The times., 1898-07-17
WOMEN IN CLUB LIFE.
The Sex Discussed in Relation to
Organized Work.

The Sex Discussed in Relation to
Organized Work.
Chicago. July 1S--By constitutional
limitation" the official club career of Mrs
Ellen Henrotin terminated with the re-
cent meeting of the National Federation
of Women's Clubs, at Denver With her
touch SO long upon its pulse, no woman in
the country is better able to gauge the
development of club life in America than
she. -F&
Just returned from her duties, Mrs.
Henrotin was found in her charming home
on Superior Street, approachable, gra-
cious. ready to talk of club life as she
knows 1t.
"The development of the aims and
methods of women says Mrs. Henrotin,
since the congress of 49, has been SIM
ply incalculable.
previous TO this great convention near
ly every hamlet in America boasted its
Ladies' Literary Society but though
many of them were doing fine work along
certain lines, they were all self-limited,
their horizon not extending beyond their
own circumscribed tastes and require
ments The main feature of the first
convention was, therefore, organization.
Il couldn't begin to tell you of the con-
crosses to which this first biennial con-
yention gave rise. Among them are the
National Council OF Jewish Women, the
National Council of Lutheran Women, the
National Council of Catholic Women, the
Trained Nurses Association, etc, the
dawning, as you see of the department
club idea The good seed sown rapidly
terminated, and the next biennial conven-
ton in "a at Philadelphia was notable as
giving impetus to the movement for State
| federation. From that date to this, cover
ing q period of four years, thirty-one
States have federated-a splendid show
! ing.
THE result Of this action has been a
| great public awakening as TO our sys-
| tenn of education. 1t was at the third
! convention in Louisville, 1896. that | was
| elected president of the National FED
Grafton of Womens Clubs. Since tina:
| time j have worked ~ before, for tht
| development of clubs in the direction OF
| these great ideas.
| $50 marked has been the growth tha
! this last convention in Denver found the
| minds of the women ripe for the consid
/ Grafton of the coordination of socia
! forces or the raising of the standard o.
| the average life. and the effort to brins
| into it. not any one thing, but all th'
| things which go to make up well-beini
| and harmony; in a word TO demonstrate
the unity of life.
The subjects discussed embraced in
| dustrial conditions. household economics
/ etc II has also been the aim to max
! the federation entirely democratic. throw
ing II open TO all clases of workers. TIL
clubs which exist for and on account o
economic conditions are those in facto
ries. shops, dry goods establishments
! evening school clubs, clubs OF co-opera
ted living, etc, all of which are wei
/ come TO the advantages of federation
These great principles once set in motion
/ 60 forward Of themselves with ever in
creasing momentum. II Is not in humaI
power 10 stop them now and Mrs. Hen
rotin paused with a sigh Of deep salts
faction.
Thus you see" she resumed. 'the clu
idea has developed precisely on the lin
in which the genius of women naturall
works, and the only line upon which sh
IS successful; l mean. that of apple
knowledge AT the risk of offending We
men, l boldly assert that they do no
care for knowledge per Sc. Much Is sal
nowadays of the opportunities OF wome
for higher education. But they hav
always had opportunity. There has al
ways been knowledge 10 be gained, an
books from which to acquire IT, But ger
orally speaking women are not eager fo
how they may apply it. what practic,
use it may be put to. and they are NOR
than willing TO go % work.
'As related to club work, their ordt
Of development may be designated as 70
lows: Constructive educational co-oi
dinate. The work Of the convention
Denver leaves them with a broad an
solid foundation for future growth
You will find women's clubs now bac
i
where are they working for better san
tati0n. for cleaner administration IN III
body polite. for more just laws. VIII
out of twenty-four bills recently presen
ed to the Maine legislature by a woman
club. twenty-five were passed. The
have simply Ievolutionized prison cond
, tons in Chicago They have frequent
3 been instrumental in putting manui
training in the public schools. sometime
: defraying the whole expense Of its intr
ducuon and first years trial: and the
are largely responsible for Summt
: schools for the poor. They set on so
travelling libraries etc, etc. etc. In fac
their whole genius runs in the drectic
= Of studying conditions, and applying a.
| propriata measures"
Then you honestly feel, Mrs. Henr
tin, that clubs have been powerful IA
: tor in the a jvancement of women?"
| more Jnan tndt. / am. indeed, col
} ] vinced that the work Of our best clul
: IS now equal 20 a postgraduate course
a good college. AS long ago as Il
= Worlds Fair. the results of club VOL
were perfectly obvious | had lite diff
= Guilty then in securing 1000 women fro
= as many different places TO serve
/. chairmen of committees All of the
y women were ready. apt and not only u
= derstood the demands OF the time b
= apprehended the lines upon which cIl
y work must progress, If it progressed
all"
You have had long leadership Nj
Henrotin.''
Yes. and 1t has been an interestil
experience. Women are not as east
$ held together as men. Men are great
;, idealists-ah! do not look so surprise
Y 1t is fact. They may be held togeth
by cause, by the idea of conquest.
" love of arms, etc. You can only no
Il women together by giving them som
n thing. to do. The old idea of appli
+ knowledge, you know"
s Shall you miss the scepter?'
Not in the least. I have enioyed r
official career vastly. But l shall eorr
ly enjoy again working as an indtvIdr
: for the individual To strive for eau
e for ideal public coniitions-is exhilia
/. atng and broadening; but doing the du
that lies nearest tends 10 as full a
well-rounded development and leads
as great ends