The San Francisco call., 1904-08-08

and vcluble and various are the tete-
a-tetes over the wires. What club
woman could survive the long summer
vacation without the little brown box
IN the hallway? However, September
brings together the 5000 clubwomen Of
san Francisco-and then things II be-
gin TO hum.
There's the California Club, with its
clubhouse proposition to settle. To be
sure, il was settled once, but it didn't
stay settled. Among the really humor-
Gus situations of the affair are the
questions now propounded in all seri-
BUSINESS by their authors-who appar
emily don't know a joke when they see
one. DO you really want club
hOuse2" Question No. y; If so, what
do you wish il to cost?" query No. y.
Now, these unconscious humOrists are
furnishing much amusement-at least
TO that part of the community which
insists that women don't know what
they do want and when they do hap
pen 20 find out, they forthwith pro-
ceed to want something else
Now, question No 1 was answered
years ago and has long since become
an article of faith" with the club.
Why dig il up and question its sanity
at this late day?
Then the question of cost-that, too,
was decided last May and supposedly
for good Alas alas. Why Will some
women vote for measure with ap-
parent deIiberatiOn and then week
later hop up like kindergartens and
cry out, %, madam president, 1 really
didn't mean that I didn't know what
We were voting for, you kn0w-"
Now, silly as this sounds, We all
know that it's the unvarnished truth
g. ~, ~lr
And this very fact is the strongest ar
gument I know in support of the state
ment that women are not yet ready for
the balIot-not yet.
Therefore. when the clubs convene
for the winters work, let every mem
Der determine TO bring her wits with
her into the business sessions Of her
club and use them as a rational being
while there-shuttinS out, TO the best
Of her ability. prejudice, Intolerance
and petty personal views and holding
but one thought in mind-"Is this
proposition the best for the elub?'
In this manner will unity result
and in no other. And only in unity,
ladies. is there success Besides, there's
the benefit that accrues TO the individ-
uaI in this mental discipline, which, to
my way Of thinking, transcends any
other benefit women get out Of clubs
And. heaven knows, we need it-mOst
OF US That such is the case, however,
IS no fault OF ours, since II Is only
within quarter century that women
were permitted 10 have opinions on
any other topics than dress, domestics
and diseases What I most marvel at
is that were not sillier than we are.
In the early sessions of the civic sec
ton Of the California Club a matter
that viii appeal to every woman in the
city viii be brought up for considera-
tion-the compulsory removal from the
streets Of the horrible incurables that
wander about through the residence
and downtown districts, frightening
children and shocking delicate women,
many Of whom are made i'll from the
cripples' opportunities.
The section viii investigate the ca
pacities of homes for these poor uufor-
tunates. for whom every human Crea-
ture bears the deepest sympathy, and
endeavor TO place them where they
may pass their days in comfort without
leaving their hideOus image upon uu
born babes. And that such calamities
have resulted from unwelcOme visits
from these people there is ample proof,
many physicians Of the highest Tepute
standing ready to furnish data as to
the effect Of horrible prenatal impress
sions.
half-million Cby Los Angeles notatton),
can provide for its def1cients and de-
pendeuts If the matter be brought for
ward vigorously. And this is a matter
that concerns the city intimately.
The truant officers went a-touring in
the canneries last week, strongly sus-
pecting that many Of their wards were
peeling peaches And they were not
r-v--fv-AcI III
up, all under the age Of IA years-the
age limit prescribed by the compulsory
education law-and they were promptly
relieved from further duty.
Scores of boys and girls slightly over
Il years were found who should have
been in school. but these were exempt
ed on the presentation Of a card de-
signed by the principal OF night
school Of which they were members
more or less regularly.
The greatest difficulty is found by the
school officers in the Latin quarter
Here a large percentage OF parents
speak no English, and it is a difficult
task to make them understand that the
law has a right to interfere in their
family arrangements, although the
Board of Education has caused to be
published cards bearing upon the law
in Spanish. Italian and Portuguese. 1t
is among these people that education is
valued the least and where the least
effort is made TO obtain il. And, withal
their ignorance, while indefensible is
absolute bliss and the family relation
one of joy. However, it is a spot where
in vice thrives on it's ignorance, and
the spot that the school authorities
must delve into with yigor.
The schools most affected by the
"cannery" habit-the proceeds of which
are considered pickup" money and is
used to purchase the grapes that will
ferment into the family wine for the
year-are Lafayette, Garfield, Irving,
Hancock. Cooper and Washington
There is some trouble for the truant
officers on the south side, but most of
that is deliberate truancy-hence the
formation Of the Parental School.
Here it Is hoped, by a special kind of
training CEASED on knowledge of each
boys personality and enyironment)
that good results will ensue.
The school is in working order now.
with Miss Ray Alexander IN charge Of
the class, under the supervision Of
Principal Richard K. Faulkner.
The work Of the school viii necessa-