The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-13

please say Aye" said Mrs. Bob Buck
| ner.
A voliey of sharp ayes bHzzed about
| the pretty room. And three stout Noes
| succeeded them.
.orhe Ayes have It," said Mrs. Bob
| Buckuer, very graciously.
| "Aftcr we nave discussed IL, what good
will be done?' asked the lady in the linen
| collar "rhere is TOO great number
| OF Christian women in our grand old Com
| monWealth, and too great an army of
noble men, to tolerate such an abominable
misconception OF womans sphere" Her
| breath was short. and her words We're
| hot with indigna ton.
"'rime win prove it," said Mrs. Buck
nor. with high-bred repose. "4At least
we shall have felt the pulse of our club"
There were three emothered threats of
summary Withdrawal
"rhere Is another question" said Mrs.
! Bob Buckner, which / would like to put
before you. That is the small matter of
| having few card tables here. Like all
1 innovations In our quiet community, 1t Is
| dashed at FIRST, but let us calmly con-
| slider IT. A few card tables-of what
| possible harm? When wearied with
| shopping we can drop in here and rest
| our muddled brains with little game
| for a few minutes. One might not
| have time TO so home with Il friend, but
| in this central place. one might let ones
| self down. 1t would be a perfectly inno-
1 cent sort of fun, en- famille Just entire
| nous the Honorable Robert Buckncr, my
| respected husl and has laborcd to explain
| to me for fifteen years of what spotless
| purity the pastime OF card-playiDg was,
| don't YOU know? His efforts have not
| been futile. / used to be so provincial
so primitive! Cards would be a gentle
relaxation between cown-toU duties end
the care of our children, and the stiff
ness OF dinner. A little sef-forgetfulness
boosts one so entirely"
Il move" said Mrs. James Low, that
we set up a few card-tables in our
club"
and I second the motion" said one of
the august "mesdames." whose name al
why's adorned the society column.
Abundant "ayos'' again preceded few
feeble noes" The small rhdy of the
oppsition arose TO denounce the perver-
sion of the efforts of a band of good
women, and as she went home she poured
forth her Indignation to each friend she
met, with sensational coloring of her own
conception. Like the havoc of wild fire.
her rash words spread, and in the NOR.
ing paper there was an inflammatory edt-
torial, entitled.
CONSERVATIVE VIRGINIA 81"
Ill.
MEMS Day at the Womans Club OF
Gloucestertowne, Va
The men OF Gloucestertowne seemed to.
be ratified on a. certain Wednesday morn
ing. Are you bidden? Are you going?'
was the epidemical reply.
The Woman's club of Gloucestertowne
was a superb object lesson. 1t had set
tied questions of bubble and contro-
yersy. In the quaint, od-fashioned
Southern city woman appeared TO be more
than mans equal, and to-day, the 80 of
November, 1890 she was giving gorgeous
reception at her club TO her gentlemen
friends.
How were veXed questions so adroitly
answered. BY the Woman's Club OF
Gioucestertowne. Within its sacred ana
beautiful precincts, with the sarcastic
sneers of their whilom lords barred out.
woman had found q Dperated strength
heretofore crushed by ages OF suppress
sion This freed power found vent in
crisp editorials, in daring undertakings,
in public benefaction, in innocent % re-
creation.
'Nyho do you suppose had the temeri-
Nv TO write that?' one dethroned benedict
asked OF another. as he struck. as If in
anger, the FIRST editorial of a morning
paper.
INV wife wrote it," the other man an
swered dejectedly.
There had been a time when through
the drear night watches women tossed
waiting in solitude. when will Thomas
come homer Thomas is always at
home now before Z, tortured by queer
devalopment. His Mary Ann Is always
bewltching and perplexing. with her dan
gerous and enchanting independence.
Don't sit up for me, love-" she says
after a half-hour of witty chat; we
IL hue m
Go to sleep. dear, and don't fret; am
all right"
Thomas, all alone, regrets some cpl
sodes OF his past lie is tortured by
those checkers that seem 10 be coming
home TO roost, aud moreover, ne had
heard yesterday from friend out IL was
mere rumor), VINO had heard his dearest
Mary was a heavy loser 1T mildly feihi-
nine game OF poker the week before
He fancied at the moment OF her last
kiss that her lips held suspicion oi
tobacco.
on, Mary, Mary Ann!
Don't fret, Thomas-cards and tobacco
ore perfectly innocent. They broaden
ones views; they kill care; they are not
even vices they are harmless DTS OF ter
restrial consolation.
To-day the doors are open, and the
ouintessence of masculine. excellence Will
enter. You know how u is q. the
commonwealth" on Ladies Day. Inc
interior Of this nursery of indererd.nt
thought broad charity and expansive
morals. is really magnificent. III Is err
tirely unique and perfectly charming Win
a characteristic femino-mannish ar Inc
books are heterogeneous array oil clever
departures. The defiant independence
startles one. Highly polished caro-ta-
bles are simply enticing. Sweet-sceht-
ed cheroots, unveiled. rest In cut-siass
vases.
is there wine CELLAR a pompous
od,gentleman asked friend.
And the talk. There was no wisny-
washy fppancy, no intense interest upon
the shape OF a bonnet. but strong COM
ment upon current questions OF local ana |
national Importance.
When IL was over the men en- niasse re-
,ireo 10 the simple and restful comfort OF
their own club. Then there was ire
mendous pow-wow.
ssWhat Will be the up-skot?" one asked |,
'.where do we stand!' another demand
ed.
..Upon q bog--a sinking Quicksand.' an
other In great agitation, deposed.
=