Gilpin observer., 1908-11-05

A great evolution is taking place in
France, an evolution which has been
working so slowly and so silently that
until some six months ago scarcely
any one realized all that it meant.
In Anglo-Saxon countries the open
ing of a fresh club for women is con-
sidered of about as much importance
as the opening of fresh newspaper
shop. There is a certain analogy
between the two, and one merely
wonders instinctively what kind Of
news will be circulated and what the
tone of the new enterprise is to be.
In England and America, where
homes are apt to become the hotels
of our numerous friends, clubs are al
most a necessity, if only to relieve the
domestic service of the private house.
They ha-o now, too, become fash
ion, SO that many women pride them
selves "a belonging to several clubs.
In Paris the opening of club for
women, and, what is more, for French
women, came as surprise and even
as a shock to very many people in
the French capital. This club for
women is unique in France. In order
to account for this fact it is necessary
to explain something of the position of
the French woman. English and Amer
ican women are apt to consider that
their French sisters are very much
behind the times, and to look upon
them as domestic slaves because they
have hitherto had no clubs of their
own. AS matter of fact, the French
woman actually needs such an insti-
tuition far less than her sisters of the
Anglo-Saxon race. In consequence of
the extreme exclusiveness of the
French their home circle is little
known to foreigners. This exclusive
ness is not due to narrowness, as the
Anglo-S so frequently declares. 1t
is rather due to that science of selec-
tion in social intercourse of which the
French appear to have the secret, and
which has made the French salon
what 1t is. Outsiders, therefore, scarce
ly realize how great an influence the
French woman wields. She has a
realm which is entirely her own,
realm in which she reigns supreme.
Up to the time of the war of 1870
the public service of women consist
ed chiefly in visiting the sick and in
providing the few poor people of
whom they heard with nourishment
and clothes.
During the siege of Paris and the
commune. the women of France were
needed by their country. and with one
accord mothers and daughters left
their sheltered homes and answered
their country's call.
French women have always been eS
tremely patriotic, and in all enc ,
gencies have given proof of their cour-
age and devotion. For very many
years after the war there was much
to be done by the women of France,
and, the more they plunged into the
darker side of life, the more they
found to do. Some Is or 16 years ago
little band of women who were all
thus working for the public welfare
decided to have an annual conference
in order to discuss the problems they
found, and help each other to solve
them. This annual conference has
now become one Of the great institu-
tions of French women engaged in
humanitarian schemes.
For three long years the French Ly-
ceum was engaged in slowly but sure
ly mastering its forces All kln5s 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