The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-28

Bv AGNES SURBRLDGE.
CHAPTER III.

But how would Joseph take it
Would he be willing to have me go into
a new, set Of people and form acquaint'
ances independent Of him9 So far he
denying me nothing of any Importance
lie had sometimes gone to church with
me, and had taken me to theaters when,
ever l had wanted to 20. True, he sci.
dom spent an evening, at home, but, on
the other hand, I had never expressed
But | had never formed acquaintance
Independent of him, or gone alone to
entertainments of any kind. When he
could not 90 had remained at home.
What would he say to the woman g
clubs
:. I determined to- approach the subject
carefully, and sat up with my crocheting
until he came home, rather earlier than
usual. He was in a promising frame
Of mind, and began:
"Mrs. Parsons was here this after
noon
@"What Parsons7' said he.
"Why,, the teacher of our Bible class.
don't know her first name. -,
"Wonder if it was Henry Parsons
dore2 They both belong to our church:
It wasn't Mrs. Theodore, was ita,'
There was reverential note in his
voice as he uttered the last sentence.
,"Well, she left a card,' I said,
reused to sufficient interest to look up
the piece of pasteboard. eyes, Mrs.
Theodore Parsons, 1897 Lake Shore
drive.'
Whe-e-w!' was his response. T., =. -
"Why?' I asked quickly.
.''Why7 Well, you are a greeny!
Why, girl, Mrs. Theodore Parsons is
way up. Her. husband 8 on the Board
of Trade, and; they re worth million
or two = j.
But did not grovel.,
= What d she come here for7' was
the next question: =
::::she came" I answered with dig
nifty. 4'to call on me- "
:HHuh! y was the quick response
'rHe's running for the legislature
:Ifailed.,te see what that had to do
with. it, land. said so;: but my: husband
only :smlleu. ! =. =" ::
-:e'She wants me- to join the -Nota Bene
club T remarked casually. unwinding
another 4apful of: white: zephyr.
:.. ~ $ thstS he a1; ss J; shertly
@'.There are five hundred in it, and it s
an honor to be asked to join I did
not deem it necessary ito explain that
l had begged the honor. =.
1T ain It much opinion of women
that CAD around in clubs,' he objected
sturdily. "Women IS place is at home. -
elf Mrs. Theodore Parsons had been
in. her place, then,'' retorted, she
wouldn t have: called on your wife to-
honor. to be, nominated for club mem
she u.s.
I could see him weaken, but he still
objected. II don't know what
young woman with children wants with
clubs. A rattan would be more in or
der,' he added, in an endeavor to be
funny.
CHOW, Joseph I began in concili-
atory tones. "'You re old-fashioned in
your ideas. Hear what this newspaper
says about q meeting they had out in.
Evanston the other day:
Would that every earnest purposeful
woman in our beloved land could have
felt the broadening, uplifting, soul-inspir-
ing influence of this meeting. No one
could have entered into the spirit Of that
woman. wife. mother, hone-rnaIxer and
Christian. And the few gentlemen who
honored US by their presence-some OF
them among the ablest lawyers of the
city-were ''paralyZed," ash heard some
good woman express it, by what they saw
and heard, never having :comprehended
before: what this great club movement
among women means unfortunately,
among the unrestricted Of both sexes
(rfow hear this, Joseph) the idea preva lis
that these organizations are for pleasure;
pastime. social entertainment, or, at best,
for very easy form of mental sulture;
that. the club woman must Of necessity
neglect her home. children, husband and
all OF the high, noble duties. her Maker
laid upon her when He created her a
woman. Surely all such false ;concepttons
We're forever banished from the minds OF
these fortunate enough to hear 80 beau
tifully and clearly told at Evanston what
club; ideas really are; that SO far from the
neglect Of womanly duties, we are tc
strive to make. our firesides more beau
tifuE and attractive, our homes mora
healthful to watch and direct the train
ing Of the bodies, minds and hearts O,
our children; to teach and help our hus-
bands to walk in the straight and mar
row way. and totstretch our helping hands
to all who need encouragement and as
sistance in their efforts to lead sweeter.
purer, and nobler lives
THAT. sounds .weI,' he assented,
when laid the paper down. "And
ATS: theodore, Parsons wants: you to
TO- them X Ms thd sams yeg nsEs
than half believe in 'em.'' .-. :.
1T was the last of October when Mrs.
PARSONS had borne down on my little
Hat. The last of November I received
Z notice Of my election to membership.
I had taken her advice and bought a
new suit, a ready-made, .percale- lined
affair. at one Of the !" emporiums. - EJJp
to that time had not aspired to q
snk.iln r gown. nor greatly, appreciated
the difference between Nstrictly tai
tornado at $9.9S from Blankenberg
y Bloomstein g and Paris model at
Antoinette s.. But nature had endowed
me with figure that could carry off
even q homemade gown with some de-
gree Of distinction, and perhaps T was
justified in gazing with *complacency
at my reflection in the bedroom mirror
when | was ready to start for nv first
club seeting. 1922
I shall never forget that day. The
club had assembled in large private
Parlor of of the most fashIonabIe
hotels. The subdued murmur which al
ways pervades club parlors Just before
meeting begins was at it's most re-
lined and well-bred height when en-
tered timidly and paused at the door
way. No one offered to. show me !: a
seat, 50 walked the length Of the
room IN search Of vacant one, alto
4 4ether conscious Of the polite, inauirinp
stare OF the assembled, whispering com.
pany. / had not been. a club member,
and the experiences was new; but i was
gifted with a natural aplohnb which
rendered me impervious to the gaze
Of even the most fashionable crowds.
Besides,sI felt that I was uncomInonly
handsome and did not care who no.
ticed it. r
I took a seat at the rear. In front