The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08
WOMAN'S CLUB LECTURERS.


New York Evening Sum-. -
With the womans club has come the
woman's club lecturer. There have always
been lecturers, of course, and lecturers who
make business of addressing organiza-
tons, but the individual who makes it his
business to address women's clubs is a
comparatively recent product.
He is, however, very natural product
Article II of every woman's club constitu-
ton begins: THE object of this organiza-
ton shall be'-followed by definition. But
definitions alone do not support an OBJ
ject. 1t was necessary to provide something
more substantial; hence the woman's club
lecturer.
The requirements of the lecturer vary ac-
cording to circumstances and conditions.
Some clubs demand one thing. some an
other. But all clubs insist that the lecturer
be good looking. His English may be
faulty. his knowledge scant, and he may
mouth his words, "as many of our play
ers do" but he must present good ap-
pearance. Mr.. Blank seems to know a
lot" remarked club woman. 'but I'm
not going to attend his lectures. for fear
/ might get to looking like he does. Why,
he looks like first-class tramp"
One of the least superficial woman's clubs
in the country once engaged lecturer
upon literature. He came; but. oh! how
cross-eyed and insignificant he was! The
next month they engaged lecturer upon
astronomy. He proved to be all that was
scientific but he bore a striking resem-
blance to monkey. "All that he needs
to make him perfect Is the hand organ"
observed prominent member. Botany
was the next subject tackled. and it's ex-
FOUNDER was even more unfortunate in APP
pearance than his predecessors.
After the three lectures We're safely over
the club one day held big consultation
meeting, with view to getting the mem
bers' opinions upon the lectures. AS has
been mentioned. the women, therefore.
arose and criticised the intellectual phase
of the affair with much junction..
1.-The trend of thought" and "along these
lines and 1.-The subjective and objective
points of view" Finally they called for
the opinion OF woman whose word had
much weight among them-one whose
knowledge and experience gave her an es-
pecial advantage and prestige. Fellow
members. said this woman, rising to the
st have just one word to say. Whoever
engages these lecturers has a perfect gent
us for picking out ugly. men,"
coat, shabby waistcoat, or. chief of ALL a
vulnerable necktie, has been known to rem
der null and void the profoundest wisdom
so far, at least, as the audience was con-
cerned
at would rather" well-known college
professor once declared, lecture before
twenty audiences of men than one audience
of women. In preparing for the former. all
/ have to do is to be full OF my subject and
present 1t in the best manner possible. But
unless / come before a feminine audience
perfectly groomed and dressed, all my cru
dition counts for nothing. Should the cut
of my coat or the color of my trousers hap
pen not TO suit them. / am lost. lectured
once before woman's club and as always
was carried away by my subject. My au-
dience kept its eyes fixed intently upon me.
the result. fancied. Of my impressive ges-
ticulations. AS soon as the lecture was
over rushed for my train. The club presi-
dent babe me goodbye with a gravity that
/ could not quite interpret. The intensity
OF her gaze seemed to me TO be directed to
my inmost SOUL In the mirrored seclusion
OF the railroad train, however, / soon dis
covered the cause OF both the intensity and
the gravity. The gaze had been meant. not
for my Utmost soul, but for my necktie.
which had screwed around under one ear
In the most undignified manner possible. the
result, probably. OF my gesticulations that
had fancied were so Impressive
Club lecturing Is not, however, confined to
men. Many women have entered the profess
sion. Strange 70 say, the same standards
are likewise applied to them. although. Of