The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-03
HOME, SWEET HOME
The Woman's Club Dis
cusses Plans for I'm
proving Its Condition.
MRS. De HARRIS MODEL PAPER
Mrs. scudder. Hrs. Newbury and
Miss Gaines Make Inter-
esting Talks.
MRS. De HARRIS MODEL PAPER

tNNt
Woman's Club yesterday was in charge
of the Chairman of the House Depart
ment, Mrs. George w. Clerihew. The
subject Of the day was Home" and the
ladies who gave the papers on the sub
| ject showed that they had a much more
certain knowledge of it han club women
are popularity supposed to possess. The
| papers were all interesting and each in
its own particular line was a model. The
musical part of the programme was given
by Miss ennie NJ. Clerihew, who sang an
aria from Samson and Delila," and as
an encore "Ah, It's a Dream"
Mrs. Clerihew in Introducing the sub
ject said the meeting must close early,
because of the mass meeting at 1880,
which all must attend, and because of
that she would omit her speech so that
the ladies who had prepared addresses
would not be limited in their time. She
then introduced Mrs. Scudder, who had
as her subject Houses and Homes.
| Mrs. Scudder described what she thought
the first house was. She said there is
no record of it or who the first builder
was. She thought there was probably lit
tie architectural beauty about 1t, though
| a study of nature might nave ugh the
builder much. Then Mrs. Scudder de-
scribed some of the wonders of nature
which might be copied by builders After
describing some of the houses of the pres
ent day, Mrs. Scudder said the home had
little to do with the house-it might be IN
a howell, and. in closing, she quoted a poet
who sang the home is a happy family.
AT the conclusion of Mrs. Scudder's paper
Miss Clerihew sang Home. Sweet Home"
Mrs. NJ. T. De Hart was the next
speaker. Her subject was, The Evolu-
ton of Woman and Its Effect on the
been a powerful force in the community.
from the Greek Helen down to our own
times. They have been considered by
some the cause of most of the trouble IN
the world, while others nave been pleased
to call them angels. In some ages they
lave been thought in league win the
powers of darkness, and in others consid-
cred the greatest moral force in the uni
verse. All Of which would seem to prove
that they cannot be ignored, but must be
reckoned with in making VI. the account
of the worlds progress. There have al
ways been some who have insisted that
women Were less troublesome and more
easily managed when ignorant. and others
who have urged that education was as
necessary for them as for men, and would
increase their knowledge and add to their
charm. In all ages it has been univer-
sally admitted that home was the Cod
! appointed sphere Of women-rnatern1ty
their fnalienable right, and that they were
by nature especially fitted for this work.
Thoughtful people have seen that the
standard of motherhood should be raised,
the best women induced to undertake this
work, and then left free to follow their
highest inspirations and given every. OPP
portunity to advance instead of sinking
into a condition of arrested development
which too frequently follows marriage.
Our special theme is the home, and
how to conserve its best interests and add
TO its attractiveness. To this end we
could wish for it the incalculable charm
of cultured w~onanhood exercising its
sweetest and noblest faculties as wife and
being is noble self-sacrifcing love, are
with them blessings untold, we who are
mothers know full well. No care, labor
or sorrow is too great for the exceeding
love born in us at the sight of these help
less babes, ours to train and love through
life and to return unspoiled to Heaven.
surely no one who has known this ex-
p~erience can believe that maternity is a
hindrance to the ~loftiest career, but
rather an added stimulus to the noblest
living. In the home women lave an OPP
%portunity to show what they can do TO
make one little spot on earth so bright
that it shall stand as the type and symbol
Of Heaven to all who come within its in
huence. They need universal knowledge.
Art, science, philosophy must be known,
not only scientifically, but must be applied
to daily life. A course in First Aids to
the Injured would be useful to mothers.
Indeed, speaking from personal experience
| should say that three years of faithful
scientific medical study is none too much
10 fit a mother for her work.
We must realize that the home is made
for the people and must conform to their
needs. A too scrupulous neatness, too
much bric-a-brac, too many curtains and
draperies, too many tides and furbelows
may force the children into the street
and the men to the club. where there is
light enough to read and room to now
leaving the mother to sit alone amidst
her elaborate surroundings, wondering at
her lack of success as a h~omeinaker. Let
us then, fully realizing its Importance,
call to our assistance, the broadcast Gull
ture. Let US resolve that we will not
'stoop to conquer, but confident tina the
advancement of women is the star of
hope for the race, let US rather ever
Build thee more stately mansions.
o my soul!
As the. swift seasons roll"
After Mrs. De Hart had concluded her
quotation from the "Chambered Nauti-
lus," Miss Clerihew sang sleep, Little
Baby of Mine"
Mrs. Newbury's subject was 1.-THE Club
and It's Effect on the Home She said,
in spite Of all the talk about her ances-
tors. the perfect woman had never ex-
listed until now. Even Solomon had never
found. Then Mrs. Newbury quoted Solo
mons proverb about the perfect woman
and showed conclusively that she is found
in the club woman Of today, even to be-
A12o SNLA0 O4l.
she bringeth her food from afar." And
her husband is known as such when he
stitch with the elders at the gates:'
After she had shown that the club woman
fulfills all Solomon's requirements, Mrs.
Newbury said the club is of benefit to
the home because it. brings interesting
subjects to the home, and keeps the wife
and mother informed on topics useful to
her family.
Miss Cecilia ain was the last speak
er. Her subject was, Ideal Homes"
She said she had thought and talked
kindergarten SO much that she hadn't
had time to think about homes. She
thought some wife and mother should
have her subject and not an -.unappro-
priated blessing" Her ideal of a home
was based on equality. Though an Epis-
copalian, she never could see why the
bride was "givensaway,' like a piece of
merchandise, and why she should prom
Use to obey. A home should be a repub-
lie. The office of president should not be
a life position and should be interchange
able. Miss Gaines reminded the club that
it takes more thar one to make a home.
A bachelor or old maid can't have one.
And all members of a family must help
to make it ideal. The Reception Com
mittee served lemonade and cake and re-
ceived Christmas gifts Of money from the
club members for spoons SO that choco-
late or coffee may be served at future
meetings in cold weather.