New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-15
THE FIRST WOn4N'S CLUB.
REFLECTIONS ON THE RISING sun" AND
KINDRED SUBJECTS DISCUSSED AT
THE MEETINGS.

The first womau's club has been heard from
more, this time in Boston, THE Club
woman 1T seems. according old diary.
that there a club under the 1ecorous title Of
the Boston Cleaning Club formed in the winter of
1906. Il embraced twenty-one regular members.
young unmarried women. and eleven honorary
members. It met weekly Saturday afternoons.
at the homes of the members. Two readers were
chosen for each neeting-the first TO open the
ercises with reading a chapter from the Bible. the
other read from the work selected for the after
moons consideration. Any book favorable TO the
improvement of the mind could be selected, under
the rules of the club, from divinity. history geog
raphy, astronomy travels, or poetry; but novels
and romances absolutely excluded The
reader was expected occasionally 10 make a pause
IN her reading, that any observation might be
offered
1T was provided in the regulations that any
member may send in question 10 the secre-
tary. sealed by her TO be presented TO the pres-
dent. and then made known TO the circle. that any
and all of them may at the next meeting
answer in writing AS the authors
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 any character TO be treated, in the
manner be-Ore mentioned
The lively and inspiring debates they have
enjoyed inferred from extracts from
their transactions They had such enlivening
books TO read Watts on the Improvement of the
Mind was the first work selected Then followed
History Of England. Afterward. Instruc-
tons for Young Lady The Wife, The Pleasures
of Imagination and HOmers Iiad.
They allowed themselves the privilege OF asking
quesjiOnS-strCtly in i modest. anonymous fashion,
ana some Of the sealed questions filed show the
thoughts which aGItated the Boston female breast
of that day: What the disadvantages arising
from reading novels? Signed 'PortiaO What is the
most useful branch of a females education? Which
is the conducive to Improvement, the study
books Of mankind? What constitutes
virtuOus and accomplished woman Which char
acter most merits our contempt Tor q Young woman
coquelry prudishness? And is not unaffected
a female
versatiOn with the other sex" (AdelinCD Is not
beauty injurious TO some? ELIZA ANN What is the
anna bic trait the female character? Julia-)
What the essential qualities OF agreca bio
companion p What is meant by the term pItOnic
love- With how much religion ought person 70
than Just enough 10 keep from misery
Some CT the papers Of their composition pre-
scented by members entitled An Apostrophe
o the First Of May Reflections a Moonlight
Evening on Rain and Reflections the
Rising Sun Later in IT'S career the regular reader
Of prose or poetry. either blank rhyme
chosen from book within the rules prescribed
by circle and written by herself in blankbOok
kept for that purpose, or pay a fine for non-com-
pliance Bad weather was no excuse for non-at-
tendance Of members. which was h1a bic offence
No spectators admitted 10 the meetings
cept the mothers Of members No refreshments
were provided excepting sugar and water for the
reader Members were permitted TO bring such
work with them did not require close attention.
This serious literary circle apparently main
rafn years and the worthy fore
glad we are club OF to-day, instead Of try
o