The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-01
W0MEN'S CLUBS.
Duties Regarding Acquaint-
anCes Made in Them
and Relating to ..
Calling.
nrNrrlIc MuIrn TurY IN Gin In nlM[
BENEFITS Which THEY AR: SAID TO GIVE,
The Right to Blackball-Emerson
VI.
On Social Barriers-An lin.
p0rtant Feature.

There is one question which often
causes discussions in clubs, n that is
the right to blackball and the cases where
1t 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 ser
vices of IN investigating committee. who
make inquiries into the record of the per-
sou proposed for membership, and report
upon her eligibility. This would seem to
from the governing committee, or club.
to the Investigating committee, and would
not appear to pc q sufff Gent substitute
for the blackbali in an organization of a
social nature.
While the right to exclude another per-
son from a club should be exercised very
seldom, and from personal motives.
the experience of mankind would seem
to show that many organizations need
this safeguard, not only in order to pro-
tect themselves from the intrusion of UNI
desirable persons, Dut also in order to
preserve the essential characteristics Of
the body. Thus, a literary club, while it
may admit to membership a certain pro-
portion of people who are not literary
men and women, must guard against al
lowing too many of the latter to enter its
limits for obvious reasons The same
thing is true of q musical or dramatic
club.
SOCIAL BARRIERS.
Emerson says:-"Do not look sourly at
the set 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 spoil
ed to him by the intrusion of bad compan-
ions. He of all men would keep the right
of choice sacred, and feel that the exclu-
sions are in the interest of the admissions,
though they happen at this moment to
thwart his Wishes"
1t 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 a club member to speak of these pro-
ceedings to any one outside of the elective
body. Where the decision as to the adj
mission of members is entrusted to a gov
erniag committee, candidates. and their
friends should avoid questioning the in
dividuals composing the board. since
these questions may be difficult aud en-
barrassing to answer.
1t is an Important feature of club train
ing tina 1t teaches women not to ask
thoughtless questions; that Is, questions
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 a notifying experience to be
L1.ulrhoJlaI ~ yyn111 canrl RI Ia thu parf
of wisdom to keep the names OF the can
didates u private matter until they are
elected members of the club.
IN REGARD 70 MEETINGS.
There is quite a large class of clubs
the meetings of which are held in rota-
ton ut the houses of the different men,
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 lit
tie reflection, however, as to the true
nature and object of a club, will show the
fallacy of this view. People who belong
to an organization of this sort bind them
selves to meet together tor a certain pur-
pose, and instead of ~resenting the fact
that your fellow member has not yet
found time or opportunity to call upon
you, you should rather consider that she
Is in all probability quite willing to make
your acquaintance, or, If 1t Is already
made. to improve it-otherwise she would
not have Joined the club.
Que must observe a happy medium
however, between ungracious reluctance
and over effusiveness. 1t is very possible
for two people to be on pleasant and
friendly terms as fellow members of Il
club without belonging each ON the
others visiting list. After attending an
entertainment given ut a private house,
whether it be u club meeting or an or
binary 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 chose, but if she should not do
so the guest need not feel In the least dis
turbed, for she has fulfilled an obvious
duty.
Some persons send cards instead of call
ing In person. Where two ladies' belong
to the same club or society, but nave
never visited each other, neither should
offer to do SO too promptly. FLORENCE
HolUe Hall in HOmemdker.