Evening star., 1917-01-21


new American Women's Club
on Hertford street, Mayfafr-in
q other words, in the very center
Of swelldom-the other day. was an
event of real importance and consider
able significance. 1t means several
things. Up to now, in spite Of the
prominent part women from the United
States are playing in many branches OF
the national life of this country, not
only in the great world" Of society,
but in equally important If less lofty
circles. they never until now have had
a meeting place really identified with
them as Americans.
Even the Society of American Women
in London. an organization which has
history of upward of twenty years
and Which, up to noW: W. has been more
tic femininity in this metropolis than
any other social body. has never had
real home The gatherings of Its mem
bers. previous to the war. were con
fined to combined luncheons and recep-
tions a couple Of times year. with
prominent guests of honor. and while
the titled and socially powerful Amer
lean members Of upper tendon. the
Duchess Of Marlborough, Lady Ran
dolph Churchill, viscountess Harcourt
and the rest. were friendly to the So
ciety. they were not actually of It,
The fact that these influential danes
are now members of the Society Of
American Women Is the result Of a rec
ognition on their part of the splendid
philanthropic work which it has car
ried on ever since the war began, as
we'll as. indeed. before 1t.
II IS the war. with its numberiess
appeals to humanity. that has federat-
ed the American women resident in
England. with the result which is found
in their new club. It is truly repre-
sentative. It affiliates the Society of
American Women and the powerful
American women's war relief commit
tee which was formed by the social
elect at the beginning Of the war. and
which resulted. among other things, in
the wonderful American Hospital at
Paignton. With 1t is affiliated. too. the
American women's committee in con-
nection with the United States embas-.
sy. which was formed in the historic
August Of 1914 when London. because
Of the bursting Of war out Of q clear
sky. had some thousands Of stranded
Americana within it's gates, and which
continues to exist to assist women and
children OF American nationality who
may be in distress owing to Armaged-
don.
Tho new club brings into co-opera-
tion for the first time various small
American war and general philan-
thropic organizations which have ex-
them a number of smaller Am1tcan
war hospitals. such as those carried
on by the Hon. Mrs. John Ward. for
merly Jean Reid. only daughter of the
Kings % eauerry: % Mrs. % Trederiek ea Guest, eSs
formerly Miss Amy Phipps. who's mar
tial husband is former treasurer OF
the kings household: Mrs. Robert
Mrs. Chester Beatty and others.
The merging OF all these social and
phflanthropfc American interests in
the new American Women's Club is
due in part to general desire to
avoid Overlapping" in war work and
other kinds of philanthropy. And in
this connection 1t may be stated that
as long as the war lasts. and the hand
OF charitableness finds so much for
itself to do, the latest addition to tho
clubs of the greatest clubland in the
world will be substantially q center of
helpful work.
How much the new club counts from
a social standpoint the names Of some
OF its officers and chief members con-
clusively show. Its honorary president
is Mrs. Walter Hines Page, wife of tho
American ambassador. and the hon.
orary vice president, Mrs. Robert Skim
ner, wife Of the American consul gem
eral Tho Duchess Of Marlborough Is
the chairman Of the clubs phtlan-
thropic committee. The president Of
the club Is Mrs. Curtis Brown, who is
from Buffalo. N Y. The vice president
is Viscountess Harcourt, formerly Miss
Burns of New York, and niece Of the
late Pierpont Morgan. whose husband
has been colonial secretary and held
many other important posts. The sec
ond vice president is Mrs H. c. Hoover,
wife Of the American engineer, who is
the life and soul Of the Belgian relief
scheme.
The American women's new clubhouse
is q luxurious mansion Of i've stories
that formerly was . private residence,