The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
THE NEW" WOMAN FAD
AN oLD-FAsHIONED CLUB MEMBER
DISCUSSES THE SUBJECT.
Recent wheel Party's Ridiculous Mis-
hap-Doings of People in the
Social World.

I'm tired of hearing of the new
woman all the time" said a prominent
club woman There is so much told
about her that mere mention is received
with uncomplimentary remarks. I shall be
glad when a woman can branch out for
herself without so much comment Then.
again, shall be glad when the novelty of
the new woman is worn off, when the fad
for belonging to 50 many clubs is over.
when such glaring colors in dress Will not
be seen on washington street, when a
mother will think 1t eminently respectable
TO take care of her own children and see
them more than a half hour a day. / am
old-fashioned enough to wish that ] might
at least visit in house where everything
is not left to servants and where hostess
will give a warmer greeting and less ice
cream, where she is not ashamed to be
found with a great big work apron on,
when the novel of the day is a genuine
love story with happy ending; and /
might go indefinitely, but cannot reg
ulate affairs, nor can 1 change them, and
so 1 know l shall nave TO go on hearing
of the new woman, seeing party dresses
on the business streets, see nurses drag
ging their infant charges by one arm and
otherwise maltreating them. eat ice cream
and drink cold lemonade, read novels deal
ing with all sorts Of novel questions and
keep on wishing for what is not
The young people who made up re-
cent wheel party to Broad Ripple had a
great time. They went out on the tow
path. Only three fell in the canal
Three girls had their dresses ruined SO that
they cannot be worn again, one young man
was overcome with the heat and had to
return to the city on the car, one ran into
the towpath gate and broke his machine
beyond repair, lamps went out, there was
not a sign of light, and altogether there
was enough experience to last the party
for some time. The next day was taken to
recuperate from the unusual exercise and
excitement
Discussing the solution of "Women's Most
Vexing ProblemT-domestic service in the
Ladies' Home Journal Edward w. Box in
sists that, first OF all. women must drop
a lot of outside problems with which they
are at present graphing, but which, after
all, only Indirectly concern them. Impor-
tant they may be, in a general sense, but
not one-hundredth part as important as is
this problem, which is exclusively theirs.
Foreign missions, the ballot, the higher ed
ucation of women. the amelioration of the
poor-it will be well enough for women to
labor for all these causes when their own
more immediate problems are settled. The
servant girl problem is far more important
at present than any of these. Other prob
lens are general in their effects; this one
strikes at the very heart of the American
home. We do not begin to realize how in
timately associated is this problem with
our happiness. 1t concerns every man,
woman and child. The heathens in African
nd fO he cix zad 20 will
dispute that. But true charity begins at
home, and we have heathens in few of
our kitchens who need civiliZing and edu-
cational influences just as much do the
natives of midas coral strand. l have
nothing to say against women's, work in
foreign missionary societies, good govern
ment clubs or charity organizations of what
ever sort But do say this; That scores Of
women employing efforts in those di-
rectionS which ought to be employed in the
solution of matters nearer home. Women
can solve this domestic problem If they
will. But they must get together and
work unitedly. If they do 1 venture to say
that in year or two there will be no such
thing as the servant girl problem, for 1t
will have been solved"
There is a great change in the fashion
able woman's visiting card this season.
For those few who will remain in town
during the summer the ample white paral-
telegram of bristol board will be used But
If the lady goes into the country or to the
seashore. to Newport to the mountains
anywhere SO long as 1T is in her own
country, her cards must be thin scarcely
more than milk white paper, and an inch
and half long by an inch wide. The
owners city residence must be set forth in
sternly plain and very small pearl type
These cards. however, are intended only
for country use, and should on no occa-
sion be used in the city or if their owner
goes abroad.
Sl1 ahr ~,
trip that will take her into foreign waters
1t is necessary as Well as convenient that
she carry a travelling card. These in point
of size and thickness are identical with her
country cards, but there the resemblance
ends. Across the top, quite near the top
her full name. Just beneath her city and
country address in America in the right
corner the name of her banker in London
or Paris, and in the left hand corner her
cable address. This is lot of information
to be put on ones visiting card, espe-
cially when 1t IS such a small affair as
fashion dictates, but one readily sees their
advantage. They can be left with one's
English. German, French or Russian
friends, or with any pleasant and desirable
acquaintance met with on the trip.
One of the efforts of the ubiquitous sum-
mer boarder to amuse himself this season
is called the duck party. The name means
that the participants are expected, the men
TO wear duck trousers and neglgee shorts
the girls duck skirts and shirt waists.
The whole is to be most informal and to
take the form of a moonlight picnic a
straw ride or any other al fresco enter
tainment that is within the limits of the
dress prescribed.
Personal and Society.
Miss Matte Francis is now visiting Mrs.
PrinZ.
Miss Mary Collier has returned from Pc
toskey
Mr.. and Mrs. w. S. Wynn have returned
from Wawasee.
Mr.: Gaylord Hawkins returned last even
ing from Wawasee.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank H. Wilson have gone
TO 81. Joseph. Mich.
Mr. Dick Miller. of Chicago, is the guest
Of indianapolis friends
Miss Helen Swain is visiting Miss Mary
Sayles, OF Maxinkuckee
Mrs. j. w Burton and daughter have re-
turned from Martinsville.
Mr. and Mrs. Scot Butler have gone