The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-28
SOCIAL REALM
4. 1S>>Aae<~ BY MRS. GEORGE c. BALL.
Bohemian women's Clubs.

The progress of the womans club move
ment becomes the more impressive as one
investigates the statistics regarding the
number and size of the feminine organza-
lions of the country. An exchange in dis
cussing the work of the Bohemian women
in America gives the following surprising
data: In the early fifties there begun in
this country a movement among ele-
ment, which was at that time considered
alien, but which the broadening spirit of
the woman's club has brought into hearty
fellowship, with the best American thought.
The movement represented the reaching
out after things desired of the Bohemian
women of America. The idea was weakly
developed at first, bazaars, socials, liter
airy efforts of a more or less characterless
aspect being its first general embodiment
The little coterie grew into clubs, the
clubs into a federation, the federation into
a state and next into a national affair I'M
til today there are nearly one hundred
bodies represented in the National Bohe-
milan Womans Club League. Fifty-three
of the organizations of this league are in
Chicago. They take the form of educa-
tional effort mainly, since that field offers
the largest scope, and since mutual and
self-help are the keynotes of their founda-
lions and continuance. The Bohemian mind
speaking nerRly, leans lOWdIu llSS
thought Sectarianism is the last echo
heard in the confines of their club homes,
or In the doctrines of their club creeds.
To educate their children along lines that
have been forbidden preserves to them
selves, seems to be the main point striven
for by these Bohemian mothers, who have
found in foreign land what had been de-
MED them. Therefore the clubs.
The general officers of the national and
state declarations located in Chicago.
Mrs. X. Honomiehl is president of the Ma
tional league, Mrs. B. Pitte, vice-president,
and Mrs. M. Chaloupe, secretary. The
state officers are Mrs. M. Liska, presi-
dent; Mrs. K. Klaus. vice-president, and
Mrs. Anna Stolfa, secretary.
The state declarations comprises twenty
clubs. The national body has ninety, with
O. membership of over 1000. Besides the
twenty clubs represented in the state fed
GRAFTON there are fifteen Catholic societies,
which meet in various parochial schools
adjoining the churches. Again, there are
eighteen gymnastic clubs, which are re-
sponsible for a variety of up-to-date exer-
else among the women who come to appre-
cate the value of hygiene and calsthenlcs
in the home and the training of the child
Several educational societies have been
formed having in view the maintenance of
schools which are open on Saturdays and
Sundays. and which continue the work OF
the grade schools. With Bohemian
colony which ranks second largest in the
world, the influence of such colony work
can be easily realized by one who knows
the needs of the citys alien citizens.
Whole sections of the West Side district in
which these people make their homes are
controlled as to property interests by them.
They are for the most part taxpayers.
They are patriotic They are sincere If
sometimes crude. On Blue Island avenue
last week the passer-by might have OBJ
served an illustration of the above in
group which stood before a Autograph OF
the battle of Manila. An old woman was
surrounded by half-score of children, to
whom she was explaining in broken Eng
liSh, mixed with much Bohemian, the
story of the battle as she understood it.
The incident was illustrative of the inhorr
patriotism of the race.
The Bohemian Woraarfs League dld an
admirable rel1e1 work in the terrible sea-
son vfs-fey5, when the distress among its
own people was widespread and real. The
league was itself committee of RELIEF
the details of which were familiarized to
the reading public, though its efforts were
sought to be unobstrusve and almost ex-
elusive. In public works of any nature
the league plays active part whenever
by so doing its own people can be bene-
fitted, for the idea is cherished by its in
ceptors that philanthropies should begin at
home They operate system OF sick ben
efits, kindergartens and other reforms,
though the kindergarten Is not general in
practice yet. The league is, however, en-
deavoring to induce the board or educa-
tion to incorporate the kindergarten into
the schools of its district, which is already
sadly overcrowded and without school
yards almost universally. The lack or
Fairgrounds on school premises is felt to be
a serious drawback to the district and the
women have every hope of interesting the
board to the proper view of the situation.
A branch public library and reading room
are two more innovations for which these
women are working and which they soon
hope to secure.