The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-07-23
This Won1an's Club, Literary and Useful Too,
One of the Oldest in the District of Columbia
Excelsior Members Are Active
Participants In Wide Range
Of Cultural, Social, and Civic
Interests.

interests.
A club, like a person, may b.
both literary and useful.
The Excelsior Literary Climb, il
addition to its study of literary top
les. was an dctiDe pprker for q
minimum wage lam, mas a sup.
porter Of the egg boycott, and non
is lending its aid to exterminatina
flies, as well; as to cultural pur.
suits.
This club, one of the oldest in
the District, is an influential MEM
Der of the District Federation of
Women's Clubs.
By J. r. HILDEBRAND.
Among the pioneer women's clubs
Of the District stands the Excelsior
Literary Club. orsanized in 1ss7. when
only the KINDERGARTEN Club, the w.
c. T. u, and the Woman's National
Press Association had blazed the way
In Washington toward women's, or
CARNATIONS
Primarily literary club, this or
ganization has maintained the pur-
pose for which II was formed. and
also has reached out into other felds
of community EFFORT II gave ftsk
support TO the agitation for, the pres
ent eight-hour Law, II Joined m the
campaign for a reduction Of the
price of eggs. II united with other
clubwomen in working for Juvenile
court reforms; 1t co-operates with
the Twentieth Century Club In the
distribution of milk bulletins, and
1t does not ind literature and an
antf-hy Campaign too far removed to
share in its activities.
Waiting List Is Long.
The club was formed at the home
Of Mrs N. J. Frear as a reading
club, but 1t soon developed into
club for literary study. The MEM
bership Is limited to nfty. and the
waiting list always has been large.
Meetings are held each Tuesday from
Octoper to May. inclusive. at the
The present Officers of the club are
Mrs. j. Edison Briggs, President; Mrs.
u. l.. Norriss first vice president,
Miss Mamie. Culley. second vice
president; Mrs. Lemuel Warner. third
vice president: Mrs. A. r. Tracy, re-
cording secretary: Mrs. Thomas Rob
tnson, corresponding secretary; Mrs-
Sallie Price Ferren, treasurer; Mrs
Grace II. Daish. press correspondent,
Mrs- Julia widows Webb. director
to federation. and Mrs E. Ide Mullen
chairman Of flower committee
For the first five years of the
clubs existence. American authors
were studied. Then a general survey
of English literature was under
taken This was followed BY sfmi--
lar STUDY of the literature of other
foreign lands. Interspersed with this
study was q course In current events
viii Study Symbolism.
Last season the club studied the
literature OF Scotland. For the
coming winter the general subject
of symbolism in literature will be re-
viewed. After a business meeting,
at which vacation experiences also
will be related bv members. the
Symbolic Stgniflcance or the seven
wonders of the world will be taken
I'D. one at each meeting. Then the
seven wise men of Greece will be
studied. The meaning of the seven
golden candlesticks of Revelation
will be interpreted. while the SYM
bolism of color. the symbolism Of
the twelve labors." and the SYM
bolism in such dramas as The Chan
tecler." The Blue Bird" The
Pigeon" and similar plays VIII be
reviewed. Even the symbols OF
luck. such as the swastika. viii be
explained bv members who have
made a study along these lines
Three living members Of the club
have been presidents of the District
Federation of Women's Clubs. These
are Mrs. Ellis Logan, now president
of the federation; Mrs. T. Finney
Engle, and Mrs. Carrie Kent. Mrs.
Charles Pepper, who died recently.
also was a member Of the Excelsior
Club. and was a president OF the
federation.
During the coming winter the club,
in addition to Its literary study, win
continue its cooperation with the
federation along any lines OF COM
munity Improvement or of civic bet
terment the federation undertakes.
A notable occasion in the history
Of the club was the banquet In cele-
bration Of Its twenty-fifth anniver-
sary. held two years ago.