Evening journal., 1902-10-20
AMERICAN woMEN,s CLUBS

AMERICAN WOMEN'S CLUBS
An English woman who has been Wis
iting in this country, and who is inter-
ested in woman's clubs, points out that
in America the discussions run to liter
ature, sociological problems and to
questions of art, while in England the
themes are likely to be Of a more prac-
I ttical nature, in which domestic science
figures largely.
The growing popularity Of women's
clubs In this country, and the fact that
the movement has survived consider
able adverse criticism, and even. ridi-
cule, argues that there is some SUBJ
stantial basis, something of real good
underlying them, but it is not an argu-
ment TO show that they have attained
the best ends, not that they are pursu
ing the course that will result in the
greatest good to their members. The
social side Of these clubs is an import
ane feature, but that phase is not now
under consideration. Much time is de-
voted to the acquisition of that intan-
gible thing called culture" though
there are those who contend that this
cannot be put on like a garment, and
that all the learned essays in the world
cannot give It. But the members of
these clubs are inspired with a most
worthy implse which, in broad terms,
may be classed as educational. It Is not
utilitarian. Possibly there is no rea.
son why it should be, and possibly it
is In this respect that the clubs of the
two countries are 80 different in pur-
pose The English clubs, too, are, in
large measure, philanthropic, giving
much time to the discussion of prob
lens that pertain TO the welfare Of the
masses and particularly of the work.
ing women; while the American club
woman is bent on self-improvement
along educational and aesthetic lines.
The charge is frequently made that
ladies meet from week to week and
listen with patient federation to tedious
papers treating of subjects out OF the
sphere Of their education, and remote
from their ordinary line of research.
objection is made, not because these
things are not of value in the lives Of
these women, but because a plane is
taken by reason of a false pride, which
is above and beyond the real intelIec-
tual taste or capacity OF those who
so patiently listen. It must not be un
derstood that these ladies are not prac-
teal and that they do not discuss many
themes of real Importance and OF vital
concern to all, but there is present u
fetish which is called culture" which
must ever be placated. Is it poetry? It
is not Bryant, Whittier or Longfellow.
1t is not even Burns. It is rather
Keats, Swinburne or Browning, when,
if the truth were told OF most OF them,
their true ideal of poetry is to be found
in the hymnal. 10 is a waste OF time to
discuss Browning before those who
have not taken the first steps to the
appreciation Of the muses.. Is the theme
art? The discussion often copied bodily
from some book or magazine may lead
through a maze OF nice distinctions
which only the artist could appreciate,
and which adds little to the education
Of ordinary mortals, because there is
nothing in the mind with which to
make comparisons. Thus we mighe go
on, and by drawing a comparison be-
tween the taste displayed in the home
and in the conversation OF many Of
these estimable women, show that often
the yare following an impossible ideal,
and are not really supplementing theii
knowledge, but simply acquiring a
smattering OF numerous things about
which at heart they care little