The San Francisco call., 1910-07-09

wv ing In regard 10 women ana
their rights. would it be a
feasible plan for women to have down
town clubs, with all the comforts,
warmth and luxuries of mems clubs,
open at night? Would it not destroy
utterly the home life and atmosphere
that is every mans due after a busy
day in the world of men? Or would it
tend to make women broader. more in
teresting, in touch with the game of
life and so more companionable. with
dearly priced luxury?
There is a coterie of young married
women in this city who are agitating
the question and are anxious to estab-
Iish one or two clubs of the sort where
women, married or single, can drop in
for a couple of hours at night and en-
joy a thorough relaxation. They claim
that it would solve the matrimonial
problem of today, and while giving
their husbands the range of their own
homes at nights or their clubs, should
they prefer, also gives to them like
liberty of action, with nothing but
beneficial results.
But would the results be beneficial?
Granted that a woman needs change
of thought after busy home day,
club is scarcely the best place to get it,.
For most of the women who would seek
its shelter for precisely the same reason
would be leading just as narrowing
lives as she. and would have little in
tellectual food to give in exchange be-
yond the usual string OF domestic woes.
While a few repetitions OF the trouble
of getting ready would prove interest
ing enough. by the time the nightly
program would begin to pail hubby
would have begun to revel in his new
found bachelor freedom. The first two
or three evenings might go hard on
him, poor fellow. but after that he'd
manage to kill time at the thousand
And while he might lament his cozy
home and the books and the flowers
and the music. he'd soon grow consoled
and begin to find the club chairs softer
and more comfortable. the men all de-
cent chaps. the liquors good and the
library 10 per cent better than his little
struggling home one.
1t would be the women who would
suffer in the end. The first taste of
freedom and breadth of view and the
feeling of independence would never
make up for the sacrifice in the end and
Iii - 101A e
Home life must be nurtured and made
bright to hold man. There are too
many counter attractions in this ad-
vanced era, and when a woman assumes
the responsibilities of welded bliss she
might as well resign herself TO the
making of her four walls her world
and strive to make it the best world
within her capabilities. Once she mar
.ries that is her part. just as the wage
earning is the mans, though women
no longer are willing to concede this
point.
These ideas were suggested to me
by a remark made by prominent local
clubwoman the other day. Mrs. Lehman
Blum. who is herself the mother of two
dear little boys. and years of age.
Women do not altogether have
square deal in this world" she said.
I'VE are just as capable of enjoying
the good things of life as men. and
here we are always relegated to the
background If 1 had my way every
city would have its club for women of
the middle classes, a place where they
could go evenings to enjoy a little quiet
reading, a game of cards or a couple
of hours chat. If a man has the free
dom of club at night SO should a
woman.
The saying gave me food for much
thought. particularly the emphasis
placed on the term middle class, and
1 brought the subject up to a bride
of IA months standing. To my sur
prise she agreed with Mrs Blum abso-
iutely.
Yes, I do. She knows what she is
talking about. 1t is all right for the
wealthy women. the women of the alb
solute easy class" she argued in jus
tif1cation of her point They have
change of thought during the day:
they are not tied down to the manual
care of house and, If they have them.
the personal superintendent of chill
dren. No woman of brains was meant
for the dishpan. You could pay per-
son, who couldn't even write her name,
to do that for you If you had the