The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 28, 1901, Page 2

THE SUNDAY CALL. " yestsays | HomeTijee T yorsays home J}ife? Does clutb life unfit .a .nothing more nor less than 2 farce. There —this complaint that woman’s club woman for home life? |Gan a married is something repulsive in the attitude of life is unfitting her for home life—ii X woman be an entbusiasity> elubwoman and at the same time g really home loving woman? It does not/seem possible to harmopize these oppasing elements. For the bachelor girl clul) life may be 2 relief from ennui, an es¢ape valve for surplus energy and a stim ulys -warding off an epgrossment of' self, § it to the mar- ried .woman, with the cares of home and family, the exactions of o ubs make too serlous an inroad upon her time. Women of extreme W-eajth are too busily occupied by social ei res in the way of entertaining and hbeing entertained to devote time to such affzi rs, heénce it is that they devolve on thoge who may be termed a second layer of the social strata, to fraternize through of:ganizations for the promulgation of viewy:.and doctrines. Such women ave generally possessed of goed, comfottable hom but are not biessed with the surplus twealth that jus- tifies the indulgence of the luxury of a, housekeeper, conseguently have a multi- tude of dutles, many of which must be sacrificed when the club demands appeal to them. In a home wheve there are children, no matter how competent or devoted the nurse or governess mayi be; there are odds and -.epds of duties that cannot be rele- gated to them and are distinctly the prov- ince of the mother. The-meetings aof clubs are generally held in.the midday hour, just at.the time when the mistress of the bouse should be su- perintepding the household’s require- ments. A woman camnot attend to her home if her mind is épgrossed by other affairs. ‘Her anxiety to dress and be pres- ent at the meeting at the designated hour precludes all thought of personal super- vision and the servants are generally told as magame makes a hasty exit to do the best -they can, as msidame must attend an important club meating. The jpeeting .over the supvosedly gra- cious thing to do is to separate into-pairs and quartets and repair to sbme near-by cafe to discuss over a luncheon the varl- ous propositions made and more especially to criticize the aims, ambitions, eccen- tricities and personalities of the various members. The return home finds my lady too fatigued- to even talk and the luncheon having appeased her appetite, she finds it a bore to preside at dinner and to en- tertain her own home circle. I do not think a man ever approves of a wife belonging to a club. He may treat the fad with pitying indulgence, while {deploring the fact of his wife's enthusi- asm. In fact a married man is generally apt to make no secret of his antagonism. It may be here advanced that a man en- jovs hls own clubs, which is very true, but 2 man maXes his club affiliations sub- servient to his business, and he is never ruled by its exactions, as is the case with a woman. A club is a relaxation for a man, but to a woman it is a most serious problem. A man’s club, too, is often a refuge from the depression of a home at- masphere. That club life is wearing on a woman’s nerves cannot be refuted. A woman is too highly pitched nervously to stand the strain and excitement. The convention of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington leaves behind them a contingent of ner- vous wrecks that are the despair of hus- bands and the gloating delight of the family physician. A few years ago, during one of these conyentions, a lady whom I knew to be a lady—at least she was a very charming one before she linked her fate with the fighting daughters of fighting sires—gave directions at the entrance that any mes- sages coming for her were to be deliv- ered at once. During the home stretch of a theated debate several telegrams were received which were delivered as reguested. The lady rose and courteously ged to be excused, whereupon one of the presiding officers emphatically for- bade her departure. The lady flushed indignantly and’ said that she must go. (If my memory is not at fault, it was a matter of illneds at home; or,-at any rate, an important mission.) However, the officer barred her way and when the lady endeavored to pass out the official so far forgot herself as to slap her a re- sounding blow on the face. The lady stopped long enough to write out her resignation, amd in that vastvassemblage of supposedly cultured women there were a few who actually indorsed the official’s actions, but in. the interest of refined womanhood it is gratifying to know that the majority wese disgusted. The Congress of Mathers also gave an exhibition in Washington not long ago, which was about as farcical a perform- ance as one would wish to witness. The mothers who seemed to know so much about babies and their management were in the main antigue spinsters, child- less married women and widows, who had never kuown the cares of maternity. They descapted at length on hew babies shouid be treated aud children managed. They learuedly discowrsed of hygiene and ‘mi- ‘cxobes and such aggravations; but a good old-fashioned black mammy could have taught the whele conclave more about babies in ten minutes than they had @leaned from classics in ten years. During the vecent proceedings in New York for the election of a president of the Professional Woman's League the name of beautiful Amelia Bingham was pro- posed. There was some talk of building a clubhouse. Mrs. Bingham's hushand is & very successful stocic broker, while his wife is no less successful as theatrical manager and actress, and no woman on the New York stage holds a warmer spot in the bearts of the public. Mrs. Bing- ham graciously offered her owa and her -husband’s services to aid any projeet. The mement her back was turned her kindly intentions were construed as a de- sire to profit by any investment that the club might make. Mrs. Bingham imme- diately declined the nomination for the presidency, and promptly resigned from the membership of the club, As she is well beloved by the profession, her