The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-05

They Have Done Much to Raise tho
Average stand ard OF Ipteiligence.


In the Nay Century there is the first Of a
series OF articles on 'Club and SALON." by
Mrs Amelia Gcre Mason. author OF women
OF the French Salon" Mrs. Mason sH-r.
of.women's clubs there ~ literally no end,
and they are yet in their vigorous youth We
have literary clubs, ana art clubs, and musical
clubo: clubs for science, and clubs for phiian-
throfy: parliamentary clubs, and suffrage
clubs .and anti-suffrage clubs-clubs OF every
variety and every grade. from the luncheon
club, with its dilettante menu, and the more
pretentious chartered club. that aims at mas
tering n scheme of tho world, TO the simple
working girls club, which is content with
something else: and all in the sacred name OF
culture. They multiply, federate, hold CON
ventions, organize congresses, and really
form vast educational system that Is fast
changing old ideals and opening possibilities
of which no prophetic eye can see the end.
That they have marvelousy raised the aver
age standard OF intelligence cannot be ques-
toned nor that they have brought out
large number Of able and interesting women
who have generously taken upon themselves
not only their own share Of the woak OF the
world, but great deal more.
One can hardly overrate the value OF an
institution which has given light ana an mp
ward impulse to SO many lives and changed
tine complexion of society SO distinctly for the
better. But IL may be- worth while to ask IL
the women Of today. with their splendid ini-
tiative and boundless aspirations, are not
going little too fast, getting entansied In
too much machinery, losing their individual
ity in masses, assuming more responsibility
than they can well carry. Why is 1t that lines
too deep for harmonious. thought are SO early
writing themselves on the strong. tense.
mobile and delicate faces OF American
women9 Why Is II that the pure JOY OF life
seems to be lost in the restless and Unsuitable
passion for multitudes, 80 often thinly dis
guised as love for knowledge. which is not
seldom little more than the shell and husk
OF thingsf
Is the pursuit Of culture degenerating into
pursuit of clubs. and are we taking for our
selves new tasxmasters more pitiless than the
old2 'The emancipation of woman is fast
becoming her slavery" said one who was
caught in the whirl OF the social machinery
and could find no point of rspose. We pride
ourselves on our liberty: but the true value
OF liberty is to leave people free from pres
sure that prevents their fullest growth.
What do we gain IL we simply exchange one
tyranny for another3 Apart from the fact
that the finest flowers Of culture do not
sprlng from soil that Is constantly turned
any more than they do from soil that is not
turned at all, 1t Is q question OF human limi-
tations. OF living so as to continue to live, of
growing SO as to continue 10 grow. Nor is II
simply u matter Of individuals. Societies,
too. exhaust themselves. and those which
reach an exaggerated growth in a day are apt
to perish in day. 1t Is not the tirss time in
she history Of the world that there has been a
brilliant reign of intelligence among women,
though perhaps there was never one so widely
| spread as now. Why have they ended In
more or less violent reactionsi We kmay not
| be able to answer the question satisfactorily,
| but IL gives us food for reflection.