USA > Ohio > The Western Reserve of Ohio and some of its pioneers, places and women's clubs, Vol. II > Part 7
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A few weeks ago some Seminary friends were looking for the home of one of our graduates in a new location. They had found the house, as they supposed, but the doors were locked, for the mistress had been suddenly called away. With the freedom of old comradeship they looked in at the kitchen win- dows and, said one, "We were sure we were right, for there were all H-'s contrivances for saving labor, even to the Sem- inary car, for clearing and setting tables." It would be hardly fair to draw the conclusion that education, rather than experi- ence and common sense, had wrought this result, if I had not
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often heard this same housekeeper and graduate express her appreciation of the discipline and culture which help her to make a happy and beautiful home upon a limited income.
The Association of Collegiate Alumnae, representing the higher education of to-day, are proving, in various ways, the value of education to housekeepers. The department of sani- tary science have published "Home Sanitation," that admirable catechism which should be in the hands of every housekeeper for daily self examination, not far removed from her books of devotion. Its chief editor is a woman of whom we may all be proud, Mrs. Ellen H. Richards, the head of the Woman's Laboratory of the Institute of Technology, in Boston. Her "Chemistry cf Cooking and Cleaning" is a companion to "Home Sanitation.' The Cleveland Sorosis are well acquainted with the scientific investigations and the practical success of their former townswoman, Mrs. Frances Fisher Wood, in the ster- ilization of milk for the food of infants. Mrs. Wood says: "Science taught me. I assert that a woman scientifically can, in three hours, be taught more about the care of infants than another, intellectually untrained, can learn from personal ex- perience in a life time." This assertion might sound like the egotism of science, if it were not abundantly sustained by facts; by one healthy, living fact in Mrs. Wood's own nursery, and by that array of statistics which we also owe to Mrs. Wood, by which she proves that nine-tenths of the children of college women survive infancy.
We might multiply facts, but it is not necessary in this presence. From the very nature of the case the higher educa- tion must bear a helpful elevation to housekeeping and home making. If there seems to be antagonism, it is because some- thing is wrong in our conception of the meaning of education,
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or of home making. Let the education be higher in the true sense of the word, broad and deep, as well as high. Woman must be trained to have a sympathetic, as well as scientific interest in the house and home, and the needs of humanity. This is the ideal in the best schools for women. The doors are open to every liberal influence, while habits of investigation and exact knowledge make the student of to-day both broad and accurate, a symmetrical, intellectual womanly woman. Nor is there a department of study which may not minister to the upbuilding of a home. Chemistry, physiology, art, may seem to promise a more sure return, but the severer discipline of language, mathematics, and even metaphysics, will strengthen the judgment and cultivate those qualities needed in the home maker as truly as in the physician or teacher.
If now we take a higher view of housekeeping, we shall find scope for all the powers thus trained. Consider home sanitation, the conflict with dust, and its dangers, the study of foods in their hygienic and economic relations; house furnishing and decoration, dominated, not by fashion, but by the principles of harmony in form and color; the vexed problems of domestic service, the relations of income and outgo and waste, the birth of children, and their growth in all good things, physical, mental and moral; consider all these and the sphere of home, like all spheres, is a mirror of the universe, and is bounded only by eternity. For this occupation, this profession, this high service of home, no education can be too liberal or thorough.
But it is one thing to be convinced in the inspiring com- panionship of Sorosis, and quite another thing when we go out to meet the lingering prejudice against higher education for housekeepers. Mothers and grandmothers (all honor to them), who have brought up their babies on experience and common
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sense, shake their heads at the new fangled notions of sanitary science. Conservative souls are still haunted by the vision of the literary lady, "her eyes in a fine frenzy rolling," and her nouse and children in sad disorder; or the striding and stony minded woman doctor, or the broken-down graduate, or a pos- sible race of unmarried sisters, supercilious in their pride of learning, and useless in the home. These are not altogether imaginary dangers, and we must be patient with the prejudices. But let us see to it that the higher education is what it should be, and then trust the womanly instincts, the mother heart, when these are united with the vigorous body, the wise head and the temperate will.
ADDRESS TO CLEVELAND SOROSIS What Women Can Do BY MRS. CHARLES HENROTIN.
As reported by Cleveland Leader, January 22, 1892.