resig- mation was deeply regretted by the ma- jority. Fhe political clubs whose records gare the womari in polities, save when thehus- band, son or brother is ambitious for po- al preferment; then she should un- derstand perfectly the workings of polit- ical machinery, where a tactful word or a shrewd suggéstion may be of incalcula- ble benefit: g The wives of the statesmen of Wash- ington are well equipped with a surpris- ing ‘knowledge of statecraft, but these la- dies have a mare delicate s of making their influence felt than by noisily venti lating their opinions. The weman of in- significant politieal clubs are often ab- surdly aggressive. even though having nothing at stake or nothing to gain. As a distinguished general of the Civil War remarked, ‘“That if the women did the fighting, we would never have any peace.” Run the gamut.of women's clubs—the literary, the social, the political and the fighting daughiers—and the history they have recorded themselyes of bitter strug- gles for supremacy by the ambitious ones is ‘the best conclusive argument against their wisdom. The jealousies and heart- burnings incident upon the election of of- ficers would be pitiable were it not so miserably useless. To hold such a posi- tion entails a multiplicity of duties, an ex- tensive correspondence, the sacrifice of time and a disregard of the demands of home. Club life, or in fact any contact with the outside world in a business way, has & tendency to rob a woman of a certain ip- definable trait that js her most winning chaym. A hardening process, unperceived by herself, slowly and surely settles around her. - Northern women are more energetic in the matter of clubs than women of the South. Why? It would be hard to say, unless it be the result of environment, and the more energetic temperament invidious to a colder climate. ‘Members of women’syclubs bring upon themeelves ridicule by the extremes to which they carry their prejudices. Think of a club seeking to taboo the eating of iceeream on Sunday, as in a New Jersey town, while in another the spinsters were harrowed in their feelings by the sight of the village beaus and bhelles walking to church together and casting loverlike glances, for which they wished to indict naughty Cupid for such awful misde- meanor. In Brooklyn, where many of the hand- some homes have beautiful window jardi- nieres, one clubite unfortunately passed just as a small flower pot fell from the window above. She was not hurt, and a servant soon removed the stains from her clothipg. But Miss or Mrs. Club could not -forgive”the offending flower pot, so the club sifters held an indignation meet- ing, wherein a resolution was passed de- nouncing window gardens and framing a petition to the powers that be to the ef- fect that an ordinance be issued abolish- ing the beautiful window plants. And so it is. The club woman devoted to club life becomes too aggressive. In her nervous enthusiasm she springs something startling and hysterical on the publie, and were the country governed by the graduates of these organizations it would result in a war of factions more nerve-racking and peace-destfoying than history has yet recorded. Let the men steer the bark of statecraft while the woman rules the home. There is where in childhood the men of the fu- ture: learn the best and noblest lessons from the loving mother, and assuredly not from the habitues of women's clubs. KATE THYSON MARR. L o Jhe Gibson Sirl. & - i *HE Steel-Engraving Lady sat by the fl— open casement, upon which rested one slender arm. Her drapery sleeve fell back, revealing the ala- baster whiteness of her hand and wrist. Her glossy, abundant hair was smoothiv drawn over her ears, and one rose nestled in the coil of her dark locks. Suddenly a heavy step was heard upon the stair. A slight blush mantled the Steel-Engraving Lady’'s cheek. “Can. that be Reginald?” she said. The door flew open and on the threshold * stood the Gibson Girl. “Excuse me for dropping in upon you,” she said, with 2 slight nod, tossing a club down upon the sofa near by. see, 1 've heen appainted to write a on Extinct Types, and I am anxious to scrape acquaintance with youw.” The Steel-Engraving Lady bowed a trifle stiffly. “Won’t you be seated?’ she said, with dignity. The Gibsen Girl dropped into a low chair and crossed one knee over the oth- er; then she praceeded to inspect the room, whistiing meanwhile a snatch from the last comic opera. $he wore a short skirt and heavy square-toed shoes, a man- nish gollar, cravat and vest, and a broad- h:’(limnled felt hat, tipped jauntily upon one side. She stared quite fixedly at the fair occu- pant of the apartment, who could with difiiculty conceal her evident annoyance. “Dear me! Youre just as slender and ethereal as any of your pictures,” she re- marked speculatively.” “You need fresh air and exercise; and isee the color of my hands and face heside your own.” The Steel-lygraving Lady glanced at her vis-a-vis and shrugged her shoulders. 8 4l e el Ty el e When the sun set the Steel-Engraving Lady might have been seen again seated beside the open casement. Her taper fin- gers lightly touched the strings of her gui- tar as she hummed a low lullaby. Once more she heard a step upon the stair, and once again the color mantled her damask cheek, and she murmured ‘‘Reginald.” A tall and ardent figure came swiftly toward her. He dropped upon ene knee, as if to pay due homage to his fair one, and, rais- iug her white hand to his lips, whispered: “My queen, my lady love.” And at this moment the Gibson Girl was seated upon a fence, swinging her heavy boots, while an athletic youth beside her busied himself with filling a corn-cob pipe. “I say, Joe,” she said, with friendly accent, “just you hop dewn and stand in front of me to keep the wind off, while I light this pipe.” b A BT T S R And the night breeze sprang up and murmured: “Hail the new woman! Be- hold! she comes apace! Woman, once man’s superior, now his equal Picknor in the July Atlantic. —Caroline | Kate Tinl yse n Marrl S club life for women l;:,‘mical to the chronicled in the dafly journal are often HIS clamor against the club woeman MFS a w a Bl H aPP"’n gto