Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-19
SOME CLUB MEMBERS.
CHARACTERISTIC INDIVIDUALS WHO
MAKE UP A WOMAN'S CLUB,

"The woman's Club"
The Ardent Young Member who has
just joined. She is so ardent She has
never had the pleasure of writing any
Fatistcs before and now she opens her
mouth, eyes and notebook over them. To
her the horrors of Russia the increase of
crime, the tenement house question, the
race problem, theosophy, physical culture
and drainage are delightfully."- alarming
questions, over which she weeps and flushes
and applauds as their many sides are pre-
scented and discussed. She listens with re-
spect and awe to every one who speaks,
and trembles with delight to find herself
member of such a wonderful club. She
votes both ways with feeble voice or
hand, and then conscicntiously wonders if
she oughtn't to rise and explain, that a
new count may be taken. She never misses
a meeting, is always early; never gets up
to go out before the speaker has finished
and exhibits superfluous qualification if
any one speaks to her She is very care
full to wear her good clothes to the club
and always spends considerable time on
her back hair
The Tough Old Member is at once the
admiration and despair of the Ardent
Young Member who wonders how she
ever dareS to glare at the speaker as she
does and have so little respect for him on
her apparently She is never enthusiastic
over anything frequently turns mp her
nose at things in particular or in general.
and often rises and goes out while the
speaker is in the midst of the most delight
fully intricate whirl of startling statistics.
The Tough Old Member has sized up every
one in the club, and if the occasion de
mands, is not delicate about expressing her
opinions. She stands in awe of no one, is
not deceived over any one 5 age or intellect.
never applauds, seldom criticises in any
way, but has an know he-whole- business
air, which shuts up fresh members like the
camp chairs they sit in
The Frivolous Member is not always
well spoken of, but often relieves the meet
ings OF the gloom that sometimes gathers
about them and makes Il break in the mists
of monotony in which they are annually
cngulfed. Though the majority of the
members do not care to giggle, the minor
ity that care to but do not dare to feel
sort of safety vale i'll the Frivolous Mem
Der and enjoy her presence. The Frivolous
Member means to be frivolous: it is no lIn-
comfortable and unexpected impulse that
besCts her. She premeditates and arrangcs
the other members grave composure may
be unmistakable and pronounced and gain
for her the distinction which a ierky and
spontaneous frivoity would never bring.
And we have the Ladylike Member Wo-
men who fall over chairs and drop um.
brellas have singing appreciation of her
and n sneaking hope that she doesn't know
much. She is always composed and well
attircd, listens attentively. only smiles with
one side OF her face at n time and avoids
discussion. She has the same salutation
for her twenty-five and fifty cent neighbors
and people do not feel obliged to draw in
their feet when she passes them. The Lady.
like Member is ladylike way through. We
do not feel that she slams door after her
when she is out of sight or unnecessarily
twirls a chair around like top to relieve
suppressed feeling. We somehow feel that
her cOmposure is built on Christian spirit
and Il gentle hear.
The Grumhling Memberis anot her safety
valve for the other members. Sure that
every deficiency, from the bylaws to the
front door mat have been or will be at.
tackled by her the others can afford to as.
sumo the amiable virtues which they have
not, confident that their battles will DC
fought for them. The Grumbling Member
is ever ready to fight battles-scents dan.
ger afar off and never gets over dangers
past.
The Grumbing Member approaches the
club with n frown that makes even IA
doughty director yean for refuge in the
coal scuttIe or temporary perch on the
top Of IN elevator
The Vigorous Member is divided intotwo
casses-she who accomplishes something
Ia hlr q,
former is the leaven of an often lumpy
club, while the latter is as maddcnng as
twenty-four tons of coal sliding from fou
horse cart One clectriGes, the her irri.
tates, One makes motion and carries it
out, while the other is flying about crying
what ought 10 be done. One brings water,
while the other yellS Fire. The Nigor
Gus Members often relax, from criticism or
overeXerton, and Il warm spring day OF
peace and pleasant platitudeS settles over
the club; but suddenly, like the east wind
that arises and begins to slam doors ard
blow dust around the corners into your
eyes, the Vigorous Members awake to ac.
ton and the club remounts its roller coast.
ers Of rumpu. and reform.
And the other members are: The Timid
Members, who rise to speak and wish they
hadn't, or those who do not rise to speak
aud wish they had; the irlicuse Members
who could work wonders if they had onlv
had some old Cy Prime to back them; the
members who only come when there is
something to eat, and the members who
only come To gossip in the dressing room;
the member whose manner is constant
apology for living, and the member who
nails every one to the wall while she cN.
amines them; the member who likes to
whisper while paper is being read aud
the member who wants the city noises to
cease while she listens; the Sociable Mem.
Der, who is us popular as the penny post,
and the Mean Member, who talks about
all the other members. boston Gazette.
Neapolitan Women.
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