The weekly tribune., 1892-04-02
CLUB LIZA: FOR WOMEN.

Some Oi the Duties That DeyOlSe on
Every Member of - Woman's Club.
1t has been playfully said that certain
women are "clubable." while others are
not So Some women arc willing and
able to obey the laws and regulations Of
a club and enjoy their membership from
the first moment. Others who are less
social OF more thouyhtless or willful,
fret against the necessary restraints
which are imposed upon them, and an
noy their fellow members and themselves
by factious opposition, or by IL careless
disregard Of the ethical and moral code
which governs all organized bodies.
When we remember the ideas which
until very recently have governed the
education Of women, We cannot be sur
prised at this state of things. Our sex
was taught to think that it was its mis-
sion and duty to please, and thus 10 win
privileges which were much more desir-
able-according to the old theory-than
rights. Now, to be capricious-to be
all things by turn and nothing long
was held to be an important part Of the
art Of pleasing.
One of the most important functions
of club life is that of making women
take IL serious view of one and another
and of themselves, and of banishing
from their minds the old and false idea
that capricious irrespOnsibility was an
essential part of feminine nature. | do
not mean to say that many women now
alNrh h.l1 lint AZ.
are still more or less governed by it, al
though they would probably be surprised
if one should tell them so. The lcavcn
of an old idea does not lose its power AT
once, but dies out very gradually.
Tho reasoning powers of our sex arc
not yet fully developed, because they
have, until recently, received little eX.
ercise. 1t results from these two causes
that women who are new to club mem
bership-and some, perhaps, who are
not new to it-are occasionally illogical
in their behavior; they blame other mem
bers for carrying out the laws OF the
organization, and perhaps do not even
take the trouble to find out what those
laws arc!
member TO read, mark, and inwardll
digest" the constitution or rules Of the
body to which she has united herself
and to refrain from all factious opposi-
ton thereto. The government of free
club-liEe that Of IL free countryside
rives its power from the consent of tho
governed 1t is certainly desirable thai
reforms and changes should DC mad,
from time to time, and every member
should be ut liberty to express her opin
ion fully and freely--at the right time
and iii the right place,
Club life teaches women that higher
| politeness which docs away with insin
| ccrity, and shows them how to express
difference of opinion with franliness
and yet with courtesy. Thus, if tn,
chairman Of the body has made Il hast,
decision or an unfair ruling, the woman
who is familiar with the workings of tn,
| club will appeal, in courteous manner
from the decision Of the chair; wherea,
the new member would, under the SAINT
circumstances, remain silent at the mo
ment, and say artcrward to her friend,
that she thought she had been treated
unfairly. In other words, she VIII 70
away with grievance from mistaken
notion Of poiitcnesS. This conduct i,
not in accordance with club etiquette
which frowns upon grievances --ant
frowns also upon undue or unfair OK
ercise Of authority on the part Of tht
governing power.
In "a society which hopes to do gooC
work and promote tho happiness OF il
members there should always be
strong esprit du corps, and the member
should avoid criticising each other or tn,
club, especially when talking 10 III,
outside world. Florence Howe Hall il
Ilomemakcr.