Evening star., 1938-06-12

as well as tile ldQlcS Ol Iile cdIlUdSSy
staff. Meetings have been held
throughout the winter and although
the object of raising money has been
kept steadily in mind, the social side
has not been neglected. Several OF
the meetings have been for social
purposes only.
Our business meetings are con-
Quoted in English" Mrs. Y. S. Leong,
chairman of publicity, said. That is
because some of the members speak
one dialect and some another Most
of the people here are from the vi
cinity of Canton and speak a Can
tonese dialect Some of the others
speak Mandarin Chinese, but English
is the common~language in which we
can all get together"
Five Benefits Given.
During the winter, two highly edu-
Gated young Chinese women have
visited Washington, Miss Hilda Yen,
niece of the former Ambassador to
the United States, and Dr.. Roberta
Ma, a graduate of Texas University
and teacher of plant physiology in
Sun Vat Sen University in Canton.
Both have spoken before American
Women's Clubs and Chinese groups as
well. But we do not need to have
speakers come to tell us of conditions
in China" one of the memters in
sisted. I'VE know all about them"
How well the Chinese Woman's As
sociation has succeeded can be seen
by the fact that since the organiza-
ton was started $4,000 has been
raised for war relief. This has been
done by means of five benefits. The
first was a bazaar in the early fall.
. This was followed by dinner. A
sale took place in December and a
card party was held at the Shoreham
early this year. The most recent
benefit was held three weeks ago at
Twin Oaks, the home of the Chinese
Ambassador. One of the principal
attractions at this event was the
Lion dance" performed by nine young
women of the Chinese Women's Pa
triotic League of New York, who came
to Washington especially for this
purpose. All of these benefits have
been carefully planned and in the
planning all of the members of the
group have had their share.
In recent letter, sent to the Wash
ington group by Nine. Chang Kai-
shek, it was suggested that the over
seas women concentrate on one par
ticular charity, the care of children
left. destitute by the war. She pointed
out that for $40 q Chinese child can
be fed and educated for one year.
1t is probable that. this, suggestion
will be followed In the future. Mime.
Chang Ksi-shek has keen appreci-
alton of the value of organized groups
of women and has done much to en-
courage their efforts both in this coun-
try and in China. Her belief in the
quality and progress of women has
been stated in book, written by
Dr. Ma.
Learned and able women share
equally with men the responsibilities
of public life," she states, land so
far as women have the enthusiasm and
other qualities for public service, they
can WELD increasing influence on. the
destiny of the country. What is i'm
portant is that women should for
mulate their own ideas"
Organizations Encouraged.
The Occidental concept of the
Chinese woman is that she keeps
within her four walls, but the fact
is that women's clubs have been -four
ishing in China for some years. The
''new" spirit that has been animat-
ing the country has encouraged the
formation of many organizations.
Some of this urge for organization
can be traced to the influence Of the
who have demonstrated
the advantage of getting together, and
some Of it is the result of the OBJ
servations of the Chinese girls who
have been educated in American uni
versities and have seen American clubs |
in operation Although relief is the
dominating theme among the Chinese
Women's Clubs at the present time,
the study of child welfare and many
other subjects has occupied their at
tention in the past.
They have book clubs. music clubs
and large clubs with specialized Sec
tions patterned after the American
model. In Honolulu there Is Chi
nese University Women's Club, where
such subjects as music, international
problems, government and art are
studied and discussed. The member |
ship consists of women with college |
many Of whom are profess
sional women, nurses, teachers and |
there are two Chinese women doctors |
who are members and who, incidently,
practice European not Chinese medi-
cine.
1--WE are well organized" DR.. Roberta
Ma said in describing the women's |
clubs of China. There are two large |
clubs that have branches all over the |
country. They are the National Wom-
Ems Relief and the International Wom- |
ems Club. The Y. w. C. A. is active
everywhere and the program is similar
to that carried on in other countries.
Social work and studies are the prin-
cipal activities of the National Wom-
ems Relief, which has a membership
Of $500 in Hong Kong alone. The
International Women's Club has as
one Of its main objectives the spread
ing Of good will"
Miss Yoeh E. Wang, founder of the
local Chinese Women's Association.
Is the president of the group. Other
officers are: Mrs. z. T. Ing, vice presi-
dent; Mrs. P. Y. Ho, treasurer; Mrs. /
J. Y. Yee, secretary; Mrs Y. s. Leong,
publicity chairman, and Mrs. Choy
Wy, social chairman
X X X 49, l.
Helen Orr Watson, recently elected
registrar of the District of Columbia
Branch of the League of American
Pen Women, will review her new
,ook, Chance" the story Of homing
pigeon. at the book chat tomorrow
evening at 8 pm. at the Takorna Park
Library. She will be introduced by
Bertha Shanks Chaney, also a mem
Der Of the District of Columbia
Branch of the Pen Women ond a |