Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-21
The Confessions Of 70
- ss a Club Woman.
CHAPTER III CONTINUED
BY AGNES SURBRUDGE.

| could sec him weaken, but lie still
objected II don't know what a Young
woman with children wants with clubs.
A rattan would be more in order" he
added, in an endeator to be funny.
Now, Joseph" | began in conciiatory
tones. You're oldfashioned in your
ideas. Hear what this newspaper says
about a meeting they had out in Evan
sion the other day:
Would that every earnest, purposeful
woman in our beloved land could hay
fclt the broadening, uplifting, soul-in-
spring influence Of this meeting. No
one could have entered into the spirit of
that convention without being made a
better woman, wife, mother, homemakcr
and Christian. And the few gentlemen
who honored us by their prescnce-some
of them among the ablest lawyers of the
city-were paraiyzed" as | heard some
good woman express it, by what they
saw and head, never having compre-
hcndcd before what this great club move
ment among women means. Unfortn.
nately, among the ,minstructed Of both
sexes [now hear this, Joseph the idea
prevails that these organizations are for
pleasure, pastime, social entertainment
or, at best, for a very easy form Of men.
tai culture; that the club woman must
Of necessity neglect her home children,
husband, and all Of tie high noble du-
ties her Maker laid upon her when lie
created her a woman. Surely all such
false conceptions were forever banished
from the minds of those fortunate enouoh
TO hear so beautifully and clearly told at
Evanston what club ideas really are;
that 50 far from the neglect of w0manly
duties, we are to strive to make our fire
sides more beautiful and attractive. our
homes more healthful, to watch and di,
rect the training of the bodies. minds and
hearts OF our children; to teach and help
Gu husbands 20 walk in the straight and
narrow way, and TO stretch our helping
hands to all who need encouragement and
assistance in their efforts to lead sweet
er, pilrer and nobler lives
That sounds well" he assentcd. when
| laid the paper down, And Mrs Theo-
dore Parsons wants you to ioin. eh ,
Well, | suppose you'll have to. then. All
the same, | don't more than half believe
III EN-"
1t was the last of October when Mrs.
Parsons had borne down on my little fiat.
The last of November | received a notice
ut my election to membership. | had
taken her advice and bought a new suit
q readymade, percalc- lined affair at one
of the 'emporiums." Up TO that time
| had not aspired to a silk lined gown
nor greatly appreciated the difference be-
tween a strictly tailor-made" at s9.9S
from Blankenberg l. Bloomstein's and a
Paris model at Antoinettes. But nature
had endowed me with a figure that could
carry off even ome-made gown with
some degree of distinction. and perhaps
was justified in gazing with complacency
at my reflection in the bedroom mirror
when I was ready to start for my first
club meeting.
/ shall never forget that day. The
club had assembled in large private
parl0r of one of the most fashionable
hotels. The subdued murmur which al
ways pervades club parlorG Just before
meeting begins was at its most refined
and well-bTed height when | entered tim
idly and paused at the doorway. No Que
offered to show me TO a seat. so | walked
the length of the room IN search of a
vacant one, altogether conscious of the
polite, inquiring stare of the assembled
whispering company. | had not been a
clu'. member, and the experience was
new but I was gifted with a natural
aplomb which rendered me impervious to
the gaze of even the most fashionable
crowds. Besides, | felt that l was I'M
commonly handsome and did not care
who noticed it.
l took seat at the rear. In front of
me was the familiar cloak and last wears
bonnet of Mrs. Quincy Palgrave who
went to our church. | waited for the
elder woman to speak, which She did
promptly and patronizingly.
why, | don't remember seeing you
hero before. Are you member
No" / replied briefly. THAT is,
have just joined Mrs. Parsons rec
concentration" l added wickedly.
What? Maria Jane Parsons 2"
No: Mrs. Theodore Parsons of the
Lake Shore drive"
Mrs. Quincy Palgrave WINGED. Perhap.
she would have been none the happier if
she HAD been gifted with the power to
read my thoughts at that moment, for /
was saying to my sub-conscious self that
II ] were woman of leisure and money.
anu trained milliner at that, as she
was before she married / would not wear
dowdy- looking boEnet.
It's odd how popular this Nota Bene
has come to be" Mrs. Palgrave was say
ing, still in her most patronizing tone
They all said when it was started am
charter member, you know-that it
could not live three years 1t is ten
years old now, and there is long wait
ng-list. Are You going to report this
neetingf" she turned to ask of a news
paper girl who had just come in, won.
dering. doubtless. if her own name might
not appear in the morning paper as one
Of the distinguished guests
No" briefly replied the girl, with
sarcastic tone in her voice. The Clarion
cares only for live news" Whereupon
IN taeit acknowledgment that she was
Eanquished, Mrs Palgrave turned her
lace to the front again and fell to dis
"ussing the coming programme with the