Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-01
WOMEN'S CLUBS AND CIRCLES
Nebraska Women Who Believe in 0rgani-
cations for the Promotion of Culture.
THE STATE FEDERATION OF CLUBS
One of Omahn's Institutions and What 1t
Is Doing to Aid Our City to Be-
come the Pride of
tho West.
Edited by Mrs. Della L. Ferguson.

Edited by Mrs. Della Il. Ferguson.
Men are in a measure responsible for the
club movement Of today or perhaps we
should say, it is to men, largely. that we are
indebted for the time which we have to de-
vote to such work.
In the days Of our t-grandmothers
woman's time was too full Of domestic cares
for her even to think of such employment
OF time; but when the inventor and manu-
faoturer relieved the succeeding generations
of the burden of spinning, weaving, sOap-mak-
ing hand-sewing, and many other time and
Misunderstanding occupations, then did she be-
gin to gather herself together and find out
where she stood; and, 10! she made the hui
initiating discovery that while she had been
diligently cultivating the domestic side of
her nature the intellectual side had literally
grown up to weeds; and when, later, the
colleges of the country were thrown open to
her daughters, she found If she would still
BE- their companion she must keep pace with
them, and she found that with the help Of
the woman's clubs and the university ex-
tension lectures she could brush up" and
look forward to intellectual companionship
with them as they grew to womans estate.
There are tnany who question whether a
woman is benefited In her home life by club
work. IL sCme woman who is undecided in
the matter wants to learn the sure way to
her husbands heart, let her join the Do
msstic Science department Of the Omaha
Woman's club. II some mother wants to
learn how best to supplement the efforts OF
the teacher in training and educating her
children, let her join the Educational depart
ment. where mother and teacher meet on
common ground. IL she wishes to coach
her husband on the money question, the tariff,
rent, taxes or governmental methods gener-
ally, let hor join the Political and Social
Science department The Art department
will teach her how to make her home beau
tiful and attractive, and so We might go
on multiplying suggestions, and each one
would but prove more conclusiyely that home
and club life run in parellel lines.
The mother Of women's clubs Is Sorosis
the great club Of New York City, organized
In 1868. 1t was the first club composed ex-
clusively of women and governed by them.
During the first year Of the clubs exist
snce IL was made the object Of much ridicule
on both sides Of the sea. but it continued to
flourish and at the end Of the first year num-
bered nearly 100 members, Alice Cary was
its first president and Mrs. Croly Jennie
June) gave ii its name.
Although Soross has been styled the Mother
Of Women's Club and is supposed to be the
hrst club composed of and governed by
women, yet the Midland Monthly for April
gives an account of literary societies COM
posed Of women, In Dubuque, Ia. as early
as In the SOS. Many notable women OF
Dubuque were members OF these early socie-
ties and are still prominent in literary circles
again proving the old saying that all good
things come out Of the west.
Omaha Clubs.
The Omaha woman's club is Just closing
the second year of its existence. Its mem.
bership OF 500 women is divided into depart
ments, each Of which pursues its course o.
study and manages its business AFFAIRS under
The direction OF chairman and secretary
The literary programs which occupy the bl
weekly meetings Of the club are furnished
by these departments in turn, usually from
their own resources. AS these open meeting
Come to each department but once a yea
there is good natured rivalry as to which
lhan give the greatest pleasure and profit Il