Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27

| Ar& J. c. Croin.
The originator OF two of the most potent
| facts in the life of to-day women in club work
] and women in journalism, Mrs. Jennie Cum
ningham Croly-"Jennie June"-possesses
exceptional interest for that great army of
readers who are clamoring to know about
"women who have amounted to something. !"
Mrs. Croly has amounted to great deal.
A little over SO wears ago she was an un-
| known school teacher in the village of Fish
| kill, N. Y, to-day she is the fourishing ed
| itor of half dozen prominent magazines,
the founder of two celebrated clubs, lect-
urer on her chosen profession in a famous
women's college, aud the author of several
books 1t would not be surprising if success
had turned the little school teachers
head. However she is said to be still the
| same modest, unassuming woman that she
was always
She has been writing for newspapers since
1856, beginning shortly before her marriage
to Mr.. d. g. Croly, then of the staff of the
New York Herald Since then she has
either been contributor to, or a member
of the staff of, every metropolitan news
paper Of note. She was the inventor of the
manifold system OF supplying out-of-town
papers with correspondence or special mat
ter that has since grown into that giant, the
| newspaper syndicate. Her chosen field,
not because she is especially fond OF ruffles
and feathers, but because it has
paid better, has been the fashions
gossip which the average editor firmly be-
lieves the only style of literature adapted
to the cravings and comprehension of his
lady readers. She has made it a principle
never to speak ill of any woman, and no one
is more ready to help the ambitious struggler
of her own sex. By her years of work she
has gathered together modest fortune,
and has COW home on West Fifty-seventh
street, New York.
Twenty-Five years ago 10 ladies met In
Mrs Croly's parlor and organized what
was the nucleus Of the present Sorosia
Mrs. Crolv was its first President, and
held that Office for 12 years. She is still
honorary President, Dr. Jennie de la NJ.
Lozier being active President. The club
was the first organized. maintained and con-
Quoted entirely by women. Its membership
list contains the names of women world
famous in literature, art, science and the
drama.
To the Women's Press Club, of New York,
of which Mrs. Croly was founder and is
President, more interest attaches owing to
the unique character of the club. 1t, TOO,
first saw the light i'll Mrs. Croly's parlors.
AS its founder is the first woman journalist
it was natural that she should be elected to
the executive chair. The club has pleasant
quarters at "a Union Square, where REGULAR
meetings, half social, nalf literary, are held
semim0nthlv. "Unity, fellowship and CO.
operation" is its expressed object. Num-
bered among its members are the brightest
women journalists of that paradise for writ
ers, New York City.
Prominent among it's members NAV be
mentioned Mrs. Eliza Putnam Heaton, Sun
day editor of the New York Recorder and
writer OF the popular fashion articles signed
Ellen Osborn; Mrs. Edith Sessions Tupper,
New York correspondent for the Chicago
Herald and special writer for the American
Press Association and Sunday World; Mrs.
Helen Watterson, the New York Suns one
time brilliant ''W omau About TOWN." Mrs.
Isabel Mallon, the bright ana versatile
"Bab;' Sara j. Lippincott, Grace Greenwood,
q one time Pittsburger and q very success
ful writer ior children: Mrs. Frank Leslie
Wilde publisher of the Leslie magaz zines:
Miss Elizabeth Jordan, of the Newly ork
World, who conducts the best newspaper
edited children and women's departments
in the country; Miss Cynthea Westover
writer geologist and inventor; Miss Mar
garer Manton Merrill, special writer for the
reader and author of u monologue, "Marie
Stuart (which attracted the favorable atten-
tion of Lord Tennyson. The entire mem-
bershiD is something over 60 women. An
earnest effort is being made to obtain per-
manent quarters. Last winter n mammoth
benefit was given in their behalf at the Met
ropolitan Opera House, and in which the
leading New York actors and actresses took
part.
Ihave often wondered from whence comes
the money that supports the average char
liable institution. The other day asked a
woman who belongs to half the philan-
thropic societies in town. "Where do we
get money!" repeated she. "Not from the
society or intellectual women, / Il sure you.
The other dav l went to see Mrs. Blank a |
friend, who is supposed to be on the inside |
circle of the upper ten. 'Oh, dear exclaimed !
she; when stated my errand. Please don't |
ask me to give you anything. Actually, 1 |
haven't dollar to spare. With my six |
servants to support and to keep ND a re- |
spectacle appearance in society, have all |
that can do.' Mrs. Blanks husband is one |
of the wealthy men of the city. 1 then tried |
the President of your club. She has always !
expressed great sympathy with our mission |
for supplying red flannel to the natives of |
South Africa. l told her the Signal Service |
had predicte an unusually severe |
winter, and our society would like to |
send out an especially large supply |
of flannel to the poor heathen. She |
sa id the African Government ought |
to take care of the flannel supply themselves |
but she gave me Il half dollar to buy yard |
OF flannel for some particularly deserving |
savage. She said their club had been study |
ing political economy and she didn't believe |
in encouraging pauperism. Who gives the |
money? Mostly the middle class and poor
people. There are many kind hearts among
the rich, but you will find they are not, ,oi the |
society element Mrs George Westinghouse
was always kind friend to us. The moor
lost powerful friend when she left Pitts
burg. think what have told you will be |
found to hold good in almost every city in
the Union"