Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-01
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1915
The New Century Club.

Yesterday was the 25,h anniversary
of the opening Of the New Century Club
building in this city, and its builders can
be congratulated on a quarter of CEN
sury of usefulness to the community.
II WAS the fourth club house TO be erected
in the country, and for Wilmington 1t
was the first building where social events
Of private and public or semi-public char
acter might be held within the residence
portion OF the city and amid attractive
surroundings II has proved successful
business venture, and some citizens who
thought the women would not be able to
manage so large a financial venture, and
that eventually they might acquire it
for amusement purposes, we're dlsap-
pointed. Ii is firmly established lnstitu-
ton, likely TO keep its place in our civic
Iie for many generations to come.
Twenty-Five years of existence gives
perspective, and the New Century Club,
in reality 20 years old, has held place
In the public eye ever since the erection Of
its club home. The building has been
graciously loaned for many public meet
ings, and TO the club itself many OF the
good things OF the city and State owe
their beginnings. For one thing, the
Wilmington Club proved the inspiration
for the formation OF others In the State,
until now there are about 27-and wher-
ever there is woman's clob, there Is an
uplifting force in the community. To
the New Century Club the State owes
Its travelling libraries. Ever since its
beginning keen interest has been taken
in the public schools, and the best pos
siblc influences were exertCd with an
almost hopeless situation as regards the
calibre of the local Boards of Education.
The persistence OF the Century Club IN
this direction has been most admirable,
ana has never relaxed To the Century
Club goes the credit OF establishing play
grounds for the city OF Wilmington, and,
amid many other achievements which
might be cited, there stands out gloriously
the Women's College OF Delaware, one of
the finest institutions for which our
General Assembly ever appropriated
money. This was accomplished by the
State Federation OF Women Clubs, with
what might be called g. leading co-opera-
ton on the part Of the Wilmington club.
1t was perfectly legitimate, too, that the
Wilmington club should have assumed the
brunt OF the work for the college, as the
city will send more students there than
any other section Of our State.
And now, having expressed a sincere
admiration and appreciation for splendid
service on the part of the New Century
Club, we cannot help wondering why
this organization has been SO ineffective
In respect OF the most important domestic
problem Of the high cost OF living, that
has absorbed our attention and our in
comes for the past few years. And in |
Wilmington If has been more acute than |
anywhere else, for here marke. prices |
are more ex0rbitant than they are in other |
places. Ii is said the Century Club did |
hold meeting, once, TO consider this |
problem, but it IS not meetings that will |
meet this condition. The need is action, !.
concerted action, to bring results. Here |
we have club of 600 women, with an /
other womans club IN the city, and sew |
eral existing in suburbs, all undoubtedly /
ready TO respond to any call that might be |
made by the mother club of the State.
If 600 women would let few OF their /
number make out a list Of staple foods
particularly those purchased in our street |
markets-set a top price for each article, |
and then absolutely refuse to pay any
more, down would come the prices. Re-
fuse to pay more than so cents per pound
for butter, and the 600 members of the
Century Club, 200 of the Washington
Heights Club, and the Bellefoute Civic,
Gordon Heights, New Castle, Hillcrest /
and Delaware City Clubs, every club
woman pledging herself TO influence five
other women TO do the same thing, and
then see if you would not bring results
IL lower prices. Ii the market people .
should be compelled to take home their /
produce for two or three market days in !
succession they would be glad enough to
accept proper price.
II may be little hard to do without
the usual quantity of butter and eggs
and other things for a week or two, or
even longer, but it will bring the results,
and it VIII pay tremendously to do without
for while, in order to accomplish !
lasting good If the Century Club should
start crusade like this, it would be q
browning achievement of its r ding out |