The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-12
MlEl( Eagle
OF FAIR WOMENS CLUBS.
THE CITY OF NEW YORK POSSESSES
SEVERAL THAT ARE NOTABLE.

Working Girls Club-The Twinkle Club.
Copyright by American Press As, ociation.l
The Twinkle club-doesn't the name
suggest sparkling conversation, full of
epigrams and repartee and bright stories?
1t means all that, and much m ore that
is equally enjoyable, according TO the
enthusiastic accounts of the little COM
pany of women who have banded them
selves together under that name. 1t is
the youngest and, if 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 purposes and
the methods and purposes Of Sorosis-the
Oldest woman's club in the UnitedlStates
there Is a wide difference difference
which illustrates very wildly the change
there has been in women's clubs, and
women, too. since Sorosis was formed,
twenty-five years ago.
Sorosis is, and has always been. club
for mental Improvement, and it Is about
as far removed from the masculine idea
of 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 one of which has threatened
10 break the club into several small, but
bright and happy, companies. But it
has kept itself intact, and has come out
of every one Of them stronger than be-
fore. During ali last winter it had a
long continued earthquake over the
question Of whether CT not it shall have
a club house, and start out at this late
day TO be a club after the masculine
idea thereof Someof the members have
been strongly in favor Of leasing a large
and expensive house. fitting it up into
reception rooms, bedrooms, libraries and
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 yet
ready financially 10 take SO important a
step. However. those in favor of house
won, and by and by Sorosis will proba-
bly, maintain with matronly dignity an
establishment Of az much consequence
rs the Union League or the Lotos.
Among the best known members Of
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 Dallas, Mrs.
Eliza Archard Connel Rev. Phoebe Han
afford, DR.. Jennie Lozlar, 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 Ia the parent clgb,
and IN the several branches that have
been organized in different parts Of New
Yorl, and adjacent CT les, there must be
membership, all told, approaching
Thousand. Miss Grace Dodge is the chief
officer OF the parent club. the originator
of the idea and the constant and Jealous
watcher of al its interests. She is loved
and revered by all the members as sell
dom falls TO the lot Of any woman. 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 prac-
teal ways.
The Meridian club would have been
more appropriately, if less elegantly,
named had its founders called it the
Mum" club, for its members never tell
anything that happens at It's meetings.
And year ago last winter it even de-
clined Sorosis' invitation to the conven-
ton of women's clubs because reporters
were to be admitted It's membership is
limited to thirty, and these are elected
in the alphabetical order of their names.
There Ia no permanent president, but at
each meeting 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 dash of
philanthropy thrown Ia Each mem
Der can invite guests as many and as
often as she likes, provided each one will
make solemn promise before she
enters its doors never, never to tell
what she is about 10 see and hear.
The Society for Political Study is a
very serious and Woodworking club.
During the winter season it spends ane
afternoon week discussing such ques-
tons as taxation, the tariff, state aid to
education, wages, the relations between
labor and capital, and similarly weighty
subjects. Mrs. Z, b. Wakeman is presi-
dent, and DR.. Louise Fiske Bryson is one
of its active members. Moncure d. Con-
way once lectUred 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 it 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 8dmitted-onlv pro-
fessional artists vino have had pictures
IN public exhibitions. At first its only
intention was 10 meet at the studios of
the members and discuss and criticiSe
one anothers work. But with organiza-
tion and a beginning the plan broad
ened, and they saw before them the pos
sibihty of important and very helpful
work. AS result they held their first
exhibition Of paintings last March. 1t
r,-as q very cr,i,t and r,r.ivata affair b,,+