The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-10

women will flock to the front in amazing
numbers.
Some women will allow a word half
spoken by father or husband to smother for
a life time her yearning for expansion or
heart and mind and continue to confine her
self to the pot and the Mushroom.
Effect of the club on the home.
The benefits to be derived to the home
through organizations and womens clubs
will be felt and demonstrated through the
broadening influences of mother, sister
or wife, If these are in close touch with
progressive ideas, and constantly educat-
ing themselves on the various subjects that
are considered studied and discussed in
the club movement both husband and chill
dren will naturally gain that which would
otherwise escape them. The husband and
family of this period who is not proud be-
yond expression of an intelligent woman
who is fully conversant with current events
is indeed unworthy place in civilization.
But beyond all other benefits to the home
is the education in kindergarten, hygiene
and household economies so much agitated
in the club.
One only has to look into the various
lines of work taken up by our clubs to de-
eide at once that they are aimed at all
times directly or indirectly to be beneficial
to the home life. There is no department
yet entered into clubdom that we have any
knowledge of which tends to degrade the
home, or decrease matrlmony.
Will 1t educate in business?
As to whether the average club Will tend
to educate women in business methods we
pause in search of how it can do so. 1t
will educate her in parliamentary law and
correspondence and Is a far reaching edu-
Gator in human nature, but the average
club will not teach one the difference be-
tween New York exchange or an order to
the drug store. 1t does not teach one how
to purchase bill of goods, or make out
l..
might go for years without knowing the
difference in a draft from that of a check,
and a sight draft might be an eternal
enigma to her. Surely there could be BUSH
ness departments, or certain meetings de-
voted to the study of business methods, Just
as there are other departments. AS the club
movement grows many and various things
will be added thereto, and If the club wo-
man Is not taking a real business course at
a college she Is surely picking up odds and
ends on business principles And her gen
eral information, judgment and intelli-
gence acquired through the club would be
of invaluable service to her in a business
career
AS to the club developing strength of char
acter that is really the essence of organiza-
ton. Ten good, live meetings With an active
part In the woman's club will give one more
strength Of character and self confidence
than anything she can do except the atten-
dance upon more club meetings and the
further association with the organiza ton.
Some women exhibit their weakness of
character to an alarming degree. hut the
tendency of the club will curb weaknesses
and develop the best within her.
The clubs weakness usually is its pow
erty Nearly all clubs have much good ma
teral which If supplied With funds for IL
braries or books would turn out excellent
work. The only remedy in this connection is
to work for money-fill the treasury of your
club and you are on the high road to sue
cess and fine work that will be fruitful of
much good. There is an onlfnous weakness
for OVERRIDING the social department in club
life which ought TO be regulated by state
and national bylaws. Hostesses, If allowed
to serve refreshments at all, should be linn