The Monte Vista journal., 1900-05-19

y ~
An old and excellent writer on varied
topics said at one time, III woman
would know anything, let her learn OF
her husband at home" To the average
end. the century woman this seems an
unaccountable theory and an impossible
condition. but it no doubt was faithfully
observed during many Of the centuries
succeeding the time OF st. Paul.
The woman Of today, il she would
know anything, sets herself about learn
ing it, a. her brother would. The same
avenues Of information and instruction
are open to her. the same opportunities
await her. In many ways this has been
Woman's Century, aud rs result OF her
now activities We find her in most, il not
all, the walks Of life.
Men have formed themselves into
societies based upon fraternal interests
and mutual admiration, for many cen.
turies. 1t 10 popularity believed that
Masonry has existed from "time when
tho memory OF man ruIneth not 70 the
.eostzasy. Bone authorities claim that
with the advent OF the second man upon
earth this ancient aud worthy lodge WAS
organized. But the formation OF
womens clubs. especially upon an in.
tellectusl basis, ,s OF comparatively
recent origin.
Mvron Reed said, in one OF his ser
mons, "After the mountains. women's
clubs are the most notable spectacle in
Colorado" Colorado is not alone in this
particular, the club woman is abroad IN
the land. The club ,s .upposed TO be
the outgrowth Of the old quilting bee.
which all the women OF neighborhood
at one time attended, where seated about
= quilt Of many pieces ana intricate
pattern, the tongues worked rs fast AZ
tho fingers. The conversation was as
scrappy - the quilt and. sad to relate,
consisted mostly OF gossip. No one
dared be first 70 leave the gathering.
each woman staid until the last IN self
desense. Samantha Allen relates that
she ans always the first woman to arrive
at u sewing bee and the last one to
depart, thereby forsstAlling any gossip
about herself. From such an humble
beginning has come the wide club move
ment of today-a child Of large and
bstter growth, an organized effort Tor
intellectual activity among women.
One Of the marked features OF our
time 10 this tendency toward organiza.
tiOn In every line Of effort. II IL not n
blind craze that is sweeping women iLto
olsbs and leagues aud fraternities, and
men into similar organizations in grenter
numbers than ever before. II is the
trend 1t the age and foreshndows that
universal brotherhood that the prophets
have long forstold.
Among women especially. there il IN
this movement an unconscious protest
against the isolation IN which they have
- long dwelt in the past. A mans life is
among men and in consequence his wits
arr sharpsned. his faculties quickeneti.
he hes ambitions, he grows BROADER mud
fsirer. minded.
A woman lives so much alone or with
dspsndsnts, there II little 10 urge her
into better thinking, ~ sometimes she
grows narrow and faultilnding and petty.
With desire To change tins old order OF
things aud TO keep In touch with other
women who think and net independently
she y reaching out after fuller and
larger lite that comes OF associations
with squalA
This he's bssn made possible. largely.
by the change In womnn's environment
during the lest quarter Of u century.