The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-27
WOMEN AND CLUBS
do They Join Them Because of I'm
happy Home Lif,2

Inc New York Herald says: To the
/ average man and to the woman who is SO
far behind the times as never to have
caught the club fever, the question why
women join clubs is a conundrum. The
club movement puzzled me for long
time, and, being Of an inquiring turn of
mind, without letting any of my CLUB
friends suspect my intentions, I started
to find out what need the club filed ia a
Woman's life to make it such a popular
feature Of the century we have Just left
behind US.
l went to every club meeting I was in
vited to. 1 really and truly endaavored
to fathom the fascination. The. club
fever is like hypnotisrn It's. victim is
powerless to battle against it. One club
leads TO another. woman who joins
one IS like woman caught in a quick
sand. She can no more help joining 9TH
ers than she could help being sucked nm
der by the treacherous sand.
When l found that attending meetings
listening to papers, eating lunch or
drinking a cup of tea afterwards aid not
bring me any Dearer the answer why o.
men join clubs l looked further. and then
the question arose in n7y own mind. Are
Is there not an eternaa something which
they are reaching out for and which they
hope to find in the ex element of club
life
Then I commenced to study my friends
and / discovered something which
know viii call down much abuse on me.
The average club woman IS not a happy
woman, and she goes to clubs TO lose her
self to take her mind from her sorrow.
disappointment or longing for that which
she has not.
In many women it is the mother crav-
ing which is unsatisfied in them In 9TH
ers it Is the unhappy marriage. Again It
is the lack Of occupation which our pres
ent mode Of life forces on women, and it
is a hundred and one little things due 20
the age in which we live.
Men find satisfaction in the excitement
of business. in the hustle for money.
Women evidently hope to find the same
satisfaction, the same excitement IN their
clubs.
one friend Of mine. a large-souled wo-
man. with love enough IN her heart to
mother a dozen children, belongs to
nearly every club in town
II would never 90 near a club and
would be the hapPiest woman In the world
If [ only had children" she said to me
one day in reply TO my question as 10
why she had joined so many clubs
In olden DAYS that woman would have
eventually become a fretfuI. peevish in
valid. nuisance TO everyone around her.
Today she is a specimen Of magnificent
wonanhood. energetic, philanthropsc and
aaF f~,
That is what clubs have done for her.
Another case which came under my no.
tice was directly opposite The women
had husband who 20 all appearances +
provided well for her. but sh had thres
children who always looked neglected.
She was an unhappy looking creature
herself, and felt sorry for her and con-
ceiyed quite dislike 70 her husband
felt that he III treated her
I suddenly discovered ore day that
had wronged him. from q c nversation
which I CHANGED to oyerhear A man
friend asked aim what MS plans FOR the
winter were.
T hardly know" he replied 1--WE tried
Housekeeping last winter. but M-s B-l
was SO occupied with her clubs that she
old not find time 60 unpack ur books or
get the apartment settled all winter.
hfnk we viii board
Yet this same woman found time 20
take Al actiYe part Ia political cam (
1aign and 70 write papers 81 political
questions which were Q1ts3 by ueu.
ln stil puzzhag over her case Is sh-f
unhappy Ia her married lie or does sha
merely crave the uctaslefy which club .
lte gives herr
Z once received 'etter from wen.ar +
Who lived away beyond the Bronx writ +
en- in defencs af wouen's clubs. ard her
regiments Rere very strongly tn favor ~ +
hem. SIZE said
TT people WIN cry aur a-sfost c'aes
1ul1 7nly realize lThaG han ga are
. women like myself waa se don
the treadmH ~ nusewars rise
age ~ ehll5ren. Ire aefliF -
uhlTban afs t1ay waal1 aa4 rar
2 n5= and cath m are
TIER taan serles end eec-
CTS ha
The l--e ana uaney @asea uaz .eu
gers VaHS q speaa ia tryias res
re aaW aafaalage 1sy sNes b
meetings. and Gaas. The lstte~ SD cer-
a-asy mere heslthy and ss T.
TIE ags clan vmr tl-e
~ ailnsnts ETy ume-e og-
a1 she gets more c9sde- Ia
7iHg from Gre cub 81 aa8aes H.r
s-n5 IS 81 taken - wfsh the paa1rs m
be wonds-t-I reforms SIC Aas uases eca-