Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-16
SOCIETY WOMEN'S MISSION.
Analysts Forget That They Serve a
Useful Purpose.

There is praise enough, and to spare,
lavished upon the homely variety of
housewife-she who administers the prac-
ticalities of the home on an humble scale;
but what hears one of the chatelaine of
the larger establishments, whose sphere
of operations is very considerably big
ger? She is often characterized as ex-
travagant and pleasure-loving; and, when
sensational newspapers or sensational
clergymen find themselves run short of
scandal to serve up to the public, harsher
things still are said of the society wom-
an. But did ever one head a teacher of
sociology or an analyst of the life of the
times proclaim that the world is under
obligations to the heads of large domestic
establishments?
There is not a class, and hardly an in
diyidual, who renders valuable public
service but meets with publicly expressed
appreciation; but here is a class which, at
great cost of endurance and anxiety, en-
bellisheS life, adds to the sum of human
enjoyment, creates social atmosphere.
stimulates and keeps alive many lines of
trade and commerce, but whose virtues
and achievements are left unSung.
1t cannot be denied that. We're it not for
the efforts of leiSure-claSS women, the
social side of life would largely cease to
exist, since men, as a sex, have neither
the TIME HOT the TO Keep So
ciety going, although they are prompt to
avail themselves of the social enjoyments
originated and administered by women.
The. amount of energy ana invention
needed to successfully conduct the COM
pick formal society of the day is enor-
nous Especially in a republic, where
there is no court circle or a King Edward
to set and regulate the pace. but the
pleasure-seeking aspect of the lives of
fashionable Women-of course, the most
obvious aspect-obscure the fact of their
real industry and strenuousness in main
tanning the social side of living.
Some idea of the great social service
rendered by women may be arrived at by
imagining a world in which the women
should come to pay as little attention to
this phase of life as men do Life would
there be ShOrn of its eleganceS, bald util-
ty taking the place of the thousand and
one manifestations of sentiment that
brighten and embellish human inter-
course.
1t is Il very easy and very cheap form
of wit to sheer at pink teas, but that
function and similar ones stand for more
than gatherings of dresS-loving, goSsiping
women. A little reflection will convince
even the least discerning that commerce.
industry, civilization itself Che word be-
ing used in this instance according to it's
proper significance) as well as the finer
things of the spirit, are vitality concerned
in these afternoon functions, which APP
pear so frivolous. Even women them
selves are largely unconscious of the inn
portance of the work they carry on. their
social impulse with its far-reaching con-
sequences, being largely instructive. But
the fact that they are most deliberately
helpful to the world at large in no wise
diminishes the Importance of the work
they accomplish.
They are at infinite pains to preserve
the traditions of social etiquette, punctil-
iouS in regard to social observance5. and
at great cost of anxiety, time and pa
thence and fatigue, they engineer func-
tons of ambitious proportions which fur
nish enjoyment, and, better still, oppor-
tunity to others, so that, in a way, the
hostess is philanthropist. The qualities
necessary for the successful conduct of
cure their posSesSorS respectful recogni-
ton in any other profession, but the pc
culiarly sheltered manner of their exer-
else in the domestic realm stands in the
way of their being realized to be superior,
smooth-running domestic establishments
being regarded by most persons as large
ly automatic.
Occasionally the ability requisite to
properly administer an establishment re-
ceives appreciative notice, as in Z. Ben
sons Scarlet and Hyssop.' where is t.
be found a short account of a fashionable
woman's masterful direction of the pre-
liminaries for a Saturday-to-M Monday
party at her country house; but for the
most part the enterprise, invention and
executive ability necessary for the man.
agement of an establishment are beyond
the comprehension of most persons. If
but one person is persuaded by this lit
tie appreciation to regard the activities of
the woman of fashion not wholly friv-
olouS and unworthy, then will the paper
not have been written in vain.-Vogue.