107

A WORD
WITH THE WOMEN

(By Elia W Peattie)

Next Friday at the department of Current
Literature of the Woman's club,
Mrs. Francis M Ford will read a paper
on 'Current Sociological Literature."
This department, of which Mrs. Wegla
H H. Tracy is leader, meets at 3:45.

There is a funny story of a London
club woman who, when reading Macbeth,
paused in confusion and begged
that she might substitute a word. The
president gave permission, and she read
with a clear conscience, "Out, hateful
spot." Yet they do say the London women
are the most aggressive of new women.
Certainly, in some directions, the
women have temerity enough. They
have at present, so London letters say,
an affectation of masculine attire which
quite passes anything we have essayed
here. They have a hair cut that is absolutely
masculine, a coat without darts,
linen that is bought at the haberdasher's,
and, save for the skirts, a costume
which in no way differs from that of
men. Theres is no use in scolding about
anything of that sort. If the London
women want to look like guys, they may.
A good many of them always looked
that way at any time. In fact, come to
think of it, some of them wear feminine
garments so badly that it may be just
as well if they don masculine ones. On
the other hand, some English women
have a look of distinction and style
which the most dashing American might
have difficulty in rivaling. They seem to
go to extremes--to be either slovenly
or very smart. And there is a woman
who says the slovenly ones are the titled
ones--and Jeannette Gilder affirms
that you can tell a duchess by her bad
manners. Miss Gilder may not be accurate,
but she is entertaining.

The most exclusive club in London is
the Alexandra, to which no one is admitted
who has not been presented at
court. What a contrast to our club ideas
where democracy is the ruling features.
The Princess Christian officiates, although
the management of the club is
under a committee. The Pioneer is a
club of 500 members, which has a famous
president, Mrs. Massenberg. This club
has an exquisite club house, and the
pursuits of its members are esthetic,
literary and artistic. The Writer's club
is in the newspaper district, and is much
more democratic, and perhaps much better
fun. The Victorian offers such conveniences
to out of town members, that
it is very popular and large. The Somerville
is largely a debating club. The
University club is a club home for university
women, and some of its members
are distinguished. They have a reputation
of being very formidable, intellectually.
They do say that this club house
and many others contain amusements
similar to those which men enjoy in
their club houses, such as billiard rooms,
card rooms, and smoking rooms. If so,
the woman's club idea is rapidly degenerating
in London. Here, we form our
clubs for the propagation of our virtues
and not our vices--however small the
vices may be, Mutual improvement and
enlightenment, is, however, undoubtedly,
the main feature of the women's clubs
in London, as it is in the clubs in this
country.

By the way, they do say the Woman's
club of Omaha is getting very, very Calvinistic.
It would be too stupid for
words if the club should degenerate into
commonplaceness. It must have wit,
humor, gayety, a dash of bravado, good
stirring discussion, or it will become a
more tedious school for grown up pupils.
It makes one yawn to think of it.