The Cleveland Sorosis met at the Hollenden yesterday after- noon from 3 till 5 o'clock. They were first addressed by Miss Keffer, of Painesville, in an informal and interesting manner upon the relations of color in decoration. Her statements and explanations were pleasingly given with the assistance of a col- ored chart and various pieces of different colored silks, used for illustration. Miss Keffer was followed by Mrs. Charles Henro- tin, vice-president of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition. Mrs. Henrotin said she was glad that the great World's Exposition would give an oppor- tunity for the women of America to be better known to the people of other lands. Woman was a most interesting subject to woman, and hitherto the women of America, how they lived and what they did had been little known abroad. The women
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of this country might be known to those of others in many ways, perhaps, but not in social and economic ways, and it was in these lines that they were most interesting. In the position in which women were to be placed in taking their part of the work necessary for the success of the exposition they were for the first time thoroughly recognized as a power by the government, and the speaker exulted in that happy fact. Mrs. Henrotin then told her audience that she brought them greetings from Mrs. Potter Palmer, who regretted that she could not be present, but who had sent to the Sorosis a portrait of herself, and pictures of the Exposition buildings, and the order of congresses of which she was the acting president. After this little aside, Mrs. Henrotin gave her hearers a graphic description of the magnificent building that is to be put to the use of the woman's department during the exhibition. When two prizes, one of $1,000, the other of $500, was offered by the committee for the best design for the woman's building, the first prize was won by Miss Sarah P. Hayden, of Boston, a young lady only twenty-two years of age; and when a similar call was made for designs for the decorations of the building, the one accepted was also that of a woman, Miss Ryder, of California, only nineteen years of age. The building is to be in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and will have hanging gardens as an adornment. When the appropriation was made for the different structures of the World's Fair, $200,000 was set aside for the woman's building. This the speaker gave as but one item among many showing how willing the government was to accord to woman's work all due respect, and give her equal advantages with men in exhibiting the results of their talent, education and culture. Whatever percentage of a wom- an's work appears in the display of manufacturers in that same
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ratio are women to share the privilege on the juries. Another great advantage and convenience to woman at the exposition will be "Emergency Hall," where shelter and attendance by the best of nurses will be at hand in case of sudden illness. In the woman's building will be space for the exhibition of any thing of use or beauty that woman has made, and Mrs. Henro- tin, throughout her remarks, constantly urged women to take advantage of the fact and make up their minds to exhibit their work, remembering the while that the women of other countries were fast giving assurance of being willing to exhibit and afford plenty of competition. There are arrangements al- ready for a magnificent display of Irish, hand-made point lace, and an exhibition of fans made by women is promised that will make a bewildering world of beauty. There will be a federa- tion of literary clubs, representatives from every State and from foreign lands, and every advantage will be given for the presentation of foreign and domestic thought on all subjects. Mrs. Potter Palmer has already been abroad and presented the matter of woman's work for the Exposition, especially in the lines of congresses, by the aid of which an enormous result can be shown of what has been accomplished for the world's good by abstract thought, which, Mrs. Henrotin said, "has done more than the soldier." To the representations made to gov- ernments abroad as to the proposed work of women through the congresses for the good of the Exposition, Princess Chris- tian has promised co-operation. So also has France, Austria, Holland and Spain given government recognition to the con- gresses which might be formed in those countries for co-opera- tion with those of America. There will be room for all who come. The art palace being built will be turned over to the use of the congresses, so also the woman's hall, the great auditor-
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ium of the art hall, and that of agricultural hall. Mrs. Hen- rotin urged upon her hearers the necessity for concerted action of the women in every city to hasten to form the needed organ- izations for forming the congresses, and she spoke with seem- ing regret that she had found foreign women much more re- sponsive to the call for action than were the women of this country. The discussion of many subjects will take place at these congresses, certain times during the continuance of the exposition being set apart for each one. Moral reform, for in- stance, will be one question discussed and missionary methods another. Government and law reform will have a time and place, and so also the cure of intemperance. Social theories will also be discussed, and the labor question in all its aspects that bear on women. Music, literature, art and medicine, and all the best methods for woman's advance in art and science will be considered. Mrs. Henrotin dwelt on the great ques- tion of household economies, which was, she said, to be thor- oughly discussed by the congresses, and ways and means sought for by which to evolve order out of the chaos in which the subject is now practically immersed. A perfect house, and a house sanitary are to be shown at the exposition. Mrs. Henrotin does not much believe that it is any part of a man's province to assist in the planning or workings of a household, but throws all the responsibility on woman, and puts the fail- ures all at her door. She gave succinctly her own ideas on the subject, in which she stated that she did not believe that happily- organized households would ever be accomplished till the name of the servant was abolished. Cooks and servant maids' occupa- tions were learned, as were other trades, and they must be looked upon as trades instead of occupations to be ashamed of. Pertinent to her idea of the propriety of a woman's authority
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being the only rule in the household, she remarked that a wife had no right to complain to her husband that the smell of the dinner, cooking, was coming up disagreeably through the house. The right way for her to do in such a case was to learn the scientific method of cooking so that the smell could not penetrate a house, and teach it to her cook. Without doubt gentlemen generally will approve of Mrs. Henrotin's method for the sup- pression of household evils. One other subject to be discussed by the congresses that the speaker warmly espoused was that of training the street gamins of cities to be honest and honor- able, instead of giving them every opportunity to become out- laws. To this end a company of "Columbian guards" has been instituted in Chicago from among this class, and they are to be encouraged and trained to be an honor rather than a blot on that city's fair name. Mrs. Henrotin urged that by the right means this class of boys might be made a power for great good in the country. She closed her address with a strong ap- peal to women for co-operation and centralization in regard to organizing the congresses.
