Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-08-13
CLUBS FOR THE FAIR SEX
THE WORLD AT TIE FEET OF THE
MODERN WOMAN.


Times have changed since women
were shut up in their homes spinning
and weaving, picking and preserving,
brewing and baking from one years end
to another, each woman by herself, with
no time or thought for interests outside
her own door. Steam and iron have
stolen her work out of her hands; and,
what is more potent still, ideas have
crept into her secluded life, opened her
eyes, loosened the chains of custom that
bound her. and now at last the door
stands wide open. and all the world lies
at her feet
In the outside world as well as within
her walls changes have come. Latch
after latch has lifted at her touch-the
higher schools, the colleges, the pro
fessions; hardly bolt has been found
so rusty or so antiquated that her slight
fingers have not drawn it aside, till she
is free to go her way in the world to
learn and to grow broad beside her
brother
No lack Of work awaits her, and work
without urgent, life sapping toll. Her
heart is full of sympathy, her brain is
quick and wise in administration, her
hands are eager for all loving offices,
and she is fast settling to larger share
of the worlds work
But not all that she finds in the world
is drudgery, or perhaps more correctly
she has way Of hiding her labor with
flowers that takes away its severity, and
gives the hardest effort the appearance
of pleasure. Such are cunning devices
OF social intercourse and light refresh
ment to give festive air to earnest com
mittee work. entertainment Of music
and recitation to make palatable earnest
discussion of vital questions, pleasant
picnic excursions to soften necessary yet
unattractive visits In every case the
work is accomplished, and generally in a
satisfactory manner, but it has been done
in the woman's way of making it as
little repulsive as possible, and she has
had a good time meanwhile.
There is a curious popularity about
women's good times among themselves.
They are almost inyariablya a. combina-
ton of work and play. The liveliest and
gayest occasion has usually its accom-
panying serious purpose-a study to be
carried on. exercises for intellectual
growth, practice in music or art, or some
philanthropic effort underlies the appar-
emily mere social meeting, which, not
apparently only. but really, all enjoy
highly. Indeed, it is proverbial among
themselves that one can't get party Of
women together for mere good time.
Some purpose Of improvement or use
must be the magnet to draw
First, and perhaps the most obvious
association just at present, is in wom-
ems clubs. These organizations, un-
known few years ago. are springing up
on ovary hand with mnr1oloas rapidity.
Scarcely woman who visits a club in
another town and notes the cornbina-
ton of benefits there enjoyed but goes
home and establishes one in her own.
The moment her prejudice against the
name is overcome she sees the immense
advantages it offers in several directions,
for the club is not for mere pleasure. II
always has an earnest aim This may
be mental training or some special form
of philanthropy Gn the broad sense). II
may be particular line Of work or sim
ply general intellectual culture. The
potency OF these associations in broaden.
ing. enlightening. uplifting and uniting
to hear of single club that has not
been an unmitigated benefit to the indi.
viduals and to the community in which
it fiourishes
There are several varieties Of clubs,
from the thoroughly and minutely or
ganized society with full set of officers,
frequently more than twenty. down to
the informal society with no permanent
officers whatever Each is good in its
place, but the size has good deal to do
in deciding which plan is best to adopt.
The question of luncheon makes an
other division in clubs. In a large city
like New York, where many members
live In suburban towns. luncheon is a
necessity, and has proved to be an ex-
ceedingly pleasant feature adding so
cial element that these associations
sometimes lack. The New York socie-
ties meet in private parlors Of some hotel
or large restaurant accustomed to enter
tanning parties. and the luncheon is fur
nished by the proprietor This is the
easier way. but some clubs prefer tc
have it served in their own rooms by a
caterer or housekeeper
One of the most delightful clubs
know has its luncheon on the picnic plan
Each lady carries what Is called Il 'sbox
lunch or provision for herself and hei
guest if she has one. the society furnish
ing hot coffee and tea One great pleas
ure of the club is its inforlnality. and
nothing can be more entirely unconven-
tional and social than the box lunch"
The craze of the age-in woman's
worlds for mental improvement. Al
most every woman in our cities. where
enlightenment and growth come earliest.
is engaged in study. Glasses for acquir-
ing languages or for practicing them;
for the study of history. ethics. science.
political economy or the science Of gov
ernment: for clearing away the clouds
about Browning's verse. unraveling the
inner meanings of Dante's great poem.
and for ferreting out the true signih-
canoe Of Shakespeare's conundrums,
even for the study of the laws regarding
women and property and for the prac-
tice Of parliamentary usage-all these
are common
Nor do these exhaust the list, which is
exceedingly interesting, as showing how
our thoughts are tending There are
classes In some OF the larger cities where
women too busy or too indolent to read
for themselves are taught topics for con-
versation. the news of the day in litera-
ture and science. the latest discoveries
or opinions, the gist OF new books, the
subiects-in word-that the world is
Mt that moment interested in. and that
an intelligent person would find out for
herself, and no one wishes to be igno-
rant Of
Summer schools for adults, TO utilize
even our precious vacations, which
some one has called the midsummer
madness f,r study" With instruction In
every branchof knowledge under the sun.
from cookery to divine philosophy, and
their full corps Of learned professors and
popular lecturers, are becoming more
common every year The latest addition
Is perhaps one Of the best: it is the WALK
ing class. where pupils are taught botany,
entomology, mineralogy, OF any other
- tl,.. xr,f.s.z ~, s.4sfat.t lessons