The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-20
FOR FEMININE READERS
WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST
wOMAN's CLUB TALKED ABOUT.
Suggestions to the Woman Who II
wear-Traiuing of Husbands.

The first woman's club has been heard
from once more, this time in Boston, says
the Clubwoman. 1t seems. according to an
old diary, that there was club under the
decorous title of the Boston Cleaning Club
formed in the winter of 1906. 1t embraced
twenty-one regular members, young I'M
married women, and eleven honorary MEM
bers. 1t met weekly, on Saturday after
Moons, at the homes of the members. Two
readers were chosen for each meeting-the
first to open the exercise with reading a
chapter from the Bible, the other to read
from the work selected for the afternoons
consideration. ANY book favorable TO the
Improvement Of the mind" could be selected
under the rules of the club from divinity,
history, geography, astronomy. travels or
poetry" but novels and romances were alb
solutely excluded. The reader was expected
occasionally to make O. pause in her read
ing that any observation might be Of
fered."
It was provided in the regulations that
"any member may send in some question to
the secretary, sealed, by her to be pre-
sente6 to the president. and then made
known to the circle, that any and all OF
them may at the next meeting return an
answer in writing. AS the authors are UNI
known, any comments may be made and
Judgment passed which production Is really
the best; and each member has the liberty
of writing on any subject and on any char
acter to be treated, in the same manner as
before mentioned"
The lively and inspiring debates they
must have enjoyed can be inferred from
some extracts from their transactions"
They had such enlivening books to read.
Watts on the Improvement of the Mind"
was the first work selected. Then Hannah
Adams's History of New England" After
ward, instructions for Young Lady"
1.-THE Wife," 1.-THE Pleasures Of Imagina-
ton" and Homers "Iliad."
They allowed themselves the privilege OF
asking questions-strictly in a modest.
anonymous fashion-and some OF the sealed
questions filed show the thoughts which
day: What are the disadvantages arising
from reading novelist? (Signed Portia
''what is the most useful branch of fe-
males education?' (which is the most
6 6onIs or Of mankind?" What constitutes
virtuous and accomplished woman?
(Which character most merits our con-
tempt for young woman, coquetry or
esty the best guide for a female In her
conversation with the other sex? (Ade-
line.) as not beauty injurious to some =
eliza ANN What is the most amiable
trait in the female character? Uulia)
what are the essential qualities of an
agreeable companion?" What is meant
by the term platonic lover with how
much religion ought a person to rest sat
isfied and is 1t worth our while to labor
for more than just enough to keep JUS
from misery?"
Some of the papers Of their own COM
position presented by members were en-.
titled: IAN Apostrophe to the First OF
May" Reflections on Moonlight Even
ing" ION the Rain and Reflections on
the Rising Sum- Later in its career the
regular reader was required to recite not
less than twenty lines of prose or poetry,
either blank verse or rhyme, chosen from
any book within the rules prescribed by
the circle and written by herself in a
blankbook kept for that purpose, or pay a
fine for noncompliance. Bad weather was
no excuse for nonattendance of members,
were admitted to the meetings except the
mothers ef members. No refreshments
were provided excepting sugar and water
for the reader Members were permitted
to bring such work with them as did not
require close attention. This serious lit
erary circle was apparently maintained
for ten years, and was the worthy fore
runner of our modern organizations. But
arn't we glad we are club women OF to-
day, instead Of trying to be in 1852"