet at the studios of
the members and discuss and c~riticise
one another's work. But with organiza-
ton and n beginning the plan broad
ened, and they saw before them the pos
sibility of important and very helpful
work. AS "a result they held their first
exhibition of paintings last March. 1t
was a very quiet and private affair, but
one hat was surprising. to all who had
the good fortune to receive invitations.
in the excellence of the work shown.
The number Of members is limited to
forty AT Orese.t If whom st4Nnt fl-'-tr