The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-11-12

| tIons Of French women engaged in
humanitarian schemes
For three long years the French I.y-
ceum was engaged in slowly but sure.
" mastering IS forces All kinds Of
material obstacles appeared IN Its
way. Nine. Blanc-Bentzon recommend.
ed patience eve do not like to be
taken by storm" she said "You must
give this new idea time We refuse
TO be rushed Ike Americans, and we
arc not impulalye like the Germans
We are emlnently critical. and before
consenting to take up new thing we
must understand exactly It's aims and
objects"
The following year Nine Blanc.Bent.
ION died and some OF the members Of
the new club began to get discouraged
At the end OF three years we were a
homeless club OF 200 women. without
even as much as an Office or secre
tary. For the sake OF keeping up In
teresi IN the new scheme. room was
rented al the Hotel Bedford, and 1T
erary and musical matinees given. the
program OF which was always com.
posed Of the work OF members.
finally one OF the vlce-presidents Of
the London Lyceum, Miss Alice vii.
liams. came to Paris on visit. On
seeing the difficulties OF the situation.
she volunteered to return to London
and endeavor TO raise money enough
to establish the Lyceum In Paris, and
to try II for year. At the end OF
that time We should SEQ whether a
club were really needed by French
women and II so they could then
take Il over themselves, She prom
ised TO stay the whole year In Paris
until the household arrangements were
complete
The inauguration took place last
December, and Duchess Dire. Dues
accepted the ONCE OF president.
Her name had been at the head Of the
list given by Nine. Taine some -four
years previously; but. besieged by let
tiers begging her 10 preside over all
kinds OF possible societies, Duchess
Dues had preferred waiting to
see whether this new scheme end.
cd with It's first prospectus The In
auguraiion was very brilliant cere-
mony Some 5000 guests came. and
the International side was wen rep
resented by ambassadors and their
wives, who had been unofllclally In.
vited by various members OF the con-
mittee SO pleased were some Of them
with the idea. that among the present
members OF the club are some OF the
ambassadresses.
With president so eminentiy capa.
Bile and so universally beloved, no
doubts we're felt for the future. and
day by day the number OF adherents
has steadily Increased There are
now nearly 700 members. so that With
In year II Is expected that the
French Lyceum win be able to pay its
current expenses.
The president Is herself sculptross
and writer. and she is also the pres
ident of the Society OF Women Paint.
ers
She has written play which Is to
be given at the Lycenm. No prcsi.
dent could be more active and more
Interested. She is net only regular
herself In attending all the meetings
OF the committee. but she urges on
every member the necesl ~ Of this |
regularity In the interests Of the club.
Two Of the most interesting sections
OF the Lyceum are those Of sociology
and humanitarian work. presided over
respectively by Mime. schmahl and |
Mile chaptal Al the monthly meet. !
ines the members, who nearly all rep |
resent some special scheme for the |
improvement OF the conditions OF life.
expose their scheme and show IN what
way other members can help them.
Mime. observation-disclosures will. In time
form the science and university sec.
lions, and Nine Alphonse Daudet Is
most active and energetic IN col.
lectIng books for the library and read
lnx.room
The greatest benefits OF the system
have already been seen ia Paris.
Women have come from Australia
and from America, NOT knowing
single person in Paris, and. Instead OF
about desolateIy and then
ictnrnlng 70 strange hotel. they have
'ound home and congenial compan.
onship IN ain unknown land.
~r.-.->----<-----.~.