The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-04
A CLUB OF ORIENTAL
WOMEN N AMERICA

Last November there was formed In
New York an organisation known as
the Women's American Oriental
Club" This club. very much after
the order of the Japan Society. with
out the formality of the latter. has
az its object the promotion of unity
and friendship between the japanese,
Chinese and Americans, and 10 purely
social.
I'VE have held five meetings. and
are soon to have another" said one
OF the members in speaking OF the
club. These meetings have been va
ried: at one We brought our sewing.
others have been lectures and :nusi-
cales-whatever seems most naturally
to bring us together. for our purpose
10 to increase the understanding and
unity between the three nations. Mrs.
John Nicolson Is the president, and
was one Of the founders, while Mrs.
Yang, wife of the Chinese consul
general is the vice president for the
Chinese ladies'. and Mrs. Nakamura,
wife Of the Japanese consul. Is vice
president for the Japanese ladies'
There are at present just 100 MEM
beers, all women, and the club has
waiting list. Each must be propos-
ed and elected in order to become a
member. Chinese students at Column
bia may be the invited guests OF the
club, though It has nothing to do with
tho university as an organization"
Tuesday evening. April IS, witnessed
the first evening affair OF the club,
and the first reception. II Is said, ever
given by Chinese women to American
women In New York. This was held
In Earl Hall, Columbia University.
Many of the women were clad In ths
costumes of their own lands Some
Of the Chinese ladies wore the rare
crepes Of their country. made up IN
occidental styles. The oriental jewel
ry was noteworthy; one beautiful
Chinese woman in the receiving line,
gowned In white satin and white tulle
OF latest design, had placed IN her
Jet black hair a thfee-looped bow
knot Of white oriental pearls and
about her throat WAS a necklace Of
matching gems, in double line, with
q pendant also formed of them. Mex.
her was another Chinese lady in pale
blue satin dress OF her native land.
This was en- broidered hot only in silk,
but in pearls thickly clustered ne IT
the throat; from beneath her long
ried out floral pattern in three dr.
ferent colored gems One little Chit
nese lady. in blue satin native cos
tune, had brought her two bright
eyed babies with her. The flowers
on the supper tables, and those ca
ried by the ladies In the reception
line. were pink and white rosebuis
Each guest. both men and women,
wore q small white car on which
April rs, 1915. Earl HALL" And be-
meath was written the name of the
wearer.
After an Introductory speech ma lie
by Mrs. e. Y. Sheng. Mr.. Wang. one
of the prominent Chinese students
at Columbia, sang an excerpt from a
Chinese opera. This was followed by
duet played by two Chinese gentle
men, one performing en- the flute of
his country, and one on the Chinese
violin: the effect of this music was
much that Of the Scotch bagpipes to
the westerner= Two little Chinese
girls sang some Kindergarten songs
In their native tongue. and seemed to
enjoy It quite as much as did the au-
dience. One Of the Chinese ladies
then played piece of occidental
music on the piano. and after this
some Of the young Cinnamon gave
Chinese comedy IN English. during
which the audience WAS requested Il
remember that the row of screens on
the stage would first represent the In
terror of a temple and, afterward, a
street in a village.
Refreshments were later served tn
Hangchow style All items had baen
home made" as one of the Chinese
ladies said by an expert Chinese
cook, and represented the highest do
gree OF Chinese culinary art. Four
different foods were served. but the
Oriental ladies could not tell and spell
the names OF them in English. and
1t was impossible to gather the spell
ing from the pronunciation. Ono,
tinted the color of maple sugar and
equally sweet, was described as be-
ing prepared of steamed rice with
lard (though the taste OF lard was
not Apparently. water lily roots and
chestnuts, This sweetmeat was equal
ed by another that was round in form
and about three inches in diameter,
covered with flax seeds and filled
with a bright-colored swest Two OF
the other items served were pastry
covered. The American custom of ice
cream and lemonade was widely de-
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