Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-31
THE NEW woMAN's CLUB.
They Met and Then wondered What It
 Was All About.

 They Met and Then wondered What It
 Was All About.
 'tWhat's all this about the Baltic ca- nal?" asked the thin lady with the Tor gnette, "and why is it called the Kiel?"
 Because it has something to do with 8 boatr' said Miss Sawdy authorita- lively. n2
 "But it is spelled with an'il' D
 ''That is merely the Russian way of spelling Keel Anyhow, when I told papa this morning what our club topic for today was, he laughed and said it was a dead issue, and he guessed the new woman who proposed it had been reading the English pictorials. He said that the canal had been open for a month, but the English papers were just now Illustrating it, and when they got hold of anything it was long after the news had been squeezed out of it. squeezed dry-were his very wordsp'
 "Miss Sawdy talks of great under taking exactly as if it were lemon," put in the secretary. with warmth. "It would be we'll, perhaps, to reflect that the Baltic canal is tremendous achieve ment, a--a great thingl There are SS4 lamps-electric light lamps-at-I for get the distances-but I remember per- fectly that there are 6S extra lamps to light the ferries and bridges aloneP'
 'It must resemble the lagoons at Jackson park as we looked upon them during those never to be forgotten even- ings," murmured the president. "Oh, how wish the Baltic were nearer, so that VIC might go and steep our vision ill such lovelinessi'
 ''Hum, reckon the Kiel ain't any too much like the court of honor,' ejac- ulated the sour looking woman. "I'll go bail that it's heap more of match to our big drainage canal, only them Russians are such ln awful dirty people that when the sewage is turned on guess II be of more volume than ours -perhaps it'll raise foot higher. I wouldn' t Do surprisedn'
 "How indelicate!' whispered Miss Sawdy, sniffing audibly at bottle of lavender salts.
 twill Miss Secretary please tell the club something more definite about the subject under discussion?" interposed the president "From some of her re- marks infer that she has informed her self most thoroughly"
 The secretary bridled little in con- scious pride, but began gently: "The Baltic canal was opened as waterway between the Mediterranean and the North sea. It was designed by Won Moltke and Bismarck as a place where Russia might take her ships when she wanted to place them safely before go- ing out to tight''-
 "She is alluding to the canal as a l storage warehouse" said Miss Sawdy | in an undertone.
 The secretary continued: "It was first known as the 'Nord- d-ost-see-Kanal, but 1 the contraction 'Kiel' was deemed more | expressive and indicative of the canal s | ultimate uses. In this canal very few mules are used, except in the marsh lands, where there is plenty of vegeta- l tion for their subsistence. It takes 10 or | 12 hours to sail along the canal, for, be- | ing so very near the city, rapid transit is prohibited in order to protect human | life. It is stated that now Russia has a place to stow her ships, she is no longer anxious to fight, so the Kiel canal has already proved itself of great strategic value.'
 "Yes, I've heard that the opening was peaceful affair. France liked it, didn't she?" said the woman in the em, pire gown.
 "That was only because France wasn't invited" said Miss Sawdy in an acidu, lated tone.
 1 "No, mo-" interrupted the secretary, "not at all France was invited and did send ship, but you see it was very awkward, because France and Germany and Russia never call, and France thought her ambassador ought to have prevented the invitation being sent You know how it is, ladies, when some one who is not on your visiting list in sists upon sending you invitations tC some important event. You don't wan to go-you feel that tho invitation hai been liberty and an intrusion, but al the same you feel compelled to send your cards with regrets, and that odiou person who has invited you gives you name to the reporter along with the list of invited guests or among those presen and displays your card prominentl, on the hall tableI'
 eff France didn' want to go, don 7 see why she didn't ignorethe bid, /" saio the sour looking woman.
 "Oh, Mrs. Kneebone, the French arr people who go by etiquette, and the. couldn t be sorude as that!"
 Tain rude-it's honestr'
 Pardon me, but it wouldn't hay been polite. "
 "FrillsP'
 "Madamp'
 Nothing but frills and poppycock- it's like Miss Sawdy telling me that oughtn't to wear a tea gown ill tn evening""
 "Well-I should say not"- ''I guess I'll wear jest what I wan to. ain't French. '' *
 Anybody could tell that at a glance.
 "But I'm just as good as them wh be French-so there"
 "Ladies, ladies! ]" cried the president 'tI shall be obliged to adjourn thi meeting."
 "You can't do it," said the sour look ing woman triumphantly. "It ain never been called''-
 "Wha-at?"
 "She's right, Madam President, said the secretary, rising with yer | rod faea 1ilro a uoooD comino mn hehin