Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-07-30
THE CLUB AND SALON.
ARE THE WOMEN Or TO-DAY TAKING
TOO MUCH INTEREST IN THEMi

MA Amelia oeFs Mason Ihinha Amestean
women. with Their spisndid Initiative
and BsundIss. Aspirations. Are Assam
Ing Too Mach Responsibility.
In the Century there IL an article on
Club and Salon" by Mrs. Amelia Gers
Mason. author OF Women Of the
French Salon" Mrs Mason says:
OF wOmen's clubs there Is literally
no end. and they are yet In their Wig
orous youth. We have literary clubs.
and art clubs. and musical clubs. clubs
for science. and clubs for philan-
thropy; parliamentary clubs. and suf-
frage clubs. and anti-suffrage clubs
clubs OF every variety and every grade.
from the luncheon club. with lis diet
tante menu. and the more pretentious
chartered club. that aims al mastering
a scheme Of the world. 10 the simple
working girls club. which Is content
with something less; and all IN the
sacred name Of culture. They multi
ply. federate, hold conventions. organ.
lie congresses. and really form a vast
educational system that Is fast chang
Ing old ideals and opening possible
ties OF which no prophetic eye can see
the end. That they have maryelously
raised the average standard Of inteili-
Fence cannot be Questioned. nor that
they have brought out a large number
Of able and interesting women who
have generously taken upon them
selves not only their own share Of the
work OF the world. but a great deal
more
One can hardly oyerrate the value OF
an Institution which has given light
and an upward impulse 20 N many
lives. and changed The complexion Of
society 70 distinctly for the better.
But Il may be worth while 10 ask II
the women Of to-day. with their splen-
did initiative and bOundiefl aspira-
tons. are not going a little too fast,
getting entangled In too much machin-
cry, losing their individuality In
masses. assuming more responsibility
than they can well carry Why Il Il
that lines too deep for harmonious
thought are 20 early writing them
selves on the strong tense. mobile. and
delicate faces Of American women?
Why Is Il that the pure Joy o. life
seems 10 be lost In the restless and
Unsuitable passion for multltudes. 20
often thinly disguised az love Tor
knowledge. which Is not seldom little
more than the shell and husk Of
things?
Is the pursuit Of culture degenerating
into a pursuit Of clubs. and are va
taking Tor ourselves new taskmastera
more pitlless than the old? The
emancipation Of woman Is fast becom-
Ing her slavery" said one who wa'
caught In the whlri Of the social ma
chinery and could ind no point Of re.
pose We pride ourselves on our lib
erty: but the true value % liberty "a
10 leave people free from a pressure
that prevents their fullest growth
What DO we gain n We simply ex
change one tyranny for another
Apart from the fact that the fines
flowers Of culture DO not spring from
soil that Is constantly turned. am
more than they do from a soil that q
not turned az an. Il Is a question o
human limitations. Of living 30 as q
continue to live. Of growing 10 as e
continue 90 grow. Nor Is Il simply
matter Of individuals Societies. too
exhaust themselves: and those whicl
reach an exaggerated growth Ia a da!
are apt 10 perish In day. Il b. no
the first time 10 the history Of th
world that there has been o brillian
reign OF intelligence among women
though perhaps there was never one 81
widely spread al now Why have the
ended in more or less violent reac
lions? We may not be able 10 answe
the question satisfactorily. but Il give
us food Tor reelection.