The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-28
EXAMPLE OF wOMEN'S WORK
Enterprise That Finds Partial Accom-
pIishmentin an Imposing Building.
Propylnum Dedicated to Advanced Uses of the
Tins-A Brilliant Audience Pays Trib-
ute 10 a Well Earned Triumph.

OF indianapolis, as II closed with the dedi-
cation of their new building. the PROXY
leum. 1t wac then that the stockholders
and the friends they invited gathered in
the spacious hall to witness exercises
rounding Oft work planned by women and
carried out with women's money. The i'm
posing building on North street was brill
liant with light, ladies and their escorts
o'clock, but an hour before that
those holding tickets Of admission
began to arrive. The spacious en-
trance is but the preface TO chapters of de-
lights. The broad hall. finished in oak. is
richly furnished with all that art and taste
can suggest. At the left is an oblong room
which will be known as the east reception
room. This 10 also in oak, with
everything of luxurious appointment.
This room will be the home of the Woman's
Club, the Matinee Musicale and clubs of
lesser numbers. Already their Libraries
u secretaries desks arein position. Back
OF tnis parior Is a small committee-room
west reception parlor, similar to the other,
though as yet unfinished, except with n
few chairs and a table. which leaves it not
wholly bare.
Oiicctiy Oppo8ito tu6 lIOLU uOOT 10 I0o
staircase. which leads to the halla bove-a
well-lighted, well-ventilated room. with
seating capacity of five hundred. with
hrm. light, comfortable chairs. The plat
form is o combination arrangement of box
like portions, which can be placed at will
small, long or broad, or be taken
apart and placed in rows about
the ball on the occasions of dances
and like entertainments. This hall will be
X~> 800 - A. -
hibit. Its acoustic properties ere admir-
able and In every respect 1t is we'll adapted
FOR each purpose for which it was designed.
A small musicians' gallery at one side. with
rooms at either side. make that q desirable
feature. On the hall floor there are also
small rooms. which may be used as dress
ipg-rooms for dramatic performances. In
the basement are complete culinary ar
engagements, with kitchen, dining and small
rooms for varions purposes: The whole or
any part of the building will be rented for
public or private entertainments.
II OBLIGATORY EXERCISES.
The large hall was filled last night with
the former having the privilege of inviting
one guest. The stage was occupied by the
president of the Propyleum. Mrs. May
Wright Sewall. Governor Hovey, Mayor
Sullivan and the guests from abroad and
~ " ~ thO
hour Mrs. Sewail announced the first nun
Der OF the programme, double
trio, "Expectation,n sung by Mrs.
w. w. Scott. Miss Wallick. Mrs.
Sharpe, Mrs; Hc%wIand; Mrs Mrs Nor.
followed by the invocation by Rev. DR.. N.
A. Hyde, president of the Art Association.
Mrs. Sewall then introduced Mrs. Margaret
ID. Chislett, vice-president of the Propy-
l@um, who read the historical sketch.
Mnaf nf thu faafa efafad wara oiuap An N
previous account Of the Propyleum as 1t
appeared in the Journal. ION the 30th of
April. 1855. a committee of seven ladies'"
SAID Mrs. Chislett in the course of her re-
Club by finding a suitable room in which to
hold their meetings, were startled by q
proposition from the chairman, Mrs. Sew
all. This was to organize a voluntary
committee and consider the feasi-
s sln,sy Ct f. r aSa%,ns Of f%nd ssoss s0% fop thy
purpose of erecting and owning a building,
for the use of the various clubs-lIterary.
social, artistic and musical-which are so
numerous among us. The suggestion was
sewall, Mary N Walcott. Elizabeth v.
Pierce, Harriet M. Foster, Helen b. Hol-
man. Carrie +. Milligan and Mrs. Chislett.
The stock is owned entirely by women, and
they have carried the work to success.
That we ave not been foolishly indie
pendent Is shown by the fact that four gen.
tlemen-Mr.- Milligan, Mr.. Fairbanks, Mr..
Pierce and Judge H-olman-have, from the
very first, been our legal advisers, and
have, in the kindest manner, given
vice We have needed. and we are
under many obligations to them"
Mrs. Chrislett %recounted the experiences
and pleasures the women had had working
together, and referred to the loss by death
OF Mrs. Ship to the working band, thus:
NXat onra IA n hrOkQu Circla tO-niuht and
we miss n whose gracious presence was
always welcome; whose wise counsel and
sound Judgment was Our strength, and
whose courage and urselfsh devotion to
duty won our admiration. She gave to
this work freely of her best while her
strength lasted, and We, her associates and
friends, will ever carry her memory in our
hearts as a most rare and precious treas
ure." Miss Walker then sang exqisitely
the "Gondolieria." by Meyer Helmund.
r sEwALL's
Mrs. May Wright Sewall, as president of
the Propylaum, spoke at length of the
movement and the purposes IL had in view.
In the outset of her address she paid = high
tribute to Mrs. Ship, one of the directors.
whose death cast q cloud upon the time of
rejoicing. la passing to the essential topics
of her address she disclaimed that the In
dianapolis P~ropyleum is the first stock
company ever formed by American women.
In origin. method and scope, however. the
Propyleum varies widely from any exist
ing association. But the existence of
buildings owned by women elsewhere sus-
tanned the idea that such enterprise could
be realized for Indianapolis.
Mrs. Sewall then recounted the needs
that ave the organization it's impulse,
the Propyl@um having been erected for con
temporary uses. the articles of incorpora-
ton pledging the ladies TO erect a building
which shall serve literary, artistic, scien.
tific, industrial, musical, mechanical and
educational interests. To each of these
distinct purposes will some portion of the
building be particularly dedicated during
the current week. She then set out what
has heretofore been published relating to
the %upa OF the building and the
events as so far arranged hat are to occur
therein. Mrs. Sewall, continuing. said:
All of these various uses 10 which our building
will be devoted have one element in common,
aud. like the building itself, express one ton
dency or the time. They all imply, and, indeed,
are all dependent upon and all result from. asso.
ciated effort. Many OF them imply that the idea
of associated effort has drawn into its widening
channel the energies OF women as well as those
modern society from every preceding phase in
the social evolution of tho race. The greatest
social philosopher living at the beginning of this
century. and one of the greatest social philoso-
pliers that ever lived. the great Goethe. wrote:
.Boys should be dressed in uniform. because
every man must learn TO work with other men,
and must merge his taste In the common taste,