Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-20


proceeds are to form nucleus Of the
building fund Of the Woman's Club.
y
The masque Of culture, is a picture of
the new woman as she is humorously
supposed to disport herself at conven-
ton. The scene is laid in that paradise
of the spinster and the strong-minded,
Boston. Preceding and following are a
prologue and an epilogue on Mount
Olynpus-which serve like a. frame to
intensity the fun of the picture enclosed.
The first represents Minerva in the
full splendor Of helmet, shield and spear,
expressing her interest in the women of
the present era She hears that they
are to hold convention, and begs So
crates and Confucius to attend 1t and
bring back word to her how these wom-
en- behave, what they look like and
what they wear. The two gentlemen
express themselves in very conservative
terms regarding the sphere and nature
of woman, and Socrates in particular
cannot Danish from his mind the I'M
pleasant memory of Xanthippe; but
eventually they yield to the wishes Of
the goddess.
Yesterday the role of Minerva was
assumed most inposingly by Mrs. Caro-
line F. Huidekoper, who wore with her
warlike trappings a robe of pale hello
trope silk edged with tinsel. Miss
Frances Morse, as the Chinese philo-
sopher, wore an intricate suit of yellow,
black and blue silk, with hair falling
in pigtail and killing mustache. She
preserved a profound melancholy, brok-
en- only by deep sayings and epigram-
matte nonsense uttered oracularly from
time to time Her makeup was capital,
and SO was that of Mrs. J. c. Gutter,
who impersonated Socrates, wearing
long, voluminous robes of brown. a
patriarchal beard and fringe of iron
gray hair and an Intellectual forehead.
The second scene introduces the spec
tator to the convention in Boston.
A sound of confused, unintelligible
and unintermittent talking is heard as
the delegates mount the platform and
take their seats. Their numbers may
be roughly divided into the Bostonians
and the New Workers. Charlotte, the
Boston light, heads her contingent, and
Mrs. G. c. Baldwin, who yesterday took
this part, made one of the most pro-
nounced hits of the piece She wore a
funereal gown of black alpaca, a stiff
English walking hat hopelessly prim
and Anticipated couture and a Paisley
shawl. Her associates belong to a type
not uncommon even in Worcester They
Wore tailor-made, rainy-day suits with
walking hats and blue glasses, and the
breasts Of the majority were covered in
ribbon badges. They applaEded en-
Enthusiastically all through the meeting,
whenever a good point was scored.
Gertrude, the New York success"
(Mrs. Homer Cage led the New
Workers She was striking in the gown
worn at the charity ball, blue silk
with insertions of lace, and an i'm
mense black picture hat. Her two COM
panions were also elegantly dressed.
The club members who took the nom
speaking parts We're Mrs. C. H. Flint
Mrs Henry +. Harris, Mrs. e. G,
Tucker, Mrs. R. F. Taylor, Mrs. F. L.
Dean, Mrs. w. F. Whipple and Miss
George Coombs. Miss Cora L, Greene
was the messenger.
Others of the delegates were Lady
Jane Grey, who was represented by Mrs.
S. E. Winslow, in black velvet with a
Jeweled prayer book in her hands; Ze-
noDia (Mrs. ]. Q. MacMurray), who was
regal In yellow tulle dotted with gold
stars, diamond tiara and a wealth of
Jewels; Portia (Irs. William Harring-
tom, who wore an Oxford cap and gown;
CaSsandra (MrS Frank N Houghton),
IN graceful, f1uttering Greek dress of
white; and Miss Maximilia r. Slant
more, a defender of woman. This i'm
portant part was taken by Miss Georgia
Bacon, who was costumed in a short
sklrted tweed suit with mannish hat
and shirt front.
Well, hardly have the ladies taken
their seats when a sensation is caused
by the entrance of Socrates and Con-
Luclus. Most of the delegates are doubt
Iul ABOUT allowing the two gentlemen
10 remain, but they are finally placed
out OF harms way on stools below the
cnalrman's desk, and Miss tSantmore. is
called to the chair. After series of inn
pertinent Interruptions from Gertrude
the New York success" and Portia,
who insists on having everything CON
Quoted in accordance with Roberts
Rules of Order, and Cassandra, who
rushes wildly about, warning people not
10 DO Whatever they We're meaning to do
and screaming Il told you So" what
ever happens, the meeting comes to
order, and gives Zenobia, queen of Pal
myra, chance to report upon the con-
dition of women in her time After that
the other women take turns at speaking,
especially Charlotte, the Boston light,
who takes many turns having much to
say of Buddhism, literature, the drama,
theology and literature, in spite Of the
efforts of the chairman to suppress her
The proceedings are frequently inter-
rupted by the arrival of kilograms. One
contains the startling news that Ned
Ten Eyck has won the Henly regatta