Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-02

more pleased to see than this. l would
not be fit to hold the position that do
hold. I would not be a good American.
if l did not take peculiar interest in
exactly the kind of club which is repre-
scented here today
Il think it is highly typical of our peo-
pie that we should be able to gather to-
gether in organization for social and in
tellectual betterment. and interested
though l am in such organizations of men.
| am even more interested when they
are managed and controlled in the in
| terests Of women. and particularly work
ing women. working girls.
IF l were asked to point out what. in
my judgment was the fundamental differ
ence between the United States and any
European country. even the most ad-
vanced. / should say that the fundamen-
tai difference, in our favor. was the differ
ent attitude taken here toward women:
the greater chance that the woman has
for combining with a life of duty the
chance of self-improvement.
Confronted Always by Dangers. =
''Of course. in any movement for better
ment there are always dangers. l do not
| hnOw very much about womens clubs,
| girls clubs. but l do know about men
| clubs; and thoroughly though 1 believe in
them l now and then meet a man who
mistakes the means for the end. whose
| life is led as adjunct to the club in
| stead Of the club being an adjunct to his
| life. 1 suppose there are occasional in
stanees Of this kind in the women's clubs
I'm any movement it Is always a little
| dificult to combine the two principles Of
| doing your work well. and yet of having
as good a time as Is compatible with do
| ing your work. There are always a GER
| tain number of people who never try to be
anything but drudges. and certain num-
| Der OF others who make having a good
time the be-all and end-all of life: and
| think these working wOmen's clubs strike
izations that 1 know. believe in them
| with ali my heart. l am glad to see you
| as representatives Of them here today.
and l wish you all possible good fortune
| and success in the future
| At the conclusion Of his address the
President shook hands with each young
woman saying from time to time a pleas
ant word and causing them to feel that
they are an important factor in the great
| nation of which he is the head.
After an automobile ride about the
city in the afternoon they gathered in
| full force. more than six hundred strong.
at Carroll Hall. in the evening. to listen
| to Rev. Father w. r. Russell the pastor
of St. Patrick's Church. describe for their
| admiration the qualities which go to
| make The True Lady" Secretary Straus
| of the Department of Commerce and La
| Dor. who gave them an insight into what
| his department was doing for the ameli-
| Grafton OF the condition of women and
| children tOilers. and the minister from
China. Wu Ting-fang. who jolIied tifem
| by advancing the idea that some of them
were needed in China to bring the Chi
| nese women up TO their standard. The
| program OF. speechmaking was inter-
| spersed with singing by the Howard Uni
versity choir. which rendered the new
national anthem. God of Our Fathers;
TEichberg's ITO Thee. Oh Country" and
Kipling's "Recessional."
Each of the speakers was heartily APP
| plauded--hrst when he appeared, then
1 I,n tod 4 hn
conclusion of his address, with occasional
demonstrations when telling point at
| tracted them. Father Russell was given
| a special ovation because of his kindness.
curing for them the hall in which the
meeting was held. and without which.
Mrs. Ollesheimer declared, the gathering
would not have been possible.
Father Russell's Address.
Father Russell said, in part: The av-
| erage woman whose soul looks above
dress and idleness has aspiration
that will never fade from her heart. and
| that is to be true lady. But who can
| form a definite idea of the characteris-
tics that go to make a true lady. AS a
rule, We form ideas from what we have
| seen. and as the straight stick In pail
| of water appears more or less crooked, &C
cording to the angle from which We view
| it. 80 our ideal Of the true lady is apt to
be crooked or straight according to the
| point Of view from which we behold her
THE ideal Of what a true lady should be
| ls often confused with the individuality Of
| q particular woman: but that is all wrong
that is opposed to the idea Of what lady
| should be. Some regard lady as one who
| spends half her days in sleep and the
other divided between her dressmaker and
| her poodle dog. Cardinal Newman has de-
fined a true gentleman as one who never
| gives unnecessary Ofense. So the true
| lady Is one who never gives offense need
! lessly." There are times. he said, when
offense. And in that connection he re-
| ferred to- an incident in the life of Gen
Grant. when he rebuked guest at a
| dinner who, after the ladies had left re-
marked that. as they had gone. he would
now tell story. 1.-The ladies have gone,
said Gen. Grant. but 1 beg you to re-
member. sir. that the gentlemen are here
| yet"
A lady. says Father Russell. is one
whose language is pure ana can be re-
peated before the whole world. especially
those whose. respect she most prizes; one
whose tongue speaks the purity of her
heart. who will never utter a word that
| will offend good, pure woman There
are unfortunately said he. true ladies who
| have the wishbOne where the backbone
should be- and who fall to resent. some
| times for lack OF courage. what should be
| resented. 4 lady always shows consider
alton, and consideration means all those
| acts which snow thought Tor others
| 1T is indeed fortunate for the country,
| he eadded, that the first lady OF the land
| il not one who has purchased the title by
/ being the wife of her husband. but by her
own inherent qualities. A true lady will
not offend God. even in her conscience.
but will regulate her life by its sensitive
direction and the knowledge Of what she
| knows to be good and pure and true. A
true lady il one whose every thought,
| word and action Is true to herself. pure In
its eonceptiOn. and shows in her out I'd
conduct that which guides her own soul.
| \ true lady will never neglect her home. 3"
In concluding he paid beautiful trib-
ute to the mother of the Savior. who, he
declared. stands pre-eminentiy in the eyes
and hearts of the entire world as 1.-The
true lady"
Secretary Stratus Presented.
Secretary Straus, who was next present.