St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-02
WOMEN's CLUBS.
A New Feature in the Life ofCoun
try Women.

try Women.
Indianapolis journal.
The distinguished gathering of
woman's clubs. held in this city few
days ago, calls especial attention 20
recent feature in this new life for
women, viz: the formation of clubs in
country districts. There is no life more
lonely and isolated than that of the.
farmers wife, none more monotonous
and unvarying in its daily routine. One.
phase OF its effects is seen Ill the
fact that the per cent of farmers
wives in the insane asylums is larger
than that OF all other women com
Dlned. The treadmill of hOusework is
tlreSome enough even when relieved by
the various diversions that enter into
town life, but when it is an endless
round OF hard and unremitting toll,
from dawn till dark, month in and month
out, season after season, it is not to be
wondered that hope dies, the brightness
fades, and reason sometimes departs.
1t is not the hard work alone that kills,
put it is the want of cOmpanionShip, the
shutting out from the higher life of
books, music, lectures, the theater; it
Is, i'll short, the losing of touch with
humanity and all the barrenneSS and
desolation which follow
Ii the establishment of clubs has given
to the women of cities a new outlook,
an inspiration and pure delight, how
INFINITELY larger would be the blessing
conferred upon their country sisters
whose needs are so much greater. The
city woman is by no means an idler, but
existence for her is diversified by many
pleasant things which give her strength
and courage for the tasks. The club is
only one of the agreeable pastimes.
But now 1t is proposed, indeed the move
ment IS under Roadway, to estab-
llsh country women'S clubs. and. hay
Ing been undertaken in good faith and
with Astounding zeal. there is little doubt
| OF its popularity or its success. AT the
meeting last week Mrs. Virginia G.
| Meredith responded to the toast, "Our
Country Friends in Clubs" expressing
the belief that higher development
was possible through these clubs to
| women in tlR country and small COM
munltles than to those in cities, because
| they were thrown entirely upon their
of recreation to distract their attention.
There was present upon the occasion
Mrs. Lucia +. ClaypOOl, representing
a club of country ladies near Muncie
bearing the suggestive name of the
MARY and Martha club" with its motto,
1.-The Actual and the IDEAL" 1t includes
the country women within a radius of
eight OF ten miles, and every two weeks,
summer and winter, ram or shine, they
meet and carry out their programme.
Mr.. ClaypO0l publishes an agri-
cultural paper in which his wife
edits a woman'S department, and. bv
means of this and through personal eff
fort, she is arranging to divide the en-
tire country into sections and organize
a woman's club in each. The daughters
will be eligible, no matter how young,
so that they will be reared in the atmos-
phere of the club life. Her scheme also
contemplates the establishment of a
reference library, which may possibly
include the standard magazines and
periodicals. If this series of clubs is
successfully established in Delaware
county. the plan will doubtless be
adopted in other countries. These coun-
try clubs will cooperate with those in
the towns aud cities. they will exchange
delegates and occasionally meet to-
gether. ana acquaintance will be
formed that will be mutually benefi-
cial. The advantages that will result
TO women in the country are beyond
computation. Their interest will be
aroused, their mental and social Quail
fications will be stimulated, and their
whole horizon will be broadened and
frightened