Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22
NEW-CENTURY CLUB.

luis Lo Dc rcEretteu tuht 30 CON-
paratively small number of club mem
hers availed themselves, on Monday
week, OF the privilege Of hearing
Mrs, Charlotte Perkins Stetson ON
1.-The Club Conscience. She said
the woman's club movement-the mere
fact Of women meeting to do something
together is the most important Of
recent socioloe ica developments. The
training that has como to us hereto
fore dateH backwards; We must take
the truth from hshind us and push
forward beyond the belief of our
ancestors. We have been taught that
there Is planted in us q specific faculty
by which we can discriminate between
right and wrong. But conscience is
not specific faculty.: it may be cul-
tivated as one cutivates the ear for
music. Woman SO far has had three
kinds Of conscience. domestic, re-
ligious, and social. The domestic con-
science is very strong; some women
could not SO to heaven till their dishes
were washed, they have been SO long
schooled 10 applying an ethical sense
to their daily tasks. The religious and
society copsciences sometimes con-
flict and the latter usually conquers;
if we have forgotten to invite friend,
our coosci4nce would more readily
forgive false excuse than a
social canon violated. Since the club
movement women have assumed re-
latiou never entered before, and with
new duties comes new conscience.
Wn measure ourselves by what others
think OF us, and We women have been
living long in an atmosphere of people
who think we'll of us, for poor is the
daughter or wife. or mother whose
own family does not look up to her,
but family atmosphere is not thing
to MEASURE by. Club life brings us out
into an atmosphere where we are
measured. We have to learn to earn
the honor oil our fellow beings, to be
worthy OF respect, if we would be
honored. This will make us less in
fantins, make stronger, sounder women
OF us and byithat the race will benefit.
Heredity lie no Laic law; child in
herits qualities from the mother as
well as from the father.
One duty we have to lsarn is the
| simple business matter of punctuality.
At home if We did not come on time
we could make pretty little excuses,
| but when We bave wasted the time oil
room full OF people, 1t is more serious
matter. Everything a human being
does is right or wrong. We must dc
the right thing in small as we'll as in
great mattera; must make tina obedience
10 parliamentary rules matter of con-
science. "a voice soft and low 10 an
eScellsnt thing in woman when she
talks in hsr own home, but what is
right between two persons is not right
between one person and 200. 10 com.
mon courtesy the voice should reach tt
| those who listen. Feminine modesty
| should not hiuder the simple human
kindness that lies in delivered voice,
People ate becoming socialized.
There is steadily increasing SENSE
that life should not be lived alone
wa cannot lire unless we live together
We are born made up of ancestors. ant
grow, influenced by those behind, ant
by those around US. Only that part o
our life tbatwe have done in spite o
heredity and environment is our owl
part of il. The healthiest life is tn,
widest life; We have not room enough
when we just live at home-.the famil,
is only larger self. Men are forcei
into INTERPRETATION and comraoeship
The club should provide this for us
who comss to the club must leave sci
at home; must submit to the will o
the majority. Woman should atten,
the business meetings of the club
they are its organic life, the other
merely it's recreations. When tim
limit is considered necessary 70
speakers they should be kept strictl
to it. AT one woman's congress
little bell was rung three minutes be
fore the 20 minutes were up to Civ
them that time to wind up in.