New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-08
THE WORKING GIRLS CLUB.
MISS GRACE DODGE TALKS ON NATURAL
TENDENCIES.
MANY INTERESTING TOPICS CHOSEN FOR SUISSE
oUENT NORTHUMBERLAND AND

MANY INTERESTING TOPICS CHOSEN FOR SUISSE
oUEHT ETINGs-"swEETHEART'' AND
woMAN's RELATIONS TO THE VOTERS
TO BE THE NEXT SUBJECTS
About th!rty-hve bright. eager-faced young
women congregated at the Working Girls Club
rooms at No. Do West Thirty eighth-st.. last week
to listen to Miss Grace Dodge's talk Natural
Tendencies and How 10 Overcome Them
Mrs. Robinson Murphy. the singer present,
ard helped 10 entertain the members. and then II
was decided 20 have the following subjects dis
cussed at the weekly meetings during the few
months: The Meaning OF the Word Sweetheart"
"Woman's Relation to the Voters OF the Country"
The Difference Between Gossip and Scandal"
"The Meaning OF Civics." Lady or Woman; Which
IS the Higher Title" THE Difference Between
Reason and an Excuse" What Woman Needs
That She Wants" WHAT Woman Wants That
She Does No, Need" and What Woman Does
Not Want That She Needs"
Some light remarks were made on the last three
subjects a bright-ookng sew!ng-girl slyly say
ing that she wanted husband, her own way ana
a large salary Miss Dodge set the whole club
laughing by telling her she could not have the first
until she knew the meaning Of :he word sweet
heart" the girls Of the club were progressive
and sensiDe. and believed In analyzing everything
before taking IT, She talked on Natural Tendon
cies.'' and read paper by one OF the club mem
bers Miss Young, who is in the Presbyterian
Hospital.
Miss Young contended that the more struggling
there is TO overcome natural tendencies the strong
and sturdier becomes. She cited Phillips
Brooks and Mr. Moody proofs OF this. neither
having the natural power Of oratory, and both
becoming great public speakers.
discussion arose ont OF this whether Mr.. Moody
might be properly called orator, and Miss Dodge
said that in her opinion. he was one OF the great
est Of the century not OF course. in the accepted
sense Of the term. but in the sense that he brought
his audience into sympathy with himself and his
subject IN n way that few do. Both Glad
stone and Dsrael declared that he was marvel
lous man and she (iiss Dodge believed that It
his wonderful perseverance IN developing that
In which he naturally weak
AN EXCUSE FOR DOING THINGS.
One OF the members said that she thought I; was
a great comfort TO have natural tendencies, IA II
excused one for doing many things.
This vigorously opposed by a dark-eyed ste
nographer who said that God would never have
given us the monitor OF conscience II we were not
capable Of overcoming wrongdoing. factory girl
thought II not all worth while as life was short
and time was feeinS and II it would be constant
struggling agains, temptations. environments and
natural disabilities she thought it would be better
10 take life easy To this Miss Dodge replied that
nothing is lost in nature II is not likely thar
great souls and grea. efforts will be- and her firm
belief is that all noble ambitions. longings and 81
will he satisfied in the life beyond the grave
young laundry girl present said that her natural
disability bishfuln"ss that she longe1 10 20 In
company Dut away when the chance was Of
fered her that she said the things she ought no,
10 say and left unsaid many nice bright things and
tina, she was constantly afraid OF being mlsunder-
stood.
This opened practical discussion on overcoming
bashfuness; young woman contenling. To the
amusement % all. that mental east wind was
needed to take away the seli-conscIousnesS or IN"
hashful person \ remedy suggested was thai the
bashful victim should sock n1ThfIl than
herself and by seeing how absurd the mHlady was
learn overcome IL. Society suggested by an
other. the mistakes made would teach one con-
slant lessons weakness and how to overcome II.
or as one 4 the girls voiced g. Every failure - a
glimpse Of the enemy
Miss Dodge told little story about literary
friend Of hers who Is constantly miserable because
she seems 70 have tho unhappy faculty Of making
others miserable by her cauStic wit and natural
brightness. This caused notwithstanding shop
gri 20 say that she believed all women ~ genius
disaRrecahe
The meeting vas closed with remarks by Miss
Dodge who he'd that all evil tendencies can le
councractcd by continual effort, and good ones de-
veloped. that people can he what they want 70 be-.
and. though ~ is harder 20 climb Mp than 60 down
hl one can DO II. and strength and muscle ar"
developed ~ the journey