Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-24

W%E5eI% b/Z7|
surprise parties, as a rule, are not the most
charming affairs in the world, though news
paper reports are generally prollhc Win ae-
jeetives giving THAT impression. One prighe
little woman has even gone so lar as 10 say
that in her opinion the giving of a surprise
party should be a penitentiary ofense,
though it must be said those who get the
surprise are generally very philosophical,
and take the surprisee as in marr1age-lh
sickness or in health, for better or LOT
worse"
However, pleasant or unpleasant, enJoya-
bic or disagreeable, the past week has been
one grand composite surprise party, consist
ing of any number of component surprises
that have been the basis for no end OF AMI
mated comment. In the first place 1t was
surprising to hear so much unfavorable crit
icism regarding the May Festival, and to
know that the great financial deficit was
attributed to bad management, when in
Quiry substantiated the fact that it was due
TO a wonderful streak of economy that sud
denly affected some of the Weather clti-
zens of the city, who became friendly and
occupied boxes Jointly.
A woman's Rights Surprise.
The lecture delivered by Rev. Charles Ed
ward Locke the first of the week was refresh
ing in surprise, as ministers of the gospel are
generaIly conservative on tie question of
women and the ballot, and are diffident
about indorsing and encouraging women in
their pursuit of the ballot, and the majority,
if not the entire, audience which assembled
to hear the gentleman's discourse expected
him to advise women to increase their lnf1u-
ence and right their wrongs by prayer
Instead of that, the speaker advocated
strongly the right of franchise for the fair
sex and predicted much better state OF
affairs, politically and morally, when they
obtained il. Mr.. Locke viii discover event.
ually, if he is not already aware of the facts,
that his lecture was pleasing surprise to
all progressive women III the city ana all
the brains of women; and, that by this lee
ture he greatly increased the popularity he
previously enjoyed with thinking, active
people.
The Art Society was treated to little sur
prise at its reception Thursday evening,
when it expected to have possession of its
charter and assume the dignity of char
tered organization, but received the 1nfor-
nation that the document had been refused
by the court. Such turn had never been
deemed possible by that worthy august
body, with aims of such great altitude, and
the shock was therefore the greater. How
ever, the charter was refused simply on
points so fine that a judicial microscope
must have been used in discovering them,
and by the aid of strong magnifying glasses
they will be rectlfied and the charter once
more appear in the courts as suppliant.
The Daughters Of the Revolution.
The organization of the Daughters of
the American Revolution" has played a
prominent part in this week of surprises.
1t certainly was surprising to hear the or
ganization condemned quite bitterly by peo-
pie who pride themselves on being leaders
of the social world in this city: and to hear
them affirm that it never could be a success.
1t was surprising also that everyone does
not know that the very blHe blood
OF the country flows in the veins of the
descendants of the revolutionary heroes.
surprising to ascertain that descendants of
50 many of the Revolutionary officers are re-
siding in Pittsburg, and that 29 officers were
represented by their descendants in the first
meeting called by Mrs Nathaniel i. Hogg,
Regent of the new society," .nAl in all, lit is sur
prisiug that every one does not indorse the
organization of q society having lineage in
stead of shekels as a basis.
But the greatest of all, however, in this
week Of numerous surprises was the fact that
at the mass meeting called Friday evening
in the interest of the establishment OF
Young Women's Christian Association in the
city, one minister only was present, though
every minister from his pulpit last Sunday
announced the meeting, the place and the
evening of holding it. The subject of estab-
fishing the society has been q matter of
agitation among religions workers for
fortnight past, principally among women.
The society is needed, formed and main
tanned, so it is affirmed for exactly the same
reasons and on exactly the same terms as is
i L
is purely evangelical and an auxiliary to
church work. Were it otherwise, it would
be safe to say its foundation here would en-
croach upon the prerogatives of a very old
organization, known as the Womanis
Christian Association, that engages all ac-
tive working philanthrophists in its vast
field of charitable work. As it is, however,
a second organization in the East End en-
gagged in the same work and bearing the ex-
act name the new society proposes taking,
objects streuously to the ursupation.
Probable Calls for Cash.
The gentlemen do not seem to favor the
movement much, and why the clergymen
refrain from giving it tangible encourage
ment, when it would tighten materially their
labors and assist them so greatly, is not
known. The husbands and brothers remain
negative probably because they realize that
it is their pocketbooks that will be called
upon to supply the deficiency left by the
prayers oftheir wives and sisters, as sad to
relate most of the wives ana sisters have
nothing of their own to offer such an enter
prise but prayers, even though their fingers
may be covered with costly gems and their
figures robed in laces and line silks. And
strange to say, most women in asking the
custodian of the family exchequer for
check of $50 do so with
more embarrassment, humility and rever-
ance than they feeIin petitioning heaven to
grant the most eXtravagant requests. 1t is
TO be hoped that if the society is established
here, in the great and glorious evangelical
are emphatically the button-holinG, lobbyist
manner with Which the highest power is so
frequently promised glory if he will only
grant requests and teach in its stead
proper reverentiai form of prayer.
In case the organization is effected, as in
dicatlons seem TO point, 1T Will without
doubt soon become a cOmmendaDle and in
teresting feature of this city's organized
work, and if such gentleman as Mr.. H.
Kirk Porter, who has used his influence so
wisely and his money SO generously in pro-
noting the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tiOn, should become interested in it, finan-
cial basis would soon be assured.
They Got the Encouragement.
Mr.. Porter, by the way, was the only prom
inent gentlemen besides Rev. DIR. Suther-
land present at the mass meeting, and he
was called upon by the Chairman to make an
address after the speaker of the evening,
Miss Dunn, an international Secretary of
Chicago, had finished. lis remarks, how
ever, were decidedly of the subjunctive and
potential mood, though very graceful and
pleasingly given. They did not thoroughly
meet the appreciation of the interested
ladies, and whether with or without intent
the Chairman, in requesting DIR. Sutherland
to give a talk, asked him to speak some
swords of encouragement for the project.
The modified request was unnecessary, as
DR. Sutherland, though admitting his ignor-
ance of the subject, until he arrived at the
church, with his usual skill in solving prob
lens with unknown religious quantities, had
attained in this one an affirmative result,
and did not hesitate to so express himself.
Clearly and emphatically the words of en-
couragement- the Chairman had requested
fell from his lips il eloquent, convincing
language, and then and there amid burst
of applause he announced himself an advo-
cate of a Young Woman's Christian Associa-
ton OF PlttSbuTg.
KATHLEEN HUssKy-wArsoN.'