The Columbus journal., 1908-11-04
tons of French women engaged IN
humanitarian schemes.

tons of French women engaged in
humanitarian schemes.
For three long years the French Ly-
ceum was engaged in slowly but sure
ly mastering it's forces. All kinds of
material obstacles appeared in its
way. Nine. Blanc Bentzon recommend
ed patience. I'VE do not like to be
taken by Storm" she said. You must
give this new idea time. We refuse
to be rushed like Americans, and we
are not impulsive like the Germans.
We are eminently critical, and before
consenting to take up new thing we
must understand exactly its 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 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 a 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 a year. At the end OF
that time we should see whether a
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. Tame some four
years previously; but, besieged by let
tiers begging her to preside over all
kinds of possible societies, Duchess
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 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 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 its
current expenses.
The president is herself a sculptress
and a writer, and she is also the pres.
ident of the Society Of Women Paint
ers.
She has written a 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
tons, and Nine. Alphonse Daudet is
most active and energetic in col
lecting books for the library and read
ing-room.
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 a home and congenial compan-
ionship In an unknown land.