The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-12
WOMAN'S WORLD.
The PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION OF
WOMEN'S CLUBS.

wireIn Dresses-HeIpingt the GirIs-Worn-
ans Suffrage and Woman's Brain-Tlle
Woman on a Bicycle-TOo Many Essays
at One sitting-Thrust Into Business
1t was good to be at Philadelphia at
the second biennial convention of the
General Federation of the WOmen's
Clubs, and it was lots of fun When all
is said, there is probably no one who en-
joys women more than a woman AL
though she takes herself individually
very seriously, she has 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 woTn-
an when she went into the room in the
New Century clubhouse, where her rail
road tickets We're to be vised for the re-
duced rates. found that the railroad had
sent as agent to receive them q 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 fnnny?'' Perfectly deli
ciousp' II suppose they thought we
should talk him to death y'-these and
similar comments betrayed their appre-
citation and enjoyment of the situation
And at the hotel where most of the
delegates staid, when a woman rushed
up to the office and eagerly asked, did
Mrs. So-and-so leave a message for me?''
it was the questioner herself and the
women about who laughed genially
when the cle-k suggested that q 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 once to grOan out wish under
his breath to a 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 mems convention, and
the women did no more foolish things
than a 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 a social con-
tact that the women of the country need
more than the men because they do not
get it 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 if
these national sessions had no other
aim they would still be good things.
One thing the locker on could not fail
to observe-the 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 pOise and an equi-
Hbrium to the body that have been want
ing in women's gatherings, but are grow
ing to be less and less missed. There was
an absence, too, of the smart talk and
cheap filings at men and other institu-
tiOns that all women do respect and
admire, but which some of them think it
clever to poke fun at. The federation
was digniied and well bred assem-
blage, and it went about its business in
a self respecting way without self con-
seriousness or cOnplacent importance.
There are critics even among club WOn1-
en- who question the usefulness of the
federation, and some of them doubted
if the body. would reach a second bien-
NAL. 1t certainly has, and passed it
successfully, and by its demeanor at
this time demonstrated not only its
cause of being, but its right we'll to
many future biennials--Her Point Of
View in New York Times.