Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-01-10

gray and silvered devotee; with her
lorgnett in hand and bag at side; her
southfur gown we'll covered world to
small for her decorations and her
many badges shining in all their gor-
geOus array, show allegiance to her
clubs.
Last scene of all ends this strange
eventful history, is daily tendance at
each society, Sans aim, Sans love, Sans
home, Sans everything"
NEGATIVE.
Madame President, Ladies' of the
American History club, honorable
judges:
70 have the last word is at times a
great satisfaction and sometimes [
think an advantage, but, to say that
last word in three minutes is asking a
great deal of woman; however [
shall in that brief space of time al
lotted each one here today and after
all the weighty arguments produced
here this afternoon pro and con this
vital question emphasize those of the
negative and try to prove to you COLI
clusively that womens clubs are not
a menace to American society. Never
in the history of the world were there
SO many women. Never so many
women of advanced thought; women
of broad ideas and capable of making
practical use of those ideas. Never
were there SO many women holding
responsible positions. Never so many
women engaged in benevolent work,
women working for the uplift of hu-
manity, to make better homes: better
cities and better nation.
NEVER WERE THERE so MANY WOMENs'
CLUBS.
In the first place they stand for
good. The constitutions and bylaws
so state, that the object and aim of
these club organizations shall be
to promote sociability; mental advance
ment; be means of cultivating higher
thoughts and ideas, to stimulate in
every possible legitimate manner the
members to better things; to be in fact
not only mutual helps, but helps to
those outside clubdom. If nothing
more club meetings are a pleasant
change and recreation for many who
outside Of their club meetings seldom
have change. 1t gives them the op
portunity to spend social hour or
two with friends and neighbors and
exchange ideas, thereby broadening
them; something to think abouS while
discharging home duties and relieves,
in measure the sometimes monoton-
Gus hum drum, which of a necessity
is part of every homekeepers life.
In the face of all these arguments in
favor of womens' clubs, how can they
be a menace?
Womens' clubs are accused of gossip,
is 1t true? Has anyone ever suffered
from the gossip of the American
History club? far from it. We are &C
cused of alienation from home and
responsible for race suicide by no
less parsonage than he of ''inocuous
desuetude' fame. Statistics up to
date prove the contrary. Do we neg
lect home? Are we guilty of race
suicide? Look about you and answer
for yourself. Had Theodore Roose-
velt and Grover Cleveland taken to
wife, women to whom that supreme
blessing motherhood had been denied,
think you they would be so loud in
their cutlery of race suicide? They
know not where of they speak. Our
worthy president chose we'll when she
selected for judges here today the
happy combination, representative
wives, mothers, homekeepers and club
women. Honorable judges. it is up to
you to decide this momentous ques-
ton now and for ever. Save us from
these unjust accusations heaped upon
US. You have listened to this brilliant
literary overflow weight, weigh the evil
dence and decide according to your
better judgment that womens' clubs
are not a menace to American society