The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-11-11


objects"
The following year Nine. Blanc-Bent.
zon died, and some OF the members oi
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 secre
tary. For the sake of keeping up I'm.
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 Byceum, Miss Alice VIII
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 IL for 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 1t 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 she
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
Dues had preferred waiting to
see whether this new scheme end
ed with It's first prospectus. The In
auguration was a very brilliant cere-
mony. Some 5000 guests came. and
the international side was well rep
resented by ambassadors and their
wives, who had been unoffcially 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.
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 n year 1t is expected that the
French Lyceum will be able to pay its
current expenses.
The president is herself a sculptress
and 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 presl-
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
ngs 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.
'orm the science and university Sec
ions, and Nine. Alphonse Daudet is
most active and energetic in col
Getting books for the library and read.
ng-room.
Italian women were interested In
he London Lyceum, but an Anglo.
saxon movement did not appeal
trongly to them. When they saw
what French women were doing they
lad more confidence, so that when the
ounder of Lyceums, Constance Smed.
ey, was In Florence last winter she
discovered that the Italians were
eady for their club. They were pre-
Jared to go even farther than the
french, and find the preliminary cap
tai themselves. They are soon TO
'pen in Rome.
The greatest benefits of the system
ave already been seen in Paris. |
Women have come from Australia |
nd from America. not knowing a |
ingle person in Paris, and, instead of |
about desolately and then |
eturning to a strange hotel, they have
ound a home and congenial compan.
onship in an unknown land.
The general secretary of the
'rench Lyceum is a distinguished
ritter, Nine. Mare Helys, whose hook
n the women of Sweden attracted
reat attention recently.
1t was II. Seton Merriman's opinion
nat French women were the cleverest
nd most capable women In the world.
this be so, 1t Is very probable that
ne French Lyceum will soon take
Ugh rank among the Lyceums OF
ther countries, and that II will be.
ome a center OF immense activity
nd usefulness. the influence OF which
IL be incalculable.