Gilpin observer., 1908-11-05

Inc IOllOWlUS year Nlne
zon 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 a secre
tary. For the sake of keeping up in
terest in the new scheme, a room was
rented at the Hotel Bedford, and lit
erary and musical matinees given, the
program of which was always COM
posed of the work of members.
Finally one of the vice-presidents of
the London Lyceum, Miss Alice Will
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 it for year. At the end of
that time we should see whether
club were really needed by French
women, and if so they could then
take it 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 office of president.
Her name had been at the head of the
list given by Nine. Taine some four
years previously; but, besieged by let
ters begging her to preside over all
kinds of possible societies, Duchess
d'Uzes had preferred waiting to
see whether this new scheme end
ed with it's first prospectus. The in
auguration was very brilliant cere-
mony. Some 5000 guests came, and
the international side was well rep
resented by ambassadors and their
wives, who had been unofficially in
vited by various members of the COM
mittee. So pleased were some of them
with the idea, that among the present
members of the club are some of the
ambassadresses.
i With a president so eminently capa-
BILE and so universally beloved, no
doubts were 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 a year it is expected that the
French Lyceum will be able to pay it's
current expenses.
The president is herself sculptress
and a 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 Lyceum. No presi-
dent could be more active and more
interested. She is not only regular
herself in attending all the meetings
of the committee, but she urges on
every member the necessity 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 Nine. Schmahl and
Mile. Chaptal. At the monthly meet
ings 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.
Nine. Dejerine-Klumpe will, in time,
form the science and university sec
tions, and Nine. Alphonse Daudet is
most active and energetic in col
lecting books for the library and read
ing-room.
Italian women were interested in
the London Lyceum, but an Anglo
Saxon movement did not appeal
strongly to them. When they saw
what French women were doing they
had more confidence, so that when the
founder of Lyceums, Constance Smed-
ley, was in Florence last winter she
discovered that the Italians were
ready for their club. They were pre-
pared to go even farther than the
French, and find the preliminary cap
ital themselves. They are soon to
open in Rome.
The greatest benefits Of the system
have already been seen in Paris.
Women have come from Australia
and from America, not knowing
single person in Paris, and instead of
wandering about desolately and then
returning to strange hotel, they have
found home and congenial compan.
ionship in an unknown land.
The general secretary of the
French Lyceum is distinguished
writer, Nine. Marc Helys, whose book
on the women of Sweden attracted
great attention recently.
It was II. Seton Merriman's opinion
that French women were the cleverest
and most capable women in the world.
II this be SO, 1t is very probable that
the French Lyceum will soon take
high rank among the Lyceums of
other countries, and that 1t will be-
come center OF immense activity
| md uaafulnasr tho IN fuence of which
will be incalculable.