"Throw a pebble on the stream, See the widening circles gleam ! Each one clasps a sunny beam. Do a kindly deed and shining, Influence opens round it, twining In each curve a heavenly lining."
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EXCURSION TO CHICAGO BY MEMBERS OF SOROSIS THE WOMAN'S CLUB
THE BIENNIAL MEETING OF THE FEDERATION AS REPORTED AT SOROSIS BY MRS. W. G. ROSE. DELEGATES.
It was a merry party that was seated in the Nickel Plate cars on the morning of the 10th of May. Ellen and Georgie, Addie and Lucy, Mary and Martha, each noted for good house- wifery, if not for good housekeeping, to be one of the councils of women in the grand Federation of Women's Clubs. Two seats faced each other, and if a child looked longingly for a place, room was made for the little, wee thing, or a tired mother was relieved of her babe just to add hilarity to the occasion.
Nature had donned her best green robe, and tied knots of flowers here and there, so that the scene from the windows was a symphony of color. The long, cold winter had rendered the view far more entrancing than it would have been in midsum- mer or late autumn.
After a relation of the helps and hindrances of starting, a lunch basket was opened and sandwiches and cold tea made the ideas brighter and the wit more ready. The famed city of Fos- toria emerged from the forest and the golden fuel gas was cer- tainly needed to bring that locality into equality with other habitable points of the globe, for heavily timbered low lands are not lovely places to dwell in.
At Fort Wayne a lunch counter furnished hot coffee or tea and from there on the scenes changed. Water, water, every- where; the overflow of rivers and the constant rains had ren- dered navigation of cars a matter of uncertainty.
The future work of the society was canvassed and plans and suggestions made until the whole audience became interested
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and must have thought this company was on its way to the Minneapolis convention. Governor Chase, of Indiana, was one of the listeners. We arrived on time to the very minute and found cur rooms at the Palmer House reserved for us, of course. The reception that night must be attended; some thought seven lunches enough without a regular supper, and others wanted to settle the cold food with something warm, and therefore the company divided. Those who, with hasty toilette went directly to the Klio Club, heard William Bacon Brown, the husband of Charlotte Emerson Brown, and the president of the Ladies' Literary Club, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and also had the pleas- ure of saying "too late" to their comrades who were emerging from the hotel door as they returned. However, we had hus- banded our strength and were fresh for the beginning of the convention next day.
At 10:30 o'clock the credentials had been received, the blue and gold badges pinned on, and the delegates seated within the white satin ribbon band. The platform, with its palms and white lilies on each side was a good frame for the group of ladies within it. Julia Ward Howe, Ednah Cheney, Susan B. Anthony and Frances Willard were honored guests, but the active workers were Mrs. Brown, president; May Sewall, vice- president; Sarah Hacket Stevenson, who was to welcome us to Chicago, author of the "Woman's Manual." Dr. Bedell in "Helps and Hindrances," said that "men at heart were loyal to the highest interests of women and proud of their success. That perfection could not be expected without preliminary experi- ence. They had been so long debarred from public work that it was not strange that there should be at first lack of breadth and ignorance of method."
That the hindrances were perverted courage, the chronic
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objector, perplexing the president with intricate parliamentary problems, those who did not know that they did not know, the needlessly aggressive leaders who did not lead, and the helpers who did not help. The ideal helps were the unselfish, the broad, the press, and the federation of clubs." She advocated deference to the will of the majority, regards for the rights of others, and good temper in debate.
