The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
NAMES OF WOMEN'S CLUBS.
A GREAT VARIETY WITH A HUAoR-
Gus TURN IN NOME or THEM.

Otb IUHN IN hO"h VT @"b"'
Tho Department of Labor Has Published
tho Names Of 800 Of Them With the
Motive for tho Existence OF Each-Whnt
sMssculine CONNIE ntator Finds In Them.
Ono Of the most recent bulletins Of the Depart
ment Of Labor at Washington contains long
account OF womens Clubs and Associations
Appended to the essay by Mrs Ellen NJ. Hen
rotn on their attitude toward social economics,
a lis, is given Of some 800 clubs for women in
the United Sta,es, and with the name Of each Is
mentioned It's homo and purpose. II need not
be said that the catalogues showing is impressive
The wonder is that the country In as bad as II 10
with such lot Of women earnestly discussing
current topics" seeking "self-culture, Social
and philanthropic improvement" reading Shakes
pearc." promoting literary and moral improve
ment" suppressing the liquor traffic studying
sociology and civics" and doing the hundred
other things which these clubs give as their
reason for existence. The old advice OF Enicr-
son, TO hitch your wagon to star, mighI
DO changed for the practical today by recon-
mending that the world be tied TO a womans apron
strings
But that Is the FIRST impre ssdon As tho reader
eoes over the list glitter Is likely to come into
his eye that docs not belong to awe. and Just the
shadow Of smilo broadcns his face. Perhaps
prepleIity hnits brow now and then in ocmblanco
Of seriousness; but on the whole. consideration
In detail Of this list Of womons clubs removes
from tho masculine mind tho weight that had
been put there al flrd by the moral grandeur Of
this catalogue Of high endeavora Tho won en-
are human still OF course. no suspicion con rest
upon tho trustworthiness Of the compendium
the data having been furnished by tho clubs them
selves Every namo Ii real and may bo found
In tho place asserted. And there ore some queer
combinations Even where local familiarity
blunts the inoongruity which strikes an East
ener, there must be among some club women
a strange lack Of humor
The "F1cur de Lis Club" OF Cando. n. d.. ought
10 change names with the "Pow-wow" Of Yer
sailes Ky. To find at Seattle. Wash. on the
very frontier Of civilization. tho Queen Anne
Fortnightly" arouses various sensations Tho
"Purists Conversations" at Pctoskey, Mich.
reads like the record OF a good movement side.
tracked as curously as a deacon at a horse race.
The Fortnghtly Jaunts Of Madison" make one
anxious to know that the reference is only to the
town. not to the early Presiden.. aud that For
nightly" not midnighlly. Is intended. Tho
Improvement Society Of the Orangcs' might DO
misunderstood In its purpose The Self-Culturs
Club Of Palestine. Tex, 10 one Of those fine but
always half.pathetic illustrations OF how far
reaching In tho wish for sclf.improvemont and not
less striking In les way. showing a soaring
spirits triumph over its environment, is the "Oil
City Belles-Lettres Club Much Is revealed by
the rejection Of English in the name Little Rock.
Ark is proud Of an -Esthetic Club" that has
proved itself too strong to bo wrecked on little rocks
and To "Sorosis" OF Skowhegan ono fain would
doG his hat in admiration Of its courage
Why arc the women Of Moscow. Idaho. banded
under the name OF Tho Plciades" and when is
wash day" for the Twenty Monday Danes" Of
Maoomb. Ill' The "C1ur dAlene Treble Cleft"
OF Wallace. Idaho, makes one thankful for the
simplicity Of the Wan, TO Know
Club OF Greeley Col Just ono smiles with fond
indulgence at the Conversational" clubs Of Des
Moines and Dubuque Iowa. and the Rocking
ms,h-sns hnaE%ssns. s South En- End ladies' fr"
Mes! Park ,'i.s" and "C9lcquista" The "Pere-
riases in their club capSci,g' ami the .Son Sd
script Club Of New Lexington. Ohio hns a hi-h
and definite aim: The Anne Hathaway Shake
one thinks, than The All Ar"mnd Dickens S "P%S
Of Boston. and that is a reminder that the clubs
out.ot,he way or distant places bridgeport
Conn has club Of "Daun,less" women our own
s"s h shrh cs as the
literature and men" while the same matter. pos.
siSly Is put more delico,rly in woonsocke,, II l.,
Club" Rhode Island has also the "Ar'ishebrinh,"
the Ola Poirida" and the .rckcosnoon." which
Five Languages meet in the names Of the wo-
mcn,s clubs English. American Indian Lptin
Greek and French. And then there are the tongues
that never were spoken on Ian ~ SEA the Roman
numerals and the cnlgmatic initials for n woman
N search Of name Tor her club is hard 10 catch
Yet, ouehow or other, the degree md tho sge
OF districts culture shines more W less clrnriy
IN the names Of Its clubs You would know that
La { oierie, the "Wcdnes ny L. NJ. Club and
the Ladies' Society OF Literary Explorers" were
at least, as that Of New York. though You had moi
been told that they were q 500 miles away MANY
cluhs bear the names Of men women and muses.
and here Is a st Hclen's Club" MS il ST Helen
Of York Seb. mus. look down upon the unss-
suming Cosy Club" Of Tecumseh. in the same
State and with what revcranco NAV n nt the modest
y and J. Club" Of Eaton Rapids Mich, regard
'hs sternly scholastic Finite I.nc-m Tuam" Of
Albion Such contrast suggest the daculty
Michigan has also in Its list tho "Ossoli The
WiSson. the Ladies Centennial literary
the .Hypatia" and "IgdrasL"
There are seyerel over the Tea Cups" clubs
eTn Priscillas end Splnct: ror,lana MsI na
gives Child Culture Club" next TO a Gone Ciuh@
making the reader wonder II the name of the la,
yer club should not he spclt with an a. The
! Sphina and The Entire Nous sound moro secret
!or they SCARCELY bsle curiosity " as well as suns ,Rs
less pretentious Montana State Housekecners
who have dropped ihe State" in their name mos,
tPiir uS ana X, Gu. The What's IL Nnme
simply coz The eSs
and aims Of womcn's clubs They help YOU 70
anderss ;h and fo.Eive in nature and earnest
MesebesecA '% NasbaWay RfrNSpe sr "zstitis