The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-08
A CLUB WOMAN'S PROGRESS.
sETERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND WOMEN
WATCHING r. HELMUTH.

She's Somebody to Be Reckoned with
Now in the National Federation Eleo-
tons-New York City Clubs for Her.
Several hundred thousand women OF this
country are more Interested Just at present in
Mrs. William Tod Helmuth Of this city than IN
any other woman outside of their personal
friends. Mrs. Helmuth Is probably the most
widely known club woman In America and
her election last week as President OF the New
York State Federation has reused q wider In
terest than the outsider would suspect.
The fact is. the club women Of the United
utates have been watching Mrs. Helmuth for
the last five years. 1t was about that long ago
that she was elected President OF Sorosis and
became a figure in club politics. At that time
Mrs. Helmuth was no more prominent than
half the other member Of the club. Her can
didacy was stoutly opposed by a considerable
faction. and Mrs. Johnston, then and now of
Little Mothers" fame. ran against her. When
she was elected President Of sorosis she wore.
wildering variety of bonnets. But her COM
mand Of millinery was ahead OF her knowledge
u The nSs Mrs tO aeim mSds' " Eve years ago was in
poor health. was overwhelmed 70 frankness and
least as far as large meetings were concerned.
She was undoubtedly a charming and Guilt
Ing and cultivated Women who could occupy a
throne with better grace than they can I'LL q
NUT f iIfst tTled f & she T hsd a Eood many mTs; e ass.
mics e contend with. as well as a few indis-
Not long after she became President Of soro-
sis she went to Philadelphia to attend the BIZ
ennial meeting OF the General Federation Of
as the next President Of the General Fedora
Ct decided opposition and Mrs. Henrotin OF
Chicago got Ihe place. Even Mrs. HelmMth's
know thar Rha UOul1 not haya hOna iIIafipa m
herself il she had been elected. Four years
have passed since that election and every year
Tie next step Mrs. Helmuth made was last
ident Of the State Federation. Whom the con-
vention met the most violent craftsmanship was
S@pi al. ed l. e L Esf NJ Mrs. oS Eoht gsgasps. t hut 6 snst
yious President, had been extremely popular.
lore. fell upon Mrs, .Helmuth, who was the First
She entered the convention an alien to
and d 81 lss ne% 9f her, WING aft we're only ,eal t%e
days expsrienee with her in the chair; she Was
fs!as'e She pT Tss BY n SS n e snss'f the an Rn}}9rlsy;
choice. OF the convention. Plenty OF the dele
gates felt sore still They were Jealous Of her
were incompatible, with , good mind. When
she was gracious they, said she was snobbish.
t Sasa fn' Wien We af they ee saSI sSIHt ~ y R Rosh I'M;
else they said she was from New York city"
regarded as a crime, And finally. when she
was elected. they said she was "a Tanmany
Under these cheerful circumstances Mrs.
Helmuth, began her year OF office. With the
year, itself outsiders have no concern, but, the
Without the slightest 'oppositisn," Mrs. Hell
muth was again elected, this time to serve wv.
some. jealousy and envy, but her career as a
friend-wlnner seems to be o remarkable, one.
e TSss such IA as %in sss ncs D ossaqr etff befo1 Ssn ne ei ray
ton last week .sswhen the delegates asked Mrs.
hss1 sappos toS i 5aId Siiss Th ln maF Bareai SS.lO!Aff
ticket. Suppose. for instance" with a laugh.
Yes" said Mrs, Helmuth blandly.
name there said Miss Bsrcalo%, stilii laugh
insly; the nape Of Theresa Barcalow. for
A. Quick asa as a fash SH Mrs. Helmuth said:
what i more; am sure TIE Convention would
S ~ 99iSckness and tact deserve their re-
toned. perhaps because the subject is not a
popular one AMONG, women. But her appear
instance. She announced that she had been
ENGAGED In. hospital work for forty years.
Da way hhSNN ~ hhS Wv AtS9N NAAAA AAAoA NA III
credulous shake OF the head. II was hard OF
belief. Whenever the date Of the event may
have been. Mrs. Helmuth was born In New
York. She lived In ST, Louis for a good many
years. i was there that she married DIR. Hell
muth. She has two children. a son and a
daughter. both OF whom are married, She is
a woman OF wide interests. although. some
Of as a member of Sorosis. For twenty years
she has belonged to the Flower Hospital Guild.
ticelly organized two other. hospitals, II is
said that she is her husbands efficient book
keeper and that she sends out all OF his bills.
She IL. a musician. speaks French well and Ger
man mot, WELL" and embrolders-all very fem-
addition to, her club work. She has travelled
widely and has filled her home with costly
sesses that excellent thing in women. the abii-
ity TO dress well, 1t is scarcely to ne won
dered at that her sister club women are proud
Of her. Indeed, all the women who attended
the convention In Mendelssohn Hall were also
proud of her. especially II they had watched
her development, during the last 1--WE years.
They were unanimous In predicting that she
mill RnnnIpA oAnatA. AA--