The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-07
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W0MAN'S PROGRESS.

""' "ohah vi hlty Wltn cap ana shoulder
cape, relegated to the chimney corner! Now
in her smart" suit she does nothing of the
kind. She is here, there and everywhere,
leading most useful life, directing, ell
couraging and working along the various
lines OF charitable and reformatory work.
Or if that does not seem to he her mission,
she takes up some line of study. But some
one asks how can she do these things with
out neglecting her home? The we'll ordered
well-regulated woman neglects nothing
She undertakes Just what she can do, and
no more. Doubtless there are women in
clubs who neglect homes, as there are Mrs.
Jellybys in missionary societies, although
the fault lies neither with the missionary
societies nor the clubs, but with the individ-
ual women who would no doubt find some
other outlet for their restlessness and
peculiarities were there no missionary
meetings or women's clubs at hand. AS
for time, no more time need be given to a
club than is consumed in running in'' for
little chat, and the various, aimless ways
women have of spending time, who have
no special plans for their unoccupied mo-
ments; just drifting along with the current,
without thought of sclf-improvement.
Ones education is never complete in this
world. Is there not always something new
coming up? Association, exchange of ideas
and plans is ever conductive to helpfulness
along almost any line. The club idea is.
that women may meet together for study.
or simply to discuss the current events Of
the day. There are many ways in Which
this can be done. The plans must lie
almost wholly with those forming the club
According as time can he given to it will
depend the line of work. One club whose
motto is Mutual good will and mental
growth, has found a varied line Of wor.
OF great interest It's programs call for
something which tends to bring out origin
| ality of thought. "Current topics, with
leader appointed. have hecna source from
which much benefit has been derived slim
ulating a desire to keep one'a self better
! informed concerning the questions of the
and pleasure in following one line of study
| historical or otherwise, throughout their
club year. A woman prominent in club
and educational work and having in mind
the good of all classes of women, says,
''Thc time has gone by for defending the
woman's club.
Womens clubs will not be the panacea
for all the isolation and consequent dull
ness Of many homes, hut they may be on"
means of bringing women together in n
social way when an interchange Of thought,
Il kindly greeting, will cheer and cnlivcn,
liftin. one out of one self In this way there
can be social intercourse in a very simple
manner no teas, save on extra occasions,
| The social eltures, though. ought not TO
he overlooked. 4 tea or evening enter.
tainment or even the more pre- tentious ban
quet with a wel-rendered program, invit-
ing husbands and friends, can be made n
| fruitful source of enjoyment. You may be
sure husbands will not only enjoy but
think the clnb is a good thing There
must b. in this worli-a-day. whctc every
thing is wound up to the high pressure
mark. Il counteraction, a change of some
sort
A country neighborhood with which the
writer was familiar when younger had for
years its ''mothers' meeting 1t WAS an
institution. The mothers looked forward
to it as a means Of coming together, dis
cussing such questions as were calculated
to help them in their relations of life.
From that neighborhood have gone many
women whose lives are blessing to the
communities in which they dwell. The
farmers wives of that place were always
alive to all the issues of the day. Yet had
their meetings cen called woman's club
some might have been shocked. Another
virtue of women S clubs is that they bring
women of all crecds together. where they
can work in harmony regardless OF church
affiliations. There the housekeepcr may
bring out the almost forgotten lore of her
earlier student days.
Let the idea once get foothold aud it
will grow and expand until women who
thought themselves quite dull and iucap-
able of study, from being out of practice,
will rub up" their ideas and astonish
not only themselves, but their friends. If
farmers desire to keep their daughters Mt
home, are pleased that they join hand,
with their neighbors sons, settling down
for life near the old home instead of rush
ing to cities seeking clerkships and various
other occupations at starvation wages amid
temptations iunumerable, let them see to
it that they have an all around cultivation.
Let them know that pleasures and good
times may be had outside of cities and
that they may 90 hand in hand with work.
THE EVOLUTION OF WOMAN.