Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
FOR BUSINESS WOMEN
-
A Membership Of 500 in a
Chicago Club.
LUNCH HOUR RESULTS
20 -
ALL THE PR1v1IEaEs OF CLUB
DOM AT LESS EXPENSE.
Likewise Barred Of Its Temptations
With Good Things to
Eat Also.

Written for The Evening Star by Anna h. Hazel
tine. :.
The lunch hour is directly responsible for
the existence Of clubs for business women.
The object shall be to provide means Of
communication between business women:
to secure the benefits resulting from or
ganized effort; to open club rooms and a
restaurant for the comfort and convenience
OF business womens to relieve sick and dis
abled members, and to have an employ
ment exchange for competent business wo-
men,
So runs clause in the constitution of a
certain club for business women, but the
an-important phrase is that which deals
with the opening of a restaurant.
When a young woman takes a position
downtown lunehing at the restaurants
frequented by her brother and other girls
brothers possesses singular fascination.
She feels that at least she is launched upon
business career. But in due time she
wearies Of the chatter of heavy creckery
and the noisy calls of scurrying walters.
She resents the fact that she Is expected to
swallow her meal whole In order to make
way for other hungry mortals. impatientiy
standing in line. II she meets friend
with whom she would discuss the plays she
has seen of late, the books she Is reading,
or the new silk waist She Is about to pur-
chase, the head waiter glares at her for
keeping another patron waiting, and, under
the influence of that glare. she sallies forth
and joins club, and Is seen no more in
the monday haunts of men.
Directly club Is organized 1t collects
dues and hires a room In the heart of the
commercial district. Here it instaIls some
tables and chairs and a chef, a rubber
plant and white curtains The last two are
essential. Then it Is ready for business.
And business comes. The lunch room -four
ishes like the proverbiaf bay tree.
The Clubs Are Democratic.
These clubs for business women approach
more closely the mems clubs than do any
other organizations in which women are In
terested They are broad, liberal and dem
ocratic. Dress does not count. A new menu
Der may make acauaintances or not, as she
pleases. She is free to avail herself Of the
posal without indulging IN social intercourse,
or she may meet other members on the
common level of good fellowship. The fact
that her name passed the membership COM
mittee is all the social backing that she
needs. II! IL
She may entertain her friends at luncheon
or dinner. having special table set aside
for their use She may spend her noon hour
corner of a dressing room. She may never
see the inside of the club rooms save during
the luncheon hour, or she may come back
after her Office is closed, dress for the the
alter and dine at the club before joining
her friends at the theater. -
In fact, she has most Of the privileges OF
clubmen, at considerable less expense
Woman's passion for, bargains and cut
prices does not desert her even in club0om-
The Largest Club. a. y
: :.
The largest club Of this sort fQurishes in
Chicago and Isl known as the Chicago Busi-
ness Woman's Club 1t had its origin In the
NATIONAL Association Of Women Stenogra-
piers which was organized at the sugges-
ton of Mrs. Potter In 1892 Its first presi-
dent was Miss Elizabeth Merrill, now Mrs.
George Bass, at that time official reporter
Of the board of lady managers of the Co
lumbar exposition. But as successful wo-
men In other branches OF business Life
clamored for admission, In 1899 the ma
tional association was reorganfZed as the
National Association of Business Women,
and it's sphere Of usefulness was enlarged
accordingly, with active clubs in New York,
Minneapolis, Buffalo and Detroit.
Barring the religious element the Chicago
club is conducted on lines similar to those
followed by the Young Women's Christian
Association. Its members take active part
in classes for the study Of Spanish, French.
physical culture. correct English. current
topics, stenographic speed domestic science,
the use of a chatting dish, china painting
and nature study.
Miss Matae B.. Cleveland. president of the
national association, Is an active worker in
the Chicago branch She is also manager
OF the local Business Woman's Exchange,
which acts as Intermediary between en-
pIoyers and those. seeking positions. and
members of the club are entitled to its
services without money and without price.
This is but one of the many practical fea
lures supplied for the inexperienced women
enrolled under the clubs protecting banner.
Run on 81 Dues.
The club is run. successfully and without
the shadow of debt on annual dues of 81.
with meals furnished at reasonable figures.
The number Of women availing themselves
of It's privileges is close to half thousand,
and the cozy club rooms in the heart of Chi
Cages business district will soon be TOO
cramped. Even now the officers are talk
ing of a club house commensurate with the
organizatio growth, and built by the club
members.
While there are rest rooms, dressing
rooms, writing rooms and library, to say
nothing of innumerable coy corners for
heart-to-heart chats, the interest OF the out
slider centers in the brilliantly lighted dining
room At noon 1t Is crowded with trinity
gowned business women, and in the even
ing these same women are transformed into
Charming hostesses in frocks that suggest
anything but the work-a-day world.
LAWYERS, doctors, bookkeepers, conf
Dental secretaries. stenographers, imports
ers, manufacturers. EDITORS, heads OF de-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. every one of them
gather here in the most democratic of fash
ion. Here too, they entertain friends and
business acquaintance Tine business Wo-
man is an important factor in the CONNER
cfal life of Chicago and under the shade OK
some shelteringf rubber plant many q
deal is pushed to completion.