Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-03
OUR. SOCIAL WORLD

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 (All items of social interest will be gladly noted in these columns If sent to Mrs. George c, Ball, Nineteenth street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High lands. Telephone 9SS)
 Beginning with today, "Our Social World" will appear in every issue of the state Herald except that of Saturday morning. In extending and enlarging this department it is my desire to have it continue to increase in interest not only in social matters, but in every way which tends toward the upbuilding of those things which contribute to the well being of a community, social artis- tic. literary and musical. My columns will be open to a consideration of all questions which are now agtating . thinking world, and communications on ! points of interest bearing on social lit- erary, artistic. musical and religious matters, on club interests and every ap- propriate subject will be gladly received and considered. No community is show ing greater progress than ours along lines that reach upward, and 1t is my earnest desire and shall be my constant aim to do my utmost for continuance of this fortunate condition.
 I venture to assert without the slight est fear of contradiction, that in no other town of approximate size can there be found so many cultivated, ambitious women, whose influence is for good in home. church and social circles as in Bir- mingham. Their interest in these several matters in no wise interferes with the imperative duties of beautiful home life; and they are daily exemplifying the pos sibility of uniting all the forces which contribute to the highest and best devel- opment of the nineteenth century woman.
 To assist in furthering this healthful state of affairs the columns of Our So- cial World'' will be always open as well as to those concerns which are purely social in their nature
 
 The present condition of literary so- cial, musical and artistic life in Birming ham Is of course largely due to the or ganization of so many and such excellent clubs. This Is an age of organization; of gathering into one body the forces which represent power and strength if combined and properly directed. And our good town has caught the infection, which prevails like an epidemic over the entire country. Thus far our clubs have proved eminently successful, whether they are formed entirely. of women or of men, or whether the membership embraces both sexes. It is to be hoped that we shal in the future avoid those pitfalls and snags WHICH d 5OlIle peTlOu OI US existence con- fronts every club, no matter for what purpose it is organized All social, mu- sical and literary clubs must have ele- vated standards. by which their conduct Is regulated. If music or literary there should be set such a measure of excel lence that every member will be inspired with an ambition to reach the highest and best results; and you know that 1t is our personal ideals which are repre- sented in our lives and work. Rarely does man or woman realize an Ideal; they never do if they are unusually gift ed, but the effort to approach as nearly as possible the goal set by their intellect and cultivation brings them oftimes close to successful realization. Every human being. consciously or -unconsciously, is daily chiseling his own monument and writing his own epitaph. Each day the blow Of hammer and the click of chisel brings nearer to perfection the work we are trying to accomplish. Like sculptor we hold the tools which will make of our live either rough. ill-shapen failure, or well-rounded and well-proportioned work, ready for the verdict of the judge.
 An ideal is just as necessary in club life as in Individual existence, and that organization or individual will reach the greatest excellence which has the most elevated aspirations.
 This rule applies with great force to social clubs. as every one familiar with such matters Is fully aware. Every member of social organization should feel 1t incumbent upon herself or himself to use their influence for the elevation of the social standard. The same rules which govern the hospitality of our homes should be applied to the hospitali- ty of our clubs, and the details of a clubs life should be as carefully regula- ted as those of our homes, for a club house. is frequently the only home of many young man, whose duties have separated him from his family. man and woman should carry into their club life all the little courtesies and graces which mark gentle rearing. and ind- cate the lady and gentleman. If by chance there should creep into any social organization an element unfamiliar with the regulations of well bred society. they cannot dominate the better class, who have had the advantages of education and good breeding, provided we insist upon a standard of excellence equal to that of the home life from which the better class sprung. Clubs and organiza- tions will only prosper so long as the re- suits are satisfactory to the best ele- ments of community.
 
 Apropos of this question pr Haldah Gum, a prominent club woman of New York, has thrown down the gauntlet to all other club women by. declaring that women.s clubs are all deteriorating and rapidly becoming mutual admiration societies. '' This has naturally aroused the club women of the large cities. who deny Mrs. Gunn's allegations, although .t developes that she has many sympa- thisers in her view of this subject While this mty be the case in many cities 1t cer- tainly Is untrue. of the women's clubs of Alabama. Thus far there Is no indication