n a all seems go absurd to one who real- ly knows club life as it is. It is easy enough for any one outside of clubs to theorize about them. We can -al- ways work ourselves into a fright over any imaginary danger. In the 'end the danger usually disappears, or is found to he of smail account after all. So with club life. People to whom it is still little kpown, by whom it is not understood, have set theroselves to argue on how un- fortunate it wouvld be if woman should be- come so engrossed in club life that she could negiect the best thing she has— whieh is her home. Thinking about it, still theorizing, they have come to say that the dreaded thing has happened, that she is already neglecting her home. Look over the club women you know. Do you find them leaving neglected chil- aren and hushands at home while they go to a club meeting? If any of them do would they not have done the same thing if they had never seen a club and if they were going to shop or to attend the the- ater instead? c 1 will tell you what I know of clu women. I know them as strong, tender mothers, as loyal and devfted wives. I know them as the best wives and mothers there are, taken as'a class, because they are the best trained women. For there is no question about the training that club life is to a woman. The keynote of club life is, broadening. There- in lies the secret of its benefit. Woman's life as it has been in the past has been of a nature to ‘hinder this pro- cess. We were not less capable than men or less ambitious, but we were obliged to be narrow. Women of the past spent most of their lives within four walls. An article in the July Atlantic Monthly gives a good idea of the New England woman’s life in early years, and that will stand very well as a type for woman in general. She “looked well to the ways of the household,” as she thought. In reality was she doing. that? She was staying at home all day long. She was caring for her family in material ways. 3ut mentally—what did she have to give them? Chopping wood, cleaning cupboards, baking bread—this was the daily round, from sunup to sundown. Was this, in the compietest sense, “looking well to the ways of the household?” It certainly was, according to the best of that woman's belief. But now that the world is growing older it is learning more. We have come to believe that cleaning and baking and nursing are not all a homemaker's duties. When the hushand of the past day came home, ‘what had his wife to offer him? What %but those material things. which were the result of her day’s labor? Had she refreshment for his mind, in tactful and intelligent conversation? No, for the poor thing had nothing to talk about. “The yeast didn’t rise well to-day.” “The baby broke his rattle.” These and such as these were the items of news which she had to offer. After they were delivered conversation lagged. Now what is the difference between this type of the past and the so-called ‘“new” club woman of to-day? The woman who attends a club is broadened. Let me repeat, that is the keynote. She comes in contact with other women; she sees other points of view than her own, from which she has been looking at the world for so many years. She discusses with others the questions which she used to face alone, trying to work out their solution by herself. This was a slow and a painful and too often an unsuccessful proce: Now see how directly her home life Is the gainer by the mew process. First, in the rearing of children. In old days it was the custom to bring up children without any idea, as now, of the matter being a science, I may almost say a fine art. As a result, both parents and chil- dren suffered. Nowadays we are learning far more about young minds, their tendencies, their traininz. They are little gardens for the mother, the gardener, to plant and to no Does a gardener succeed best by working entirely alone, attempting to rear his plants without regard to the ex- perience and knowledge of any gardener but himself? No. Gardeners know that by comparing notes they may improve their resuits, for the experience of the many is greater than the experience of the one. Agsin, in matters pertaining to the home beautiful. Discussfon helps. In some clubs house decoration is made a matter of study. How much lovelier, then, must the homes of these women be, these women who have spent some time and thought together over the ways of making their homes more beautiful for the enjoyment of the husband and chil- dren who share them. In all other matters relating to the bet- tering of homes women are constantly learning as a result of club life. Contact, discussion, the comparing of notes—these are the means of the learning, To be sure there are other things studied in clubs. Social science, literature,.art— and you may say that these have no use in the home life. But have they not? Most men know something of them, do they not? And why should they not be able to talk them over at home? Why should they seek other men always for conversation relating to these broader topics? If a wife can offer interest and understanding in such matters, will not the home be more complete, and therefore will not the hus- band enjoy his time spent in it far mote n formerly? I heard a man say the other day that wbman is progressing so fast in education that it will not be long before she out- strips man in the race. I believe that as she progresses men will come to admire her trained mind more and more, and that they will seek educaied women. This means clup women, for they are tne ones who study. As for the complaints that are repeat- edly being made that club life causes wrangling, I want to say that I believe them to be baseless. Women of true x3- finement do not wrangle, and refinement is the thing cultivated by club lfe. Again, it is often said that club women have no time for home. I do not know of any who stay away from their homes on account of their clubs. They would prob- ably be calling if they were not meeting their friends in another way. Women are brighter and sunnier and better homemakers, I firmly believe, be- cause of the contact with others that club life gives them. : . MRS, W, B. HARRINGTON, !