Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26
suggested BY Mrs. Perkins.

Mrs. Mary MartindaIe Perkins. wife
OF the representative from Rochester.
N. T.. took the lead In the matter and
invited a number Of congressional ladies'
to q luncheon at her home, where she
introduced the subject. They talked it
over. and were unanimous in the opinion
tnat such an organization with a CEN
tral and convenient clubhouse would not
only be an advantage but an important
feature OF Washington life
In the first place 1t would furnish a
common meeting ground where the ladies
OF the congressional circle could make
the acquaintance of each other without
waiting to exchange calls. and. as every
oody knows. a woman who has a long
list Of calls that she must make in a
short afternoon. does not get very well
acquainted with the strangers she visits.
This opportunity Of meeting would
bring about better feeling and a
greater cordially among people who
would like to know each other, but hold
aloof It would also enable those who
are 50 inclined to entertain their friends
IN more effective or agreeable manner
than some Of them are able to do in
their own homes. A large number of
congressional families live in boarding
houses and have no place Or opportunity
to rectprocate the hospitality they en-
JOY without going to a hotel or some
other public place. and clubhouse
would give them homelike place where
they could receive and entertain the
families OF their husbands constituents
who come to Washington. which is i'm
possible for them to do with any salts
faction In boarding house or hotel
Another important feature suggested
was the great advantage that such .
club would offer to the wives Of new
members who come to Washington as
entire strangers and have no one to
give them welcome or introduce them
or advise them. 1t is proposed to have
a social committee to look after new
Corners. and see that they are made
comfortable and are cordially introduced
into the congressional circle.
A clubhouse would also give an oppor-
tunity for the congressional ladies to meet
and entertain interesting people. The wife
Of a representative remarked the other
day in speaking on this subject: Mrs.
Herbert Parsons gave reception the
other night at which we had the pleasure
OF meeting Mr.. and Mrs. Humphry Ward,
and il is that sort of thing we want our
congressional club to do when we have a
clubhouse. l feel very strongly that If we
can have q certain amount OF reasonable
intercourse among the members Of the
congressional families the unreasonable
intercourse will soon regulate itself For
those who have no fixed homes in Wash
ington would be OF value to have a per-
manent address. and the consolation to
ones spirit Of having a familiar. at
tractive spot to come to year after year
can only be appreciated by women who
have spent a long afternoon hunting up
the wives Of other members until they are
completely exhausted and have TO stop
to think. Where am I living now?"
II was also suggested that the wives Of
ex-members who return to Washington
would find a clubhouse Of great conveni-
ence and advantage. 1t would afford them
a place to meet their old friends where
they would feel at home and would not
be under obligations to other people.
Preliminary Organization.
Many ether good reasons were advanced