The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-10-20
Chinese BECOME
SOCIAL PIONEERS
Men and Women Form Good Fell
loWship. Club Together Under
Y. w. C. A. Leadership.


The Good Fellowship Club has made |
its appearance in society in Hangchow, |
China. ~
1t began. with the desire of pro-
gressive young Chinese doctor to give
his compatriots, especially the Chris
tians, some healthful form of social in
tercourse.
Channels for a good, clean, social
life among Chinese people are very
limited. Until recently becoming a
Christian often meant cutting oneself
| off from ones friends and relatives,
| also from feast days and festivals.
! As for Joint meetings Of men and wom-
+, en--well, such a thing was never heard
| of in decent society.
The young doctors plan of having
| a club where men and their wives
might come together to enjoy good
time with each other was discouraged
| and shifted at. However, a few people
| agreed to be pioneers in the cause Of
social intercourse, and Y. W. c. A. sec
retaries agreed to help make the club
a success.
At first the meetings of the club
were laughed at by outsiders and the
whole affair considered a joke. How
ever, the members kept on meeting,
first at one house and then at another
Soon the men got over the feeling of
strangeness at starting out with their
wives on Tuesday evening for a
| frso ho hnnoy tn
enjoy the outing ana 30 take part in
: the discussions-an intelligent part,
too-much 70 the surprise of their hus-
i bands
The membership grew. The clubs
fame began to spread. At first the dis
$ cussons of the club were conducted in
! English. Soon it became necessary
: for them to be carried on in Chinese
a so that more of the women could un
derstand and take part. Many Of tho
scoffers began to apply for admission
2 The members began INDUCING in muci
e friendly chatting and occasionally for
S got their dignity to play jokes on on'
5 another Finally 1t became so large
! that it had TO be divided into two sec
tons, which met separately tire
Tuesday evenings in the month and OF
the fourth Tuesday met together for
joint session, with q special program
Students just returned from Amer
can and German colleges, an old BUD
dhst scholar who is particularly inter
estcd in the discussion on Buddhist
and Christianity, merchants, railroa
1t and government officials compose tn
u mems side of the room. The wOme
are still bit shy about talking i
front Of so many people, but many {
them show signs of great eXecutiH
ability and power of leadership. The
are all well poised, clear thinking Ind
viduals. who will have a great inf
ence on China's future. They discus
. among themselves group meetings
. their various churches, the lack
amusements for Chinese women, soci
= service work, subscription lists for Il
le, orphanage, cake making, types
IS stoves, baby diets, the latest engag
ir. ment and other topics such as OF
is would hear discussed by q group
* women gathered together any place
on America.
The social part of the evening is q
On over to games, which at fl
s. astound the sober Chinese gentleme
but which they take up with great &c
after the first evening. And Tho
wives enjoy it just as greatly.
Real American picnics are the late
thing which the club has tried, a
- they are a great success. a Christm
play is being planned now.