The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-06-21
WOMAN'S WORLD.
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION or
WoMEN,s CLUBS.

wire In Dresses-Heiping thc Cfris-wom-
ans Suffrage and woman's Braln-Ths
Woman ON . Bicycle-Too Many Essays
AZ One sitting-Thrust Inso Rusiness.
It was good 10 be at P~hiladelphia at
the second biennial convention of the
General Federation Of the Women's
Clubs, and 1t was lots of fun. When all
is said, there is probably no d who en-.
Joys women more than o woman. al.
though she takes herself individually
very seriously, she has o happy faculty
of putting herself ON the outside when
looking at the rest Of her sex, and she
finds them very amusing.
For example, almost every other wom-
an when she went into the room In the
New Century clubhouse, where her rail
road tickets were to be vised for the re-
duced rates, found that the railroad had
sent as agent TO receive them b man who
was very deaf. No questions were need.
ed TO be asked-the certificates told the
story, and the agent did his work with
skill and dispatch, but the women saw
the humor of it,
isn't it funny?'' Perfectly deli
ciousl'' 81 suppose they thought we
should talk him to deathl"-these and
similar comments betrayed their appre-
citation and enjoyment of the situation.
And at the hotel where most of the
delegates staid, when o woma rushed
up TO the Office and eagerly asked, .'Did
Mrs. So-and-so leave a message for me?''
il was the questioner herself and the
women about who laughed genially
when the clerk suggested that o reply
would be facilitated If he knew who
"me" was. The clerk did not smile
then or at any time when seen. He took
the women very solemnly and was over
heard NICE to groan ont q wish under
his breath to q fellow clerk that the
convention would sit in continuous ses-
sion, taking no recess TO let the women
loose. In point of fact, the convention
was Just like q mems convention, and
the women did no more foolish things
than q similar assorted body Of men
would do; but, being women. they were
subject to a keener criticism, and, being
women also, they had a much better
time than men do at conventions, for
the flavor of novelty is still in them to
us
Seriously again, it was good to be in
Philadelphia. Such a gathering, with
representatives from the north and south
and east and west brings O social con-
tact that the women of the country need
more than the men because they do not
get 1t so often. That was one Of the
great benefits of the Columbian exposi.
tion-the extension OF acquaintance
among the women of the nation-and il
these national sessions had no other
aim they would still be good things.
One thing the locker ON could not fail
to Observable development Of women
in the matter of conducting affairs
The sessions were easily handled, and
the business Of each was promptly con.
Quoted There were a poise and IN equi,
librium to the body that have been want
ing in women's gatherings, but are grow
ing to be less and less missed. There wa:
an absence, too, of the smart talk anG
cheap filings at men and other institu
tions that all women do respect ant
admire, but which some of them think /
clever to poke fun at. The federation
was a dignifed and well bred assem-
blage, and it went about its business ii
q self respecting way without self con
seriousness or complacent Importance
There are critics even among club won
en- who question the usefulness of tn
federation, and some of them doubtes
if the body would reach a second bien
nial. 1t certainly has, and passed i
successfully, and by its demeanor q
this time demonstrated not only ii
cause of being, but its right as well u
many future biennials. Her Point d
View in New York Times.