The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-07-14


Although Grover Cleveland may be
learned enough for professorship, dip
lomatic enough for presidency, inter
esting enough TO get a refined and
beautiful young wife, yet we think
his knowledge of some subjects is
sadly deficient. His recent attack on
women's clubs in general could surely
never have been written by one UNI
Outstanding their workings. The ex-
president has generosity TO counten-
ance so-called religious and charita BILE
organizations, but of others he says,
- am persuaded that there are wo-
mems clubs whose objects and intents
are not only harmful, but harmful in
way that directly menaces the in
tegrity of our homes. Then he re-
fers TO still others that are harmless,
but simply waste of time. Did he
look into the matter, he would lind
that, while many of our clubs are not
advertised as dealing in charity, many
a home has been frightened and many
heart made lighter by the kindness
and generosity of these same women $
clubs. In our own county how gen.
erously have the clubs responded to
calls for aid from the children's home,
and many a child been made more
comfo Portable and happy because of it,
TO say nothing of the small charities
in our own midst.
In a disdainful way Mr.. Cleveland
says, "These clubs have become so
numerous that in interest of their
management they have formed ma
tional federation of women's clubs.
But he fails TO state what a grand
work has been effected by the united
efforts of these, TO him, offending wo
mems clubs. Through the efforts of
this organization great civic improve
ments have been made. Since club
women have taken the matter in hand
the improvement in the cleanliness
and sanitation of our cities cannot be
overestimated. Other clubs have
turned their attention to public inn
provements in the line of parks, in
some places securing the land, beau
tifying il and caring for it, making a
study and practical use of forestry.
Others have investigated domestic
science, trying to solve the servant
question by establishing in some of
our cities schools for training domes-
tic help of all kinds. Not only all
this, but the friendship formed at the
meetings of the general federation
brings the women of the East, West,
North and South into closer relation
in common work, the uplifting of
humanity, acquainting them with the
conditions and customs of all parts of
our glorious country, which cannot
help but lift us out of our narrow
mindedness. Mr.. Cleveland suggests
that the craze for women's clubs may
be retaliation on the part of the gen
tier sex for the club life that the lords
of creation have so long enjoyed. AS
though there could be any similarity
between the two except the name
Club While the literary work done
in the short time most of us can de-
vote 70 our club may not be great, or
while we may not get comprehensive
knowledge of a variety of subjects,
still it gives us something to think
and talk of besides orr neighbors and
at least helps Us TO keep pace with
our high school daughters. Especial
" in our farming communities is our
women's club a godsend. 1t brings
20 the farmers wives and daughters
relaxation from their nerve taxing
duties. \ few years ago statistics
stated that the ma jority of our insane
retreats were filled with women and
the greater part of these were wives
of farmers. The reason given for
this was the lack of social diversion
among many of the farming commun-
tiles, especially those far removed
a literary club be. Let the good work
go on.
Our ex-president refers to the club
habit in the same sense one would
speak of the opium, cigarette or liquor
habits, which are much more preva-
lent and are to be found not among
club women, but home abiding, moody
and isolated women. We suppose
there are women afflicted with this
club habit and carry club life TO the
extreme, but the cases are extremely
rare and in my own club ! can think
of none where the club microbe has
entered to a dangerous extent. There
is a happy medium in clubs as in all
things, and we do not advocate the
club habit to the exclusion of all else.
No right minded woman would neg
lect her family for her club. If so.
she would neglect it anyway.
While Mr.. Cleveland hesitates TO
accuse woman of trying to neglect
her mission by the diverting influence
of club life, yet he claims the social
ed club life will cause cheerlessness
70 invade the home and children to be
neglected, and it will be directly res
ponsible for the marred happiness of
other homes and the domestic life of
our land by taking woman out of her
sphere, thus causing discomfort on
the part of woman with her ordained
lot or a desire on her part TO be or do
something outside the daily grind of
nursery and household drudgery and
care. Woman's mission as he defines
IL consists of bea ring and CARING for