, 1892-03-16
woMAn,s WORLD IN PARAGRAPHS.

Some of the Work Done by n Woman
Model Club.
The model club among women in this
country is to my mind the Pro Re Nata
Society of Washington. Ladies' of the
highest culture, many of them leading
ladies socially, belong to it. Although
this is the case, yet desirable women
who earn their living day by day are
welcomed, and some of these are among
its noblest members. The club was
framed, as its constitution afirms, ito
perfect its members in extempore speak
ing by the formal discussion of live
questions Of the day, and to work to-
gether for the highest civilization OF
humanity" Best of all, article 8 of the
the constitution declares hat no topic,
social, political or religious shall be ex-
cluded from discussion at the meetings.
Here the Pro Re Nata stands alone. /
know Of no other woman's club in Amer
lea or the world that is willing to discuss
any question whatsoever. II only more
women had this much courage and hber.
atty, what a happy world this would bel
The reason the Pro Re Natas are thus
brave and liberal must be, 1 think, that
they are all, without exception so far as
1 know, ladies of uncommon education
and intelligence and with unusually Wig
orous intellects. l have always OBJ
served that the more people know the
more tolerant of all shades of opinion
they are. The Pro Re Nata ladies dis
cuss the large social, political and eco
nomic topics of the time. Lately they
spoke on the Gillian question. The in
terest of the occasion was increased by
the fact that Mrs. HILBERT, who opened
the speaking, had been formerly director
of a government normal college in the
Argentine Republic, and therefore knew
South Americans well. Among topics
discussed In the past yea have been
finance, business education for women
and the need Of physical culture for
American women.
Brown university at the opening of the
present college year started with al ap-
pendage for women students, called the
university course for women. 1t is simply
what the Harvard annex used to be-
merely a permission to girls to get the
instruction given in the regular course
of the university and take the regular
college examinations. If they pass these,
certificates will be awarded to them,
but not diplomas, and no class room in
struction is given to them at present.
Thus even venerable and conserva-
tive Brown is beginning to capitu-
late to the women. The conces-
sion gained is not much in one
way, for girls can go already on equal
terms to magnificent Michigan univer-
sity, Cornell, and many of the UNIVERSE
ties of the western states, and certainly
will prefer doing SO to accepting this
crumbfrom Brown university. In another
way, however, the little concession from
Brown means much. 1t is the breaking
Of the ice of conservatism which still
fast locks the otherwise kind and large
hearts of SO many eastern men. So we
welcome it and thank the trustees of
Brown. For girls living in its near
neighborhood the examinations will be
a convenience.
Miss Lulu Flower, of New Orleans, is
a commercial traveller. She follows the
road in the interests of a large dry goods
house, carrying her samples with her
She is eminently successful in her work,
and is much liked by those with whom
she has dealings. In regions where the
railroad has not penetrated, Miss Flower
loads her sample box into a buggy and
drives to country towns taking orders.
When you write a letter to anybody
asking information about q subject of
interest and benefit to yourself only, in
close q stamp-always inclose a stamp.
ELIZA ARCHARD CONNER.