The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-17

~ ONE ladies in journalism and
- literature, chief among them
Mrs, Jennie June Croly and
Alice Cary established the So
fOsis club in New York I'm 1865.
| Previous 10 that there appears 10 have
! been only one woman's club proper I'm
| existence, and that naturally was Ia
| New England and in Boston From
these beginnings feminine organizations
| spread Ike the fire from Samsons fox
IS till they giTdle the earth. The latest
one heard from h at Skaeusy, Alaska
| Womens clubs have been working
how not quite 40 years. long enough tor
II 10 be reasonably asked what they
have accomplished for womanklnd and
Tor mankind in general Something
! they have not done is the feature that
impressss one most 40 start with OF
the hundreds OF womens clubs that
meet annually in the general fedora
tion not per cent OF them have roof
or their own 10 cover them, that, too.
though woman Is considered 10 be that
one-haif OF humanity that cannot exist
without home one of the oldest and
most widely known as well as one OF
the wealthiest clubs in the United
states. certainly the one whose mem
Gers dress most richly and fashionably. !
meets twice "A month IN hired rooms ia
Motel, the rest of the time the mem |
bers having, as a club no touch with |
tne world or with each other. In time |
daughters have been born to members, |
nave grown. have come Of age and In /
turn been made members OF the good |
Ola club. yet today. so far as appears. |
not hnger can be laid upon anything /
or note or of especial good this rich and |
fashionable club has ever done
The well known womens clubs that
nave homes may be almost counted
upon the fingers OF one hand. though |
you look all over this great country
Curiously enough too. the clubs most
distinguished for doing something are
those that have houses OF their own.
The Woman's Century club OF Philadel-
phia may be taken as "A type OF the
best. The ladies have handsome four
story graystone building. with spa
cious front entrance, covered on occa-
sion with an awning out over The side
walk. In the interior are restaurant
accommodations. a great audience hall.
rooms and committee rooms.
OF course IL is expensive 10 maintain
ell this house room for one club. but
the ladies have proved themselves able
10 finance the enterprise. They let out
their audience hall and other rooms
that are wanted for the meetings of
homeless olubwomen and for lectures OF
particular interest 10 their own sex.
Then, too. a considerable revenue is de-
rived from ladies who hire space for
private receptions. A woman wishes
TO receive her numerous friends on a
given day. She does not want the bore
and worry OF IL in her own house.
where all things Will be thereby turned
upside down. She therefore rents for
an afternoon some rooms in the hand
some clubhouse, where there is every
for entertaining a number
Of people. A rrivate reception or en-.
iertainment In public apartment is
now altogether the chic thing in cities
arge and small. In New York, with all
Is wealth OF opportunity for women
here are few really progressive ladies'
,lubs. One OF the few is the Profess
iionai Woman's league. which Numbers
many actresses IN ITS membership. The
P w. l.. has a neat house all TO i,ssn
,pcn always TO members. Like the ste
'eotyped feminine society. ~ has
monthly meetings. where the members
n presence of one another and OF In.
'ited guests, exploit their musical dra
natic and oratorical talents. which In
ruth, appear toNbe the main reason for
'eing of many such assemblies. Tbis ,
5 we'll enough. for IL undoubtedly gives
he average woman practice in wri,tns
nd speaking. IN parliamentary usage ,
nd in power 70 face an audience. which ,
erhaps majority OF the sex would |,
lot otherwise get. So far. then. wo. :
mems clubs have done good. /,
But the Professional Womans learus
vas founded by very live woman. !
irs. A. Nj, Palmer. and IL does much J
lore than hold monthly meetings, 20 {
'hich women come dressed in their hest ;
nd read papers. This admirable or i
anization maintains classes where its !,
lembers may get instruction in almost
nything from cooking and the French n
,nguase TO singing and fencing. A {
aluable library has been gathered. r
nd the rooms are constantly open =