Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-05

discovered that on the Pacific coast such
dividing lines as caste were wiped out,
and those who wished d good servant
Ser"ed themselves.
Nearly all California women arc alb
solutely independent of servants. They
dislike the drudgery of homework all the
time and gladly avail themselves of such
aid as they may obtain. But it Is not
a calamity to have the cook leave III
!. hurry. and the lords Of our homes sell
dom suffer hunger on that account. All
California women rejoice in that Oft
told story about Mrs. Victor Metcalf of
Oakland, wife of the former Secretary
of the Navy. Mrs. Metcalf discharged
an impairment cook about D O'Clock on
the evening she was going to entertain
the President and the cabinet at dinner
and with the help of her maids cooked
the banquet herself. After this ordea!
she received her distinguished guests
smilingly and not until after the dinner
was over and its excellence highly praised
did she tell the story of her troubles.
There are hundreds of SUCH women In
highest well as i'll the middle class
of society throughout the west Our
mothers taught US how to perform every
duty which pertains TO home. taught
how TO accomplish these tasks easily
and well. and | think this knowledge
is one of the most invaluable inheritances
a mother can hand down TO her daugh-
tiers.
Il cannot understand why such duties
interfere with the mission of the most
modern woman. There seems to be room
for all sorts of accomplishments, If time
is well garnered. In my home city o..
Modesto we have number of clubs. one.
the Woman's Improvement Club. has ac-
complished such excellent results that l
feel justified in holding 1t up for
~, ayk C 20
our credit and numberless other labors
just as useful but not SO attractive III
the light OF the general uplift now so
universal. The parks were turned oveH
TO our clubs by the city and set to
work to change them from waste places
into beauty spots and breathing spaces OF
unfailing attractiveness. Every year We
give a fiesta for our working fund. Each
year we vary the program, but to say
that in our small city and with only Il
few days to labor that We clear from
5000 to $1,000 shows that we work to
good account. One year we had an anna
teur circus. Our California girls are
superb equeStrienneS, and they performed
envious. We have theatricals, flower
shows, dainty luncheons. everything which
would turn an honest penny for our
cause. With our fund each year We add
to our tree and flower stock and put new
features in our parks. They are glorious
now, and really one of the proud boasts
and the main attraction of our city. The
women Of Modesto who have done all
this have never neglected any home duty.
Clubs are recreation and not an occupa-
tion in our part Of the world
n
Il am one of those to whom needle
work and fine sewing appeals as one
of the most womanly and useful accom-
plishments. Fine sewing Is so little con-
sidered in these busy days that / feel
impelled to enter plea for the return
of my sex TO It's cultivation y woman
who can sew her own fine clothes is the
most independent creature in the uni
verse. The one who can show the ex-
quisite needleFook which SlsS the oGdi-