Telegram-herald., 1891-08-15
CLUBS FOR THE FAIR SEX
ytsg WoaLo AT THg FEgV or Thg
nooEHn WOMAN


nsip q. Hes Presrsss-
CosysisAa nDi. ~ Ansrioas Pre-. Azsosia-
uGn-l
Times have changed sincs women
were shut up IN their aomes spinning
aad weaving. pickhng and preserving.
brewing aud baking from one years end
70 another, each woman by herself, with
NO time or thought for interests outside
her own door. Steam and iron have
stolen her work cdt Of her hands, and,
what Is more potent still. ideas have
creps into her secluded hfe. opensA her
eye. loossned the chains Of custom that
bound hsr. and now at last tho door
stzads wide open. and all the world lies
Ct her feet
In the outside world "a well - within
her walls changes have come. Latch
after latch has lifted at her touch--ths
higher schools, the colleges. the pro-
fessions: hardly . bolt has been found
20 rusty or 90 antiquated that her slight
fingers have not drawn it aside. till she
Il free to 60 her way in the world TO
learn and to grow broad beside her
brother.
No lack Of work awaits be-. 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 shs 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 q way Of hiding her labor with
flowers that takes away its severity, and
gives the hardest effort the appearance
Of . pleasure. Such are cunnin< devices
Of social intercourse and light refresh
ment to give q 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 IL accomplished, and generally in q
satisfactory manner, but it has been done
in tho woman's way OF making it as
little repulsive a. possible. and she has
had good time meanwhile.
There is . curious popularity about
women's good times among themselves.
They are almost invariably comb:na-
ton Of work and play. The hveliest 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 proverbia among
themselves that one can't get q party OF
women together for a nero 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 every hand with marvellous rapidity.
Scarcely q woman who visits q club in
another town and notes the combina-
ton Of benefits there enjoyed but goes
homo 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. 1t
always has an earnest aim. This may
be mental training or some special form
Of philanthropy Gn the broad sease( 1t
may be particular line Of work or SIM
ply general intellectual culture. The
potency Of these associations in broaden
ing. enlightening. uplifting and uniting
Its members Is inestimable. have yet
TO hear of q single club that has not
been an unmitigated benefit to the indi-
viduals and to the community in winch
II nour,shes.
There are several varieties OF clubs,
from the thoroughly and minutely or
ganixed society with a 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 n good deal to do
in deciding which plan is best to adopt.
The question Of luncheon makes an
other division in clubs. In large city
like New York, where many mem Der:
live in suburban towns, luncheon Is
necessity, and has proved to DO an ex
ceedingly pleasant feature, adding q So
cial element that these associations
sonetimes lack. The New York socie-
ties meet In private parlors Of some hote
or large restaurant accustomed TO enter
tanning parties, and the luncheon 10 fur
nished by the proprietor, This is the
easier way. but some clubs prefer K
have Il served in their own rooms by 1
caterer or housekeeper.
One of tho most delightful clubs
know hss its luncheon on the picnic plan
Each lady carries what is called q "bo,
lunch" or provision for herself and hel
guest il she has one, the society furnish
ing hot coffee and tea One great pleas
ure Of the club is It's informality, ans
nothing can be more entirely unconven
tiousl and social than the "box lunch
The craze Of the age-in womsni
worlds for mental improvement Al
most every woman in our cities, wher'
enlightenment and growth come earliest
Is engaged in study. Glasses for acquir
ing Languages or for prscticing them
for the sfudy Of history. ethics, science
political economy or the science OF gov
ernmcnt; for clearing away the cloud
about Browning's verse, unraveling th'
inner meanings Of Danse's great poem
and for ferretinz cut the true signi1
eancs Of shakesp~are's connndrums
even for the study ef the laws r>gstdinx
women aud property and for the prsc
tics Of parliamentary usage-all thes'
are ccmmcn
Nor 20 these exhaust the list. which 4
exceedingly interesting ~ showing how
S>x.1s.,r Tko~a