Catoctin clarion., 1896-04-02
!Ehnrmonf Mn1ture g|ub,
CONDUCTED BY
E. A. MATTHIAS.


meeting were read and necessary bust
ness transacted, the Presidents inaugural
address which we give in full below, was
heard with much pleasure; discussion OF
current events followed, including the admis,
SION of the Territory Of Utah into the Union,
with full suffrage for women embodied in her
constitution; the passage of the bill for free
school books by the Maryland Legislature,
and other topics of interest culled from the
daily press Some chapters from book, by
Frances Power Cobbe, entitled "Duties OF
Women" were read and commented on, brief
quotations on the subject, "Woman," were
given by most Of those present. Animated
discussions on several Of the lines quoted
occupied the time until the hour for closing
came, which brought to an end most inter
esting and instructive meeting.
THE FREsIDENT's INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Our century has been called "Womaus
Age" 1t Is preeminently an age Of clubs,
conventions and associations for the advance
ment of women, so much 30 that the club
has been called fad. The Study Club was
invented by women, and has certainly become
a matter of serious enthusiasm among women
everywhere. In come cities study classes
are more numerous than churches. In every
eastern city one or more such clubs abound,
including the brightest and most progressive
women of the place; and it is trite saying
that in western towns study club Is formed
before the boom TO remain after the boom Is
exploded, while in conservative old southern
states and cities the earnest, impeluous
mothers and sisters of the South are coming
their lessons for the Chautauqua or some
other circle, their subjects ranging all the
way from the myths OF ancient history to the
social and economic problems Of today, and
tho the topics may be not always we'll chosen,
they show a noble desire to satisfy the grow.
ing hunger of the newly awakened intellect
ua life.
1t is simply wonderful in consideration OF
the fact that rs years ago there was no such
thing in existence as a study club for women,
and 100 years ago the studies and object OF
woman's education were thus outlined by the
French writer, Rousseau The education of
women should always be relative to that OF
men To please US, to be useful to US, to
make us love and esteem them, to educate US
when young and take care ofus when grown,
to advise us, to console US, to render our
lives easy and agreeable-those are the duties
of women at all times, and these what they
should be taught. She ought to study the
the mind of man thoroughly, not in general
or in the abstract but only the dispositions
of those men to whom she is subject.
There are even now in the world today
some poor antiquated specimens of manhood
who believe as the French writer; e. g., Grant
Allen calls al educated woman "a dull sense
! Q, aulomaton," but tn nj; Col, different
opinion prevails with the bulk ofnoble, chiv-
alrous manhood, and think most of us will
agree that woman should be educated as is
man and for the same purpose e., to make
the most useful member of society possible.
The day happily has gone by when men
can talk down to women. The time was
when women in the drawing room, yawned
behind their fans and frightened only to
receive the gentle condescension of men. ls
it so today? The art of talking down is too
often the other way. The bright witty club
women in many social gatherings are rather
inclined TO draw into circle for earnest
talk, leaving the men outside, Men at such
places are usually bored why? Because
absorbed only in their business and in max
ing money they neither interest women nor
are they inter ted by them. Believing they
have no time in their busy lives for mental
culture they turn that art over to their wives
and daughters Of whom Hall Game the Eng,
lish novelist SAYS the average American is
pretty proud Some one who has studied
the statistics OF study clubs gives the proper
ton of men to women as 16 to /. This mu
tual separation in club life ofmen and women
is to be truly deplorcd, and were the div ion
to be final and permanent, would constitute
sufficient ground for the abolition Of wom'
ems clubs. But the hopeful broader vision
recognizing the trapsition Of human society,
sees in the present mal-adiustment OF the
sexes, a temporary evil only, which time Will
correct. Cultivated mothers means more
thought in the home education; it means CO.
operation between parent and teacher, high.
er ideas for our young boys of which the final
outcome will be a cultivated race of men.
All this in general way or IN the abstract.
But what message Of announcement have l
for this our own local club 80 recently born,
and with its eyes, you might say, not yet
opened? First, that you have organized
with enthusiasm and high hopes. That of
itself is encouraging. Suppose you have
tried again and again only to find ere the
close of the first term, the gradual dying out
of the courage and enthusiasm with which
YOU started What good thing has ever sue
ceeded without repeated failure, and success
sive startsi Let US revise the part to read
Nobler to have tried and failed than never
to have tried at ALL In all such attempts,
YOU are but trying your wings and strength
ening them for final flight, and some day it
shall come to pass that, given just the auspi-
cious moment, just the right material and
the wise leader, success will crown your ef
forts, success largely due to these past
efforts.
Second, in your purpose set forth, you
aimed high; that IL well. Emerson says:
"hitch your wagon to star" What matters