New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-05
SOROSIS'S SOCIAL DAY.
MODERN INNOVATIONS ON HOME LIFE"
THE QUESTION DISCUSSED.
A c1.UBwoMAN WHO LAMENTs THE INRoAD:

A c1rBwoMAN WHO LAMENTs THE INRoADs
MADE on THE HOME BY CLUB LIFE is
WIPED OUT" BY HER OPPONENTS.
The members OF Sorosis met at tho Waldorf at y
o'clock yesterday for their monthly breakfast. and
at 2 o'clock they assembled in the ballroom TO
discuss the effects Of modern innovations on home
lie. The question was presented by Alice May
Scudder. and then taken up in the affirmative by
Susan Hayes Ward Helen Grandn Lord Mary
Dame Hall and Alice B. Stimson. and In the mega
tive by Susan Kechum Bourne Gertrude F. Hess.
Mrs. Charles W. Bassett and Katherine G. Town
send NJ D.
Mrs Ward contrasted the conditions OF women
and children in the modern home and the home OF
the good old times. and thereby arrived at the con-
clusion that things are mmea surably better as
they than they have ever been before.
Homes more comfortable places for the chill
dren now she said. than they were in old New
England days" Old people are younger. and young
people older. and the intercourse between them
is pleasanter than formerly. A boy would never
think now Of addressing his father as "honored and
revered parent" The children have improved In
health too. in the light of modern HYGIENE science
and where our forefathers had fourteen little ones
eleven of whom died. We now have carefully
reared family OF three or four.
1.-The modern home is also better place for the
women. for IL is q republic. whereas the old one
a monarchy. the father being the bugbear and
ogre. the spoiled monarch on his throne. in whom
all the others lived and moved and had their
being"
Mrs Bourne conceded the material benefits Of
modern innovations. but maintained that they had
Increased our wants hundred fold The ideal
home she thought. was not dependent on station
airy tubs and hot water. and the Puritan parlor.
with It's straigh-ba hair-covered chairs. set
back against the wall. appeared TO her good vista
OF shady spaces. when compared with the modern
overcrowded drawing room. She also attacked the
modern apartment. with its lack Of space. air and
larl
Mrs Lord vigorously defended the "so-called
abomination" the apartment-house. maintaining
that II placed within the reach OF the moderate
income all the improvements Of modern science.
Mrs Hess lamented the !rroads made on the
home by club life and referred with satisfaction to
tire report that society for staying at nome nad
been formed in Boston.
Homes broken up" she declared, that the
hone-maker may obtain leisure for lectures ana
clubs. and even babies Of six are smitten with the
fever. Cupid has privacy in which to shoot his
darts, and only make his advances under the
cover OF hundred eyes"
Mrs Hall spoke Of only two lnnovations-the club
and the bicycle-both OF which, she maintained.
helrf,I in ali departments of life and the second
bringing health, happiness and cheerfulness.
Mrs Bassett argued that modern innovations had
not touched the real home life. housekeeping and
housekeeping being TWO different things An ideal
roof and the running stream for bathtub; and.
while prepared foods were useful things IN their
the milk o. human Kindness
Mrs Siimsontreated the subject humorousy. say
ing ride the elevated train ought 10 be suill-
Gent answer 10 the question. for, II carefully
studied IL proved that everything necessary Tor
home happiness could bought for cash, from
pies like mother used TO make to potion TO re-
the wifes fading charms.
Dr. Townsend pointed out the dark side OF some
modern innovations dwelling the appalling con-
di,ion OF city celias. the injurious effects of fur
mace heat and the fiAh that accumulaes in water
pipes.
Inc extompora neoue discussion participated
In by Mrs Sarah Os,ron Mrs Brown. president o.
the european Club of Brooklyn; Mrs. Anna Ran
dal-Diehl Miss Anna Allen. Mrs Johnson. of Los
Angeles, and Miss White OF Maine
Mrs. Ostrom said that the greatest and most
beneficial OF modern innovations was the father,
which the world needed much as II did the
mother, and Mrs. Brown expressed thankfuness
for the removal OF the supernuous woman from the
sacred precincts of the home.
THE modern aunts and irnpecunious cousins who
used 10 he matter out Of place have now gone into
business and the professions. she said, and a
blessing 10 the world and 10 themselves
Mrs. Helmuth. in response 10 remark OF one
speaker the effect that modern mothers had no
time to make mincepies and other good things said
that. although she was member OF Sorosis. of a
nosp'tal board and several other bodies she had
neVertneless, FOUND time TO make all the
mincemeat Tor her own. her daughters and
Preceding the discussion the following pro-
Rramme rendered:
Song Miss Allen Henrietta G. Tuthn, accom-
PIANIST; recitation, scene from school for Scandal
Act III, Scene Sheridan Carolyn A Paddork
cong LEE (Chaminade). Miss Florence DE /