Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-12-22

| uiSh stauuiuS, TIE topics selecteu Delng
such as to increase the fund of informa-
tion and give an impulse to Independent
thought. Then we have the Chicago club
"a distinctly literary club. with which do
not feel the least sympathy; for mere sell
| fish literary attainment is the result of no
moral effort and can bring no moral effect
In contradistinction to this we have the
Kindly club, which has members all through
the country, in which each woman takes a
pledge on entering never to speak an evil
word of any one and that she will do some
kindly act each day. What might not this
do for women? 1t IS useless to enumerate
the different clubs, rather let us ask. what
have they done? Richter has said Never
read until you have thought yourself
empty. never write until you haye read
yourself full" This might do II all were
discriminating enough to know just what
to read. Our great thinker, Julia Ward
Howe, voiced my ideas better In a speech
before the Federation of Clubs. She saws:
Il would have more original work" In
many OF the papers prepared for our wom-
ems clubs the encyclopedia plays great
part. l would rather have any woman's
own thought, what she thinks about life.
than what she gets out of any number of
books. My sentiments are SO well ex-
pressed by those words that you will par
don me If, without research. give what
few ideas | have on the subject. For
while "he who runs may read, his thoup hts
can but be impregnated by Others ideas
unless time long enough has elapsed TO
make them his own. The query What
Is the benefit of club life to average wom-
en:" is discussed far and near |, seems
t. lie just here-that while one woman at
home has more time perhaps to think more
OF her own thoughts. there Is lacking that
diversity of thought. that rousing up Of
ones faculties to their fullest capacity by
friction with other minds. One also be-
comes accustomed TO speaking freely and
naturally, the scope of thought Is en-
lsrged and congenial friends are often
found among those with whom, under or
binary circumstances. we might never come
In contact. though living all our lives In
the same city. Practice will give the abii-
ty to handle large questions In a clear and
logical manner. The fear has often been
expressed that If women were given equal
freedom with men they would become un-
womanly and lacking in those nner quail
ties now, presumably. akin TO them alone
do not think there need be the least fear
of that when all these years they have
been bound down by the restriction, Thus
far shalt thou go, and no farther" Not
that the men were SO much TO blame; for
out OF the kindness of their hearts they
wished TO protect their wives mothers aud |
daughters. and have tried all these years
10 make sphere for women; but 1t did
not 1T and they are arriving at the conclu-
sion that women must create their own |
sphere. bounded only by their opportuni-
ties and the progress of mankind. 1t may
be Irrelevant TO the question to speak of
mems clubs, but sometimes BY comparison
we see more plainly the result. 1t is the
difference Of club life A. 1t exists for men
and women, While the women 90 to their
club as part of the serious work Of the
day but prefer To rest in The sauctity of
their home, men 20 to their clubs after
the days work is over for recreation and
social pleasure. With some men their
club takes almost the place Of home; with
women, never Perhaps as time goes on
and cooperation and co-education become
the order of the day men and women will
become co-efiicient, for only by working
together can the best possible result be
obtained We have evidence Of this in the
great union composed of the Federation
OF Women's Clubs, representing more than
thirty states and l25 clubs; the rapidly
ditiusing influence far and wide proves, as
the word implies, 1t is an aggregate of
forces, a union that is strength and a fe-
lowship that Is the sunshine Of life" As
to our own club-what has 1t done for us !!
What has 1t done In the community aside
from literary work? Has it helped us In
our home life? Have we been carefully
conslderate of others? Made some one
happier each day? For though no two
clubs take up just the same line OF work,
yet all are, or should be, tending In the
same direction, and what is true of our
club is true Of the many; and though, as
yet, we may not see evidence, by practical
result, Of what our work has been, vet the
influence has been felt and many of our
earnest members have testified to the help
received from these meetings. The good
that women's clubs have done for women
and children-and | shall also include the
men, for that they have felt the broadening
efforts Is shown by the liberal ideas we STE
expressed by all leading men of thought
has been inestimable. When we consider
the dscouragements of the past, the assur-
ance Of the present and the ever opening
possibilities of the future, it brings a
sure conviction that what we might have
been, we may yet be.
"Give us that grand word woman once again.
And lers have done with lady,
Ones term
Full Of fine force, strong, beautiful and firm,
Fit for the noblest use OF tongue or pen;
And ones word for lackeys.
One suggests
The mother, wife and sister, one the dame
Whose costly robe mayhap gave her the name
One word upon its own strength leans and
rests,
The other minces tiptoe.
Who would be
The perfect woman must grow brave of
heart
And broad of soul, to play her troubled part
Well In llfe's drama; " bile each day we see
The perfect lady skilled in what to do
And what to say, grace in each tone and act,
Otis taught in schools, but needs some native