The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-28
One Woman S
CIHb Work.

Elizabeth L. Ring In the Bohemian.
My Dear Mrs Howell: You ask me 20
tell you something of the work have done
for the clubs May | not answer your
question aud put myself in a trucr position
by telling you what the clubs have done for
me?
Fourteen years ago / Joined the Ladies'
Reading club Of Houston. l had given
eight years TO the study OF housekeeping
and the Ills and needs of babies, and was
in great danger of taking both these sub
jccts too Seriously condition of affairs
very distressing to ones family and friends,
1t was such a relief to me to get out into
the literary atmosphere Of the club and TO
: fske up another line of work that would ia
no way interfere with my other duties aud
yet bring new and delightful interest
INTO my life.
one can always Gnd time Tor little read
ing but il Is apt to be OF deslltory sort
IL one has not the habits Of a student IN
the club the study Is usually confined 70
one country or epoch or author ana the
knowledge that many Others are studying
the same subject tends to make one red
carefully in order to get an original point OF
view and to be prepared to defend IL III ais
cussion. All this should develop knowledge,
originality and courage.
In our social life we think much of
Z
put to the test. as here We must aim always
10 be agreeable aud differences and business
are put aside. 1t Is necessary qualihca-
tion for club woman and must become
greatly developed and strengthened by her
club life. II is a quality that is born "
perfect self-conIol and tolerance, and Will
make one respect an adversary and enaur
one to yield gracefully to defeat ! know
that / have gained a wider and clearer
view Of life, have more charity Tor the
faults OF others, and much higher opinion
of women than ! should have had without
my club experience,
In 1892 became interested In establish
ing Woman's Exchange in Houston, aud
was one OF the delegates from this organ
izatIon to the nrst Congress of Women,
held In Dallas Here l met many promi-
nent women from over the state, and we
discussed all phases OF club work. 1t was
pain to us all then that the club that was
organized for self-improVement alone would
soon he a thug Of the past, Many VI tnem
mad already taken up library or free ku-
dergarten work, or civic improvement.
This spirit soon spread In our Ladies'
Reading club, and in 1898 we took up he
cause OF q public library for Houston. We
had 4 subscription library that had led a
struggling existence for many years, We
| succeeded in 1899 with the help OF the
other club women of the city, In getting
| IN appropriation from the city Of S240O
| a year for It's support We have since
| for MIR. Carnegie's beautiful gift, and ex-
/ meet to aid also In furnishing this build
| ing The club besides, has a number OF
! travelling libraries In circulation in Harris
| county.
| the city and State have relieved us OF the
| library work do not know, but there are
| many needs awaiting our attention.
| was president OF the Ladies' Reading
| club for the two years 1S99-19OO, and since
| then have been president of the City Fed
| Grafton, an organization composed OF the
Six women's clubs of the city. 1t was
| necessary to combine our efforts In aid OF
| the library and | was asked to bring them
| together for this purpose. We have raised
money by giving lectures. Previously
| Houston had the reputation OF being the
| poorest lecture town In the State. We have
not only had good audiences, but we have
| made money out of our venture. ProDaby
| we have succeeded because we began hy
| giving the public the best talent we could
our Federation OF Clubs is focusing the
| interests of the club women Of Houston ana
| demonstrating the benefits OF cooperation
| This coming year each club viii devote one
club day TO the entertainment OF the mem
| hers Of the federation. This will hrin.
| about closer acquaintanceship between
| members In the near future we hope +,
| have the pleasure Of entertaining the stat
| Federation. aud expect thereby TO get
| closer touch with State work.
| have twice had the honor OF being
delegate 30 the State convention from my
| club / served two years as chairman u
| the library committee Of tho State Ned
Grafton In this work ! bad not only Il
| inform myself library work IN my owl
| state hit to learn methods Of advance
| "a advise aud instruct all clubs desiring I,
| brEin libraries Int truushi upon m
very heavy eotreSpendenee, which was az