The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-12-26
CHINESE BECOME
SOCIAL PIONEERS
Men and Women Form Good Fet-
Iowsh;a Club Together Under !
Y. W. C. A. Leadership.


The Good Fellowship Club has made
Its appearance IN society in HanschOw.
China.
II began with the desire OF pros
sressive. young Chinese doctor to give,
his compatriots. especially the Chris.
tians, some healthfuf form Of social in
terc0urse.
Channels for good. clean, social
life among Chinese people are very
limited. Until recently becoming q
Christian. often meant cutting s5teSelf
Off from ones friends and relatives
also from feast days and festivals.
AS for joint meetings of men and Wont
en-well. such thing was never heard
Of In decent society.
The young doctoyfs plan Of having
q club where men and their wives
might come together to enjoy n good
time with each other was discouraged
and shifted at. However, few people
agreed to be pioneers In the cause of
social intercourse, andy. w. C. A. Sec
rctaries agreed to help make the club
q success
At first the meetings Of the club
were laughed at by outsiders and tire
whole affair considered joke. How
ever. the rnsmbers kept on meeting
first at oae house and then at sstpshef.
Soon the men got over the feeling AZ
strangeness at starting out WITH their
wives on Tuesday evening Sfor Q
friends home. The women began 20
enjoy the outing aud to take par< b
the dtscussions--an intelligent part.
too-much to the surprise Of their bus-
bands.
The membership grew. The clubs
frame began tn spread At frst the dis.
cussions Of the Club we're conducted IN
English. Soon IT Daeame necessary
for them to be carried on In Chinese
80 That more of the women could I'M
derstand and take part. Many Of the
scof7ers hogan to apply for admission.
The members began INDUCING In much
friendly chatting and occasionally for
got their dignity TO play JOKES on one
another. Finally Il became SO large
that II had to be divided, into two sec-
tons. which met separately three
Tuesday evenings IN the month and on
the fourth Tuesday met together for
Joint session, with "a special program.
Students just returned from Ameri-
ear and German colleges, an old bud
dhist scholar who isparficulariy inter.
ested In the discussion Buddhism
and Christianity, merchants, railroad
and government officials compose the
mems side or the room. The women
are still bit shy about talking In
front Of so many people, but many OF
them show signs of great executive
ability and power Of leadership They
are all well poised, clear thinking indl-
viduals. who will have great infiu-
ence on ChIna's future. They discuss
among themselves group meetings In
their various churches. the lack OF
smukements for Chinese women, social
service work, subscription lists Tor the
orphanage. cake maxine. types tcf
stoves, baby diets, the latest efEs.--e-
rEens and dther topics such az one
would hear discussed by a group Of
women gathered together any place in
America.
The social part Of the evening is civ
en- over to games. which AT first
assound the sober Chinese gentlemen,
hut which they take up with gprat zest
after the FIRST ,vening. And heir
wives enjoy II just as greatly.
Real American picnics are the is'est
thing which the clnb has tried. and
they are great Euccesx. A Christmas
plat Is being planned now.