The Washington times., 1895-03-10
FIN De SIECLE FEMININITY
Pro Re Nata Suspects There's Too
Much Charity Abroad.
Evidence Given That the "Gentle Dew from
Heaven" Sometimes Falls Where 1t
shouldn't-Other Club Doings.

Society of the Covenant held its reg
ular monthly meeting on Monday morning,
Mrs. Hamlin, pres ident, in the chair.
Reports were heard from the various COM
mittees, and action taken to celebrate the
silver anniversary of the society. Twenty
five years ago, the presiding officer said,
women dared hardly express opinions, and
now their voices are heard and their influ-
ence felt throughout the civilized world.
A communication was read from the
Utah Mission. showing the progress of
the work in that Territory.
A box was packed and dispatched to
Dr. Eddy, female missionary physician
in Syria 1t contained rubber and wooden
blankets. wooden underwear, rubber boots,
waterproof garments, etc.
Mrs. Head, chairman of the McAll Mis-
sion, reported 119 mission halls in fifty
seven cities, and told of the work being
carried forward on the chapel boat
in France
The pres dent announced committees
for the year as follows:
Foreign missions-Aliss Kennedy, chair
man: Mesdames Warren, Thurston, Kauff-
man, Sedgley, Mcknight, Craighead,
Wilbur, Parker, Fiebeger, Leopold, and
Mrs Thomas Wilson.
Home missions-Mrs Quaiffe, chair
man; Mesdames Campbell, Jackson, My
ers Sheppard, Pollock, Dalzell, and Church.
Literary committee-Mrs. Campbell,
chairman; Mrs. Leech.
Social committee-Mrs Wight, chair
man; Mesdames Daizell, Westcott, Pent-
land. Van Wyck, Aspinwall, Macfarland,
Tenney, Walter Calf. Rhees, GTeenleas,
ThurSton. Shepard, Warner, Strong, Far
rar, Wilson, Raymond, Isabel Sedgeley,
Wilbur, Leech. Panl, Goode, Brodhead,
Gtoddard, Leopold. Window, and Austin.
Resolutions on the death of Mrs Cady
We're passed, and with most impressive
prayer by the president. Mrs Hamlin, the
meeting adjourned.
Cosmopolitan Shakespeare Club gave the
! second of a series of receptions which they
are giving to their friends, on Monday even
! ing at the residence of DR.. and Mrs. A. II.
! Thompson The following programme was
carried out TO the delight of the assembled
! company.
Miss Anna Weiss opened with piano
solo; Mrs. j NJ Patten read bright paper
on the comedies of Shakespeare; Miss Fara
! bee and Mir EasteTling rendered a vocal
| duet, which was followed by the "Charac-
/ teristics of Shakespeare's women by Miss
Alice Malone and Passing Glimpses Of
/ Shakespeare's Men" by Mrs a. II. Thomp
/ son. Mrs. w j.: Armstrong gave fine
/ piano selection. Mrs. j. F. Chipley Tecited
"OtheIlo's Defense" followed by duet
rendered by Mrs Calvin Wilson and Mrs
| A H Thompson Miss Grace Patten read
the Seven Ages of Man" from LAS You
Like It. in excellent style; her sister, Miss
| 10 Patten, read extracts from Golfers
William Shakespeare" the dialogue from
! first act of LAS You Like II" was given with
Mrs W. j. Armstrong as Rosalind and Miss
! Anna Weiss as Celia Mr. Hayward gave
recitationS from Hamlet" among which
was the 'Soliloquey" and the address to
Queen Gertrude" Other amusing recita-
tons Were given by Mr. Ernest Thompson,
| and when Shakespeare Sings Himself, y
| by Mrs. w. T. Pierson. Mr.. John lockwood
rendered some delightful music.
The tri-color favors of the club We're dis
| tributed to the invited guests, and on the
conclusion of the entertainment refresh
ments were served.
Pro Re Nata met in the drawing rooms
| OF Miss Jackson in the Concord flats on
| wednesday morning Mrs Elliott Coues
opened the discussion on National aid for
the poor" The discussion becoming gen
eral, much enlightenment was thrown
4 upon the effects of paternal VS.. individu-
/ alstic government.
1t was argued that an overplus of charity
is not calculated TO further the best inter
! ests Of the lahoring class. Instances were
cited as having occurred in this city few
weeks since. when. in order to avail them
selves of the benefit of the $40, 90 appro-
| priation, one hundred coal cart drivers
threw up, in one day, their positions and
| applied to the charity missions for assist
| ance.
Another lady who has been watching the
building of the Columbia road along the line
! of her residence. told how the laborers sys-
! tematically dawdled away their time, and,
like very children, lost no opportunity to
! play truant
Mrs. .Coues told how hundreds of immi-
| grants landed yearly with one English word,
! which they repeated like parrots Block
ley and in Blockley almshouEe in Phila-
delphia many are sheltered as in nursery
for tramps
Miss Sheldon brilliantly discussed the
labor question from q financial stand
point and showed that she had been giving
much time to the study of bimetallism and
its relation to labor.
Miss Sheldon is one of p ro Re Nata'S men,
| bers who has recently become quite famous
for her knowledge of the financial ques-
! ton. Her paper on that subject before the
Woman's Council produced as deep an i'm
! preston as any delivered at those memora-
BILE meetings.
The unfinished business of the question,
of "expectoration," was then taken up.
Mrs. Marble read a placard which is sus-
pended in the Anacostia cars, as follows:
''The eXpectoration of tobacco amber on
the floor of this car is a violation of the
rules of the company. Passengers who can
not respect this rule are requested to leave
the car
Resolutions of thanks to the AnacoStia
Railroad Company We're passed and ordered
to be sent to the president Of the company,
Mr. II. A. Griswold.
A committee composed Of Mrs. Marble,
Mrs Coues, and Miss Tuley was appointed
to wait upon the officers of the other street
railroads in Washington and request that
similar notices be put up in the cars under
their jurisdiction.
One of the officers called the attention
of the association to the space given tc
Pro Re Nata in the Washington Times,
especially to the Fin de Seicle Femininity
column in the Sunday issue, which, as a
club woman, she fully appreciated and she
recommended every member to subscribe
to the paper that furnished so satisfactory
an account of its meetings.
The next subject for discussion is Cure
for tramps," to be led by Miss Blount.
A list of subjects for discussion was sub
mitted by the committee, among which were
why women should know more of tht
laws of their country and principles
of law which women ought TO know
such as personal rights" Ownership,