The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
A new WOMAN'S new CLUB
Only One Thing Definitely Settled
There Will Be No Bar.

Whether There Is to He or Not to he
Clubhouse. 4. Another Question,
rs the Economists of the Associa.
tion Prefer "a Humble Little Fiat.
New York is TO have real active Wo-
mems University Club. Moreover It Is
to have a clubhouse whole house 1t
is not to have a fat. and IL restaurant
must have bar attached to it before /.
can be made to pay expenses. as the men
say, why then there will be-no restau-
rant.
These grave decisions were not reach
cd In quietness and peace. but We're the
results Of recent mass meeting duly re-
ported to the New York SUM-.
Proceedings began with the report OF
committee OF twenty-one, appointed two
months ago 20 consider the matter. The
elumnae were Informed that the rents of
houses had been investigated. The rents
I of apartments had also been considered.
1t was the judgment Of the committee
that II the club would be contented with
an apartment it might run for year
with deficit OF only 500. But, said the
committee, IL a whole house were rented
the deficit would be almost three times
as much. A restaurant was SO hazardous
an experiment that the committee adj
yised against il. II was recommended
that the charter of the Women's Unlvers-
ity Club which is already in existence,
should be used.
Il move that this tentative report be
accepted ventured a determined look
Ing young woman, after long silence,
so that we can talk about it.
There was a hustle of approval. II was
quite apparent that several people wanted
to talk about it. if only some would
give the word to begin. One began right
of, remarking with acerbity: Wouldn't
it be better you decide whether We are
going to have club or not before we dis
cuss the question of where we shall put
it?'
be- she said.
Not at ALL" said somebody who was
not impressed and old not care who knew
that she was not We must find out first
what we can have in the way OF privi-
leges, what We can have in the way of a
home. whether we can have dining
room. We must consider the question Of
what the club would be IL II existed"
The chairman changed her impression
and what the club would be, If 1t was any,
thing was discussed.
Safety lies in the less pretentious
plan, said a Vassar alumna in black.
with the air of one who has turned the
matter over in her conscience until she
knows the right. IF you rent a house
you must rent rooms to alumnae to keep
up the rent"
The chairman of the ub-Committee on
the House admitted that the young wo-
man who took lodgings in the clubhouse
would find 1t difficult to get out OF club
life into her own private life.
Are there any of the alumnae who
would live there?''
Six have said they would Ike to try
But what are they going to do for
meals? walled one who was sure that
this is after all a gloomy world. They
would not want to go to public restau-
rants
we seem to be on the horns of d.
ienlma." observed another In tone of
voice that was not soothing. with an
apartment we are to have no room, and
with house no dinner.
why can't We have restaurant"
asked an innocent voice.
Mrs. Chairman. said a solemn and
person, Il know many men who
are club members. 1 have talked with
them on this subject. | am told that the
mems clubs. which have been referred
10 here, could not make their restaurant
pay if it were not for the bar" [Gasps,
silence.l
Anyway, blunted a recent graduate.
IA house is so much more dignifed than
a fiat.
Now, Madam Chairman" said the adj
rocate of the club-in-a-fiat plan, are We
n a position to pay for dignity? An apart
nent is within our means The residents
n 1t would help pay the expense, and in
his modest way we could start safely
and branch out when the time came.
Up rose one who made stir in college
gatherings last year when she
Undertook to make her husband, VINO was
he candidate for State Office. run ahead
If his ticket by asking all the college wo-
men whose names were In any of the cat
ilogues to make their men folks vote
'or him. She brought confidence and ex-
)erience to this lesser strife. Her words
we're chosen with elaboration and were
Uttered with cumulative rhetorical effect.
My understanding of the matter. she
aid with crushing scorn, is not that we
ire aiming to provide a boarding house
or the alumnae- Is it possible that
tmong 100 college women in this city there
ire not enough to support dlgnif1ed
hub? Hundreds of young graduates are
pouring into the city every year! L know
mans college club that has 1850 MEM
,ers! Cannot we of many colleges have
nough to support our far more modest
,lans? Remember this is not for one
ear that we are planning but for many
ears.
Somebody suggested that the matter be
eft to the committee and it was-for
ime.
The next difference of opinion was as to
he qualification for membership. Those
Hgible, according to the views of the
were to be women of Boston
University, B4rnard. Bryn Mawr, Cornell.
University of California, Chicago. Kansas,
eland Stanford. Michigan. Minnesota,
,adcliffe. Syracuse, Smith, Wellesley,
Wesleyan, and Wisconsin, holding a de-
rec for which, in regular course, four
ears study are required.
a number of those present could not see
by this way of describing the Gualifica-
onS did not shut out women who had
ntered college in years later than the
'eShmdn year or those who had con-
ansed the four years work into three by
ard study. Ii was explained that the
Ords in regular course" was a provis-
IN against all these difficulties
''of course. said the chairman, YEARLY,
it's perfectly clear.
1T isn't perfectly clear" said some one
the back of the room, who was not
a state of mind to be polite "or it
ouldn't be questioned
Audible remarks were made that il was
,tting late. Several people said that they
fought they We're going to be late TO
nch. Business was accelerated. vote
the question whether the club should
ave permanent quarters brought nearly
| of the 2u0 women present to their feet
any of them said they had proxies for
veral women.
Then the chairman asked those who pre-
rred a house-a whole house-to a hat.
rise All but one rose. She was the
le who had stood out for the club-in-
1T from the beginning
''All those oppose to a house RISE" said
lie chairman.
The Vassar graduate in black rose all
one in her glory. I'm not voting" she
id. for what l would like best but for
hat | think we can do.
W hereupOn number showed signs of
desire TO change their votes. But the
journment was too quick for them
Return of s'Wristiets.n
%.