Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-29
CLUBS FOR WOMEN.


How They May he EstablisAcd I. -
Smaller Towns.
Copyright. isoc. BY American Press Assoeaa-
tioa.l
The leaven Of the woma1's club il OK
tending throughout tho country. The
smaller cities have followed the lead Of
the largsr ones. and now in towns and
villages tao clnbbabls instinct Is devel-
oping.
The increasing promincnce given to
the work Of her sex in the weekly news
paper and family journal makes it pos
sible for the woman who lives at the
crossroads to keep informed Of her sis
ters doings all over the world, and ns
shs reads she thrills in unison with this
reaching out of her kind. She asks her
self, ''If tho native women OF far Of
India can hare, )heir Sorosis. why may
not the village ard hamlet women OF
America have?~
The village club in starting will do
wen to svoid b-ing an outgrowth OF any
one church society. Don't 60 to pieces
IN the beginning on the rock Of sectari-
anism. The church sociables and sew
ing societies have their functions-ths
club, it will be found. has ono quite dis
tinct from these. Nor is it necessary to
await the motion OF the one on two
known and accepted leaders which ev-
cry community. small or great, holds.
Any woman can start club any
where.
She has only 10 speak to few Of her
friends and neighbors. appoint day
and place for . meeting to consider the
matter and the pregnant first step Is
over.
II thcre II . college graduate among
the women Of your town, put her In a.
the first president. She win be sure to
know something of parliamentary usage
gained from attendance 1t her college
societies. Il il recognized in New York,
where wonen's clubs flourish wonder
fully, that tho vassar graduate makes
the best presiding officer. In default,
however, Of the collegebred woman, the
few points Of order" needed to conduct
the meetings ere not difncult to secure.
Any member of the village council win
be glad to enlightsn feminine ignorance
in this regard.
And it Is not positively necessary that
there should be . president. A well
known and long established New York
club has no president The chair il
filed at every meeting BY the members
in alphabetical rotation The papers are
assigned in the sameway month in adj
vance. For instance, Afrs. Adams il
asked to prepare one on one subject, with
the next Mrs. A. ready - her alter
nate with ono on another topic. The other
members famiiarize themselves with
the two topics. preference being given
of course to the first. In this way the
club II always ready. II Mrs.. Adams
has prepared her paper and Is prevented
ct tho last moment from reading il. she
may designate some ono TO perform that
once for her. thus preserving the rotar
ton.
Papers should be limited to reading
length Of twenty minuteA In tho dis
cussion which follows. fve minutes to
each speaker ought 70 secure sufficient
" long speech. Give or ten minutes Is
then accorded to tho reader to answer
arguments and suggestions that may
have been offered. The chair then
briefly recapitulatcs and gives what
seems 70 b the consensus Of opinions
expressed
The object Of The reading and discus
sion II not to gain . victory - much -
to get al phases possible Of the question
presented
Two hours b the usual session Of Z
club, except some Of the very large oneA
which need more time.
The chair should keep . watch before
her and rnthlesaly cut down members
speeches md rapen 20 the stated length
| Il b not considered rude 10 interrupt .
| member ct any time II she IL transgress-
ing. II he bccn said that women can
| uoe keep to their subject in convcrsstiyu
az argument, and undcabtedly tire habit
| Of gsnerslixing Il peculiarly feminine
| oua A club. therefore. " . good place
| 20 practice overcoming this tendency.
/ Think wsIl over your ave minute speech,
| end On card which uay h held In the
88H0 fSFt UtWu rs tfr0ses afro t1<sftA JUL
sslf ~ closely 70 them - possible.
| Don't make the schcme Of your cint
! Zoo eimslas 20 . CAsutauqua circle.
| Practical qasetioss eaeht 10 b con
! sdered along with literary enes. vii
| laes ah~sss discu@ed and izaprovesnenss
sagessfsd. home topics regarded. A
sosn - club h upder way its member
| viii siiscoves what themes most Interest,"
aai such q win b wiss 10 frequently
| consider.
/ No member sAould shifh No. share
+. II hasis Of membership should le Z
villages 10 participate h aIlos>sa eel
vMk-
n khs club i large encuGh n y . gard
plaza 70 divide il mp into eeEnni<sees faz
each saoHshiy useesing dnring soaeon
| IT, dut5p q ~ oosnn6ttese win BE- q