Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-05
THE SILVER CROSS CLUB.
Tho Latest Manifestation OF Club Life
Among New York Women.

Tho Latest Manifestation OF Ciub Lilo
Among New York Women.
That old chestnut, women cannot
organize" was never more emphatically
pronounced fallacy than by the forina-
ton of the Silver Cross club. which
sprang up like magic during the latter
part Of the past summer in New York.
About the middle of August three
earnest women Of thought and action.
who by chance had not Joined in the
usual summer exodus from the city,
happened to be thrown together ono
evening and began to discuss Mrs. Liv-
ermore's Cooperative Womanhood in
the State" then just ont in The North
American Review The singular, al.
most marvellous, tendency of women at
this time to form organizations and to
call them clubs was talked about.
One Of the trio remarked upon the
rather peculiar fact that so few, or
almost none. of the various clubs for
women in New York were proprietary
in their nature-that is to say, few or
none have their own clubheuses OK rented
rooms like mems clubs, which are all
measurably proprietary in their nature,
having their own properties, rooms or
houses. Only few of the womens
clubs have any fixed place to meet in,
there bang but one-The New York
Ladies' club-which has a house where
Its members can meet, yet their meals,
a room to stay all Right if desired, ard
whose members can invite guests to be
e. 3
necessary.
Thesuccess of cooperative associations
from cooperative stores to cooperative
housekeeping enterprises was urged by
one of the ladies as q proof that the large
means of the women who compose tbs
New York Ladies' club was not nsces-
sary factor in the success of such club,
that cooperative supply bureau in
connection with club would help to
create fund for the clubhouse or
bureau.
''Why not begin at once" said the
third member of the party. "Lct us
meet here next Wednesday evening and
let each Of us bring one or moro friends
TO talk over the matter and see what can
be done. We all know the need of such
a club and bureau"
They met on the next Wednesday.
Each brought her friend or friends
They net to discuss. to differ, to agree
to differ on minor points-just as men
do, just as ell sensible people debut
to agree on the main one, namely.
that women who travel, women who
board. whether married or single, but
particularly single women, women who
live in apartments. women who have
homes OF their own, but occasionally
need other accommodations than those
homes afford and facilities for the trans-
action OF their business and for social
purposes outside their homes, need pro-
prietary clubs and clubhouses.
Then those women went to work TO or
! gsnize their club, and tire success OF
| their undertaking was shown ut club
reception. the first Of the season, at
which there were over hundred guests
and members together present. That
reception was reported in one of the
morning dailies "a "the elaborate and
brilliant initial literary entertainment Of
the Silver Cross club"
The great morning dailies can some
times make mistakes. They cannot al
ways be depended upon for correct re-
ports. IF you see it in"-even the best
OF them-''it Is" (not always, $50" The
facts about the Silver Cross club recep-
ton are that there was reception of the
club ia West Sixty-first street. mainly
for I'd. purpose of testing the popularity
Of the movement, and to ascertain the
sentiment of the club on the subject Of .
/ bureau of information and accommoda-
ton for women--in other words. to know
I If they really wanted Q clubhouse or
/ clabrooms and bureau.
That reception decided both questions
in the affirmative. A paper was read an
| bouncing the aims and objects OF the
club. A light collation. was served, fol-
lowed BY dance. and there was no lack
I cf gcaslansn to dance with the Silver
/ Cross club girls.
OF she interior management ~ the
club II IL nesale~ 80 speak. but II hss
/ proved "a popularity by having its head
/ quarters ard bureau afresdy established
temporarily, ard perhaps permanently,
/ ~ 30 West Sixty hrst street; where 10 has
/ slteasy gwen accommodation 10 sens
ladies' and Information and guidance 70
msay mor-.