Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-04
CLUB MEMBERS AND CALLING.

CLUB MEMBERS AND CALLING.
y woman's Duty Regarding Acquaint-
ances In Her Favorite Club.
There is one question which often
causes dissension in clubs, and that is
the right to blackball and the cases
where it Is proper to exercise this right.
OF course the latter will vary with the
size and nature Of the organization.
Some societies do not permit the use Of
the blackball. They employ instead the
services Of an investigating committee,
who make inquiries into the record Of
the person proposed for membership and
report upon her eligibility. This would
seem to be merely shifting of RESPONSE
bility from the governing committee, or
club, to the investigating committee,
and would not appear to be a sufficient
substitute for the blackball in an organ
ization Of social nature.
While the right to exclude another
person from q club should be exercised
very seldom, and never from personal
motives, the experience Of mankind
would seem to show that many organiza-
tions need this. safeguard, not only in
order to protect themselves from the in
trusion Of undesirable persons, but also
in order to preserve the essential char
acteristics Of the body. Thus, a literary
club, while it may admit to membership
q certain proportion Of people who are
not literary men and women, must guard
against allowing too many Of the latter
to enter its limits for obvious reasons.
The same thing is true Of musical or
dramatic club.
Emerson says: "Do not look sourly at
the Get or the club which does not choose
you. Every highly organized person
knows the value of the social barriers,
since the best society has often been
spoiled to him by the intrusion Of bad
companions. He Of all men would keep
the right Of choice sacred, and feel that
the exclusions are in the interest of the
admissions, though they happen at this
moment to thwart his wishes"
It is usual and proper to conduct all
matters pertaining to the election or re-
lection Of proposed members with due
secrecy, and it would be highly improper
for q club member to speak of these
proceedings to any one outside Of the
elective body. Where the decision as tc
the admission of members is intrusted to
q governing committee, candidates and
their friends should avoid questioning
the individuals composing the board,
since these questions may be difficult
and embarrassing to answer.
It is an important feature of club
training that it teaches women not to
ask thoughtless questions; that is, ques-
tions which place the person interrogated
in an awkward position. Men soon learn
this lesson from their contact with the
world, and from the rough answers
which they often receive when they ask
inconsiderate or intrusive questions.
1t is usual and customary to notify the
member who has proposed a friend for
election, of the result of the vote, at the
proper time and place Since it is al
ways q notifying experience to be
blackballed, it would seem to be the
part Of wisdom to keep the names of the
are elected members of the club.
There is quite large class Of clubs,
the meetings of which are held in rota-
ton at the houses of the different mem
bers. Some persons dislike going in
this way to an entertainment given by a
lady with whom they are not acquainted.
or who has failed to call upon them. A
little reflection, however, as to the true
nature and object of club, will show
the fallacy of this view. People who
belong to an organization Of this sort
bind themselves to meet together for a
certain purpose, and instead Of resent
ing the fact that your fellow member
has not yet found time or opportunity to
call upon you, you should rather con-
slider that she is in all probability quite
willing to make your acquaintance, or,
if it is already made, to improve it
otherwise she would not have Joined the
club.
One must observe a happy medium,
however, between ungracious reluctance
and over effusiveness. 1t is very posi-
BILE for two people to be on pleasant and
friendly terms as fellow members of a
club without belonging each on the
others visiting list. After attending an
entertainment given at private house,
whether it be club meeting or an or
dinary party, one should call upon the
hostess. This is the custom among the
members of the Town and Country club
at Newport. The hostess may return
the call if she choose, but if she should
not do so the guest need not feel in the
least disturbed, for she has fulfilled an
obvious duty.
Some persons send cards instead of
calling in person. Where two ladies
belong to the same club or society, but
have never visited each other, neither
should offer to do so too promptly
Florence Howe Hall in Homemaker.
New York Men and Women.
January is the liveliest month in the
year for those fortunate ones who live
in the gilded circles of what is called So
ciety. 1t is one long month of break
fasts, teas, receptions, banquets and
dances. How New Workers. endure it is
a mystery to those who cannot peep be-
hind the scenes 1t is this dining and
wining that gives rise to the silly re-
ports now and then printed in the papers
about the excesses INDUCED in by New
York women. If the leaders of New
York society could hear the ridiculous