The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-05
Sncietu Yopics.

~ KAN
The woman's Club has lately decided
to have a regular order Of days for
the meetings: literary day." musical
day" 'sphilanthropic day." scientific
day." instead of the haphazard talks on
anything in which the club has been IN
dulged. Yesterday was Buttonholing
Day. It was the last club day before the
annual election of club officers. Every
woman knew this. Every woman had
ideas about the nominees to the once.
Every woman proceeded to put her ideas
in operation. Every woman was, OF
course, disinterested, perfectly disinter-
ested. Not one wished any office the
club could possibly give. Not one wished
to see her own particular friend elected
to a vacant office. 1t was entirely I'M
personal, .'for the good of the cup.
Every woman thought she knew best the
needs of the club and every woman tried
to convince every other woman OF her
wisdom. ~Buttonholing was the result
b~uttonholing such as the club has never
before witnessed, such as it will probably
witness annually.
It is such a delightful feeling to be
able to b%uttonhole your fellow member
and talk to her of the club officers as II
you were weighing hi affairs of the
nation. You feel some of the excitement
of a political canva You feel for the
time quite as important as your brother
or father or husband. 1t is an unusual
privilege, this bu%ttonholing and it must
be well exercised. The Woman's Club
members were untiring in their efforts.
The meeting broke up early and the mem
bers stayed notwithstanding.
The very air in Hasbrouck Hall was
full of it yesterday. The minute one
something unusual. If one had forgotten
VIA hat something was one had only
to glance over the room until one saw
the President and instantly the something
was recalled. The little lady was gowned
as the Woman's Club had never before
seen her. A black satin skirt, a black
waist with chiffon and bands of ribbon
and frills and rufus of chiffon was the
elaborate gown she wore. Even the frills
and rufus were tense with excitement.
They seemed to know that they were
present on an important occasion. They
did their best. They stood up and they
stood out; they acted regally.
It was indeed an important occasion
1t was the last day of Miss Gaines term
of office. And upon the club members
had devolved the onerous duty of choos-
ing her successor. If anyone had told
these same club members three years ago
that they would now be choosing her
successor they would nave laughed you
to scorn. They relied on Miss Gaines
record as President of the Odd Volumes
for nine years and they thought they
never need be troubled electing her sue
cessor. They could just go on re-electing
her year after year and ave all the
bother of thinking of some n else who
might have the necessary fitness for the
presidential chair.
But, alas, with her election to the
presidency of the State Federation Miss
Gaines put down her little foot and cried
Enough" And she told them they must
try and find some one else who could
take her place, some one who would at
least be willing to make the attempt.
And that is the cause of all this ex-
citement-of all the buttonholing. For it
ha been an arduous task to find anyone
who could fill Miss Gaines place. One
woman was suitable in one way but in
others she was deficient. And SO it went.
There nave been consultations by the
score. It was even rumored, and not
without truth, that a caucus was held
by a number of the prominent, very, very
prominent, member of the club and a.
ticket adopted. 1t was limited that a
political husband was at the bottom of
this. Everyone, however, tried to APP
pear innocent of this, though several ad-
mitted they had sent their nomination
be filled up.
A second topic of interest in the Wom-
ms Club, though of secondary import
ance, is the annual reception. Arrange
ments are being made to have a colon;al
reception and supper. The reception will
be held Friday night, February rs. Mrs.
Robert G.. Lyle will have charge of the
musical programme. Mrs. Harry B. Day
who is chairman of the Reception Com
mittee, has enlarged her committee for
the occasion. The committee and many
Of the club member will wear Colonial
costumes. There will be t~abIeaux-the
club runs to tableaux. The reception
will be held in the Jersey City Club
House, which has again been Offered to
the Woman's Club. The Colonial period,
so Miss lain announced, was chosen
because theNcostumes are $50 becoming"
49,
The annual reunion and dinner OF the
Frieslanders will be held tonight at the
Hotel Washington. On February 6, two