The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-26
THIS WOMAN'S CLUB WILL OPEN
DOWNTOWN QUARTERS OF
ITS OWN.
CLUBROOMs ON PINE STREET
PLANS FOR A New AND ENLARGED
CAREER OF CULTURE AMID
SOCIAL PLEASURE.

bursts into the fullness of its destined per-
| fection
Sorosis has been only budding since it
was first heard of here-just a little over a
year ago. This ultra-fashionable, ultra
cultured club has since its organization
gone very, very quietly on its refined and
aspiring way, holding its social, business
ana intellectual gatherings at the resi-
dences OF members whose parlors and hos
| pltalltv have been offered to the members,
and two or three times stepping more
prominently and with becoming grace and
| dignity into public view. A notable re-
ception at the Palace was one of these
! events, and William Greer Harrison's pay
was given to the world under the auspices
OF this club
| But now the Sorosls Climb is abo ut to
enlarge the scope of its existence and be-
| come more prominent figure in the local
social. intellectual and esthetic sphere of
! womankind.
For one thing, it proposes to open per-
manent home right downtown. No club
| is complete without clubrooms, and Club
| rooms the Sorosis ladies will soon have.
! 1t will probably 90 right into Pine street,
| too. The place that is now in view is part
of the old Bohemian Club quarters, so
long ana famously haunted by the owl.
| It's in that light, roomy and much bay
Wlndowed secOnd-Story over the California
Market and the big grocery that the So
| rosis Club has all but decided to take up
Its abode. 1t is surely an appropriate
place, one whose past must give it grace
and charm. During the years before the
tre the wits, the artists and the singing
ones of the Bohemian Club, the jolly spir-
its of the Press Club and the patrons and
| painters of the School of Design, made
that spreading upper story the central
home OF the organized culture of the City.
| Through many years the wealth and
| fashion OF the town climbed that broad
! stairway every now and then and passed
through brilliantly lighted bowers of palms
and flowers to gatherings that were great
successes IN the name OF literature or art.
| When the fire came and when large part
OF the rebuilt upper story became a storage
| place for hams end Zinfandel, it seemed
| for a time that the famous old loating
place of the muses. was wholly given over
to the Philistines. But when half of the
long upper story was fixed up for renting
few weeks ago it was no time before art
claimed all of its own that il could get
back The big old classroom of the School
OF Design became with other rooms
School OF Magazine and Newspaper Illus
tratlon. sculptor moved in and then
William Keith, the landscape painter, left
his kearny-street garnet, took four big
| front rooms and blazed forth in magnii-
cent studio and private art gallery.
1t is one of these rooms that Keith
rented that the Sorosis Club is apt to take
within few days. The room in question
Is OF magnificent size, with immense bay-
windows opening on Pine street. 1t con-
meets by large folding-doors with the rest
| OF kei this rooms. and when receptions at
tended by many guests are held the use OF
Keith rooms, finely furnished and full of
| his choicest paintings, may be at the dis
posal of the club giving it quarters I'M
equaed in the City for the purpose.
The idea is to furnish this room hand
somely, supply it with reading matter,
and otherwise make it an attractive and
convenient woman'S club. 1t will be
convenient place for members to meet
downtown and an attractive resting place
for them to drop in at when shopping
downtown. Meetings and receptions will
be held there instead of at private resi-
dences.
But the Sorosis Club has other large
plans for immediate growth. and they CON
tain promise that the organization will
become quite notable among the women's
clubs ofthe country. The president of this
club, Mrs. Irving M. Scott, has keen in
terest in. seeing it develop it's highest
possibilities, as have other well-known
ladies who are zealously fostering the
young organization.
The aims of the Sorosis are much like
its older contemporary, the Century Club,
and the famous Sorosis Club of New York
is the model followed. The purpose OF
the club is broadly expressed in its de-
scrlptlon as IAN association of women in
terested IN literature, art. science and
philanthropy, who are brought together
with view of rendering them helpful to
each other and useful to society,"
Now Mrs. Scott and the ladies actively
interested with her want to establish
classes for members, develop the work of
committees on art, education, science,
dra1 afn md nolI .-,1I
receptions noted people who visit the City
and who are worthy of the attentions of
the club.
Every woman has talent in some direc-
ton, and we want to bring out and de-
velop the talents OF our member whatever
they may be" said Mrs. Scott yesterday,
while modestly answering few inquiries
about the or anization. II have acquired
a deep personal interest in every member
of the club, and with other ladies in it,
would like to see the club made of as
much benefit to every one of the
just completed our first year, and
our plans for the coming year are
yet little indefinite, but l think
the ladies will all approve the idea of
having convenient clubhouse where they
can meet for every purpose and a place
suitable Tor our receptions. We will prob
ably have classes, and they will be in
whatever IS most desired by the members.
There. will probably be literary classes and
some may want to do work in china paint
ing, etching and so on. The lives of ma
jority OF women are very much narrowed,
and there are SO many ways in which they
can properly be expanded with profit to
themselves and those about them. That
may especially be the case with married
women whose children have grown up
and gone to homes of their own
The question about the Pine-street quar-
tiers will be definitely settled in day or
two. Whether or not that location is
finally selected, the Sorosis Club proposes
to take place to the front and enter on
new and enlarged career
=
Work of Associated Charities.