Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-15
THE VALUE OF woMEN-s CLtEs

THE VALrE OF WDME\'S CIrES.
If womcns organizations are 10 he
factors in the truth and growth and
advancement OF social life Iu our stat
ma in others they must mean something
more and ucCpCr than simply beehive
Ictivity. The highest results must be IN
ne training OF women themselves. that
hey might lie capable. wise ana JUST
.unServators Of the new duties that. in
he changes that are constantly taking
ilact are thrust upon them
There are strong currents in the social
life today that are threatening us as n
5cup.e. which call upon thoughtful women
oppose. The excessive luxury of or
,,mc; the false social standards that are
icing established. the worship of eXter-
iuls. are doing much To mar the harmony
u home life. Even our benevUlence par
takes Of love for external show. We
WOULD build Palaces of Pleasure for tho
pUor. have settlement houses and free
est rooms. and point to them as men
Imcnts Of charity representing the sac
'iice and unseliishncSs of the more for
innate class. But, alas. Manhood is de
1roycd. freedom abolished. slavery OF
mind and soul perretuated by every new
.urm Of charity.
ont of the culture of mind and heart
.ngendered by club study and work
hould grow that largeness of soul that
snail learn that true charity is the wide
.harity that shall leave no place for
nsttutionalism In whatsoever We share
with another'S need. Not what We give
put what We share. for the gift without
he ;;iver is bare. An Illustration of true
ohiianthropic spirit is instanced in the
,ase of a young seamstress who. on hear
ing of lady for whom she frequently
eWed, praised for her many benevo.ences
iaid: The finest thing she ever did for
me WAS when she came one evening and
took IN" to ride. She might have sent
her carriage, but she came herself, and we
had such delightful talk"
The average American woman is not
brave enough to insist upon setting her
self against this ever increasing, compli-
Gated and artificial standard of living
so is borne down by the current of try
ing to do more than her neighbors.
The finest minds in the world. the men
and women who stand for something, sit
down to the plainest meals in the plain
est clothes Life is more than meat. and
mind more than clothes Specialization
is the order of the day in homework as
in other lines. BY simplifying our living.
hiring hourly service, taking advantage
of exchanges. and sending more work out
of the house. we can do much to make
life easier. 1t is my experience that clul1
women take more pride in and moro
watchful care of their homes than any
one else. Her love of the beautiful il
cultivated by the study of art. Her home
pictures and books reflect her own re-
fined tastes. Her children are taught Ia
seek the beautiful and pure and love only
things which are elevating She studies
household economics and is able to fur
nish man an appetizing menu from
ordinary materials. Her studies of the
new discoveries in science teach her the
deadly power of germs in hidden places
She becomes a vigilant sanitarian and
often wishes her neighbor would take a
course OF club study that she might see
with her knowing eyes and it only re-
mains to have her thoughts directed ia
TINS growing evil, to have her set about
reforming 1.-THE Clubwoman.