At the second session of the club, in anticipation of the adoption of the constitution Mrs. Shattuck read a paper on parliamentary law and emphasized section 5, which is: "The six general officers of the federation and the nine members of the board of directors shall be elected at the biennial meet- ings by ballot on report of a nominating committee or after- nomination from the floor. A majority vote of those present entitled to vote and voting shall constitute an election." Mrs. Sewall objected to the nominating committee and would amend by making nominations by an informal ballot. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe and daughter were opposed; Mrs. Perkins thought the masculine manner was good enough, and Mrs. Shattuck attempted to show that the two receiving the highest votes was not so highly a Democratic way as it looked. Mrs. Newell made the amendment so that it included every nominee voted for as a candidate. Miss Willard came to the rescue and said: "In the organization of five hundred to which I belong we once had a nominating committee, now it is a nominating ballot, and is the survival of the fittest." After some heated remarks from others the amendment was carried by a vote of 190 to 87. Mrs. Wooley wanted the meeting to go into executive session and it was so resolved, this part of the work to be re- sumed the next morning at 9:30 o'clock. It was the next day that the crowd surged against the door, and, although at first
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refused, when the convention was told that the club members had a right to be heard, but not to vote, admittance was given to as many as the house would hold. A calm rested upon all, and the work of electing the officers was smoothly and rapidly accomplished. Mrs. Brown received 218 votes, scattering 9, The other nominees received on first ballot more than two- thirds vote and were made unanimous.
Cards were exchanged and good-byes given that were heart-felt, and this convention had welded together the affec- tions, hopes and aspirations of hundreds of intelligent and progressive women.
On Saturday forenoon several hundred accepted the invi- tation of Mr. Martin, the superintendent, to visit the fair grounds. It was a sunny morning. There was a little delay for the construction cars which were to carry us around the grounds and then we sought and found those whom we knew were in the convention, and whose cards had been left for us.
It was delightful to know the face and form of those with whom we had corresponded, and to hereafter have the right conception of how they looked. Some buildings were in con- struction. The stuff which forms the slabs resembling marble is made of gypsum and hemp rope, and is quickly molded, and when hard is nailed upon the lath that is fastened to the stud- ding. The large buildings are so arranged as to present a beautiful appearance at the lake front, and are too stately to be torn down immediately after the fair, but Jackson Park is dear to the heart of Chicago, and its 160 acres will be too much prized as a driving park for them to be preserved. Another time can we not make a permanent place for the American World's Fair and exhibit, and in it form the nucleus of a museum, art gallery, and Westminster Abbey equal to any in the old world ?"
RECEPTION PARLOR OF CLEVELAND SOROSIS
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CLEVELAND SOROSIS HELEN WATTERSON MOODY.
It may have been the new life infused into women's clubs everywhere by the federation of women's clubs two years ago; it may have been the lingering vitality left in the Western Reserve Club of Cleveland, after a heroic but not altogether successful life; or it may have been simply an original and underived impulse towards a closer union of thought and effort that should be greatly helpful to those within and without its organization-it may have been any one or all of these influences; but whatever it was, it was an impulse that was wise in its guiding and successful in its achieving, whereof the Sorosis of Cleveland, Ohio, stands today in testimony, young and enthusiastic but solidly or- ganized, wide-reaching in its aims but practical in its re- sults, unusually fortunate in the selection and the number of its membership.
The charter for this new Sorosis was given just one year ago, and its membership already runs far beyond one hundred. Its constitution and by-laws follow closely upon the admirable constitution of the first sorosis, that of New York. Its meetings are monthly, held in its own wide rooms in the large City Hall building, and its range of interests is embraced in twelve general subjects-one for each meeting of the year. These general subjects are: literature, art, phil- anthropy, science, education, (including cooking, manual train- ing and kindergartens), house and home, business, physical culture, temperance, dress reform, parliamentary law, and suffrage. In this city of clever women there is sure to be found some one woman who has made a special study of one of these topics, and she it is who prepares the paper for
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discussion when her own subject is the one selected. Each of the departments is presided over by a chairman, whose special duty it is to keep abreast of all that pertains to her own department. Each monthly meeting is conducted very much like the meetings of the parent Sorosis, a general discussion following the presentation of a paper, during which- famous as is the older society for its general discussion-it would find itself closely rivaled by the talk of this young club, shot through with arrows of keenest wit and of quick, pene- trating judgment-serious, too, and womanly and wise.
It is a good thing to have been a guest at some of these meetings, and to have listened while these alert, interesting women discuss a question as psychological as "The Influence of the Study of Art upon Character," or as practical as "The Position of Ohio on the Tariff Question," with equal keenness of thought and validity of conclusion. One is apt to go away from a session of Sorosis remembering that before its days of statehood this part of Ohio belonged not to the western terri- tory, but to the east, and to that very eastern State, Connecticut, whence came nearly all the first settlers on the Western Re- serve. To fancy any distinction between east and west so far as the greater part of Ohio is concerned would be absurd. There are none. But the New England traits are persistent and unmistakable, and it is not fanciful to say that nowhere outside of the six New England States will one find so much that bears the mark of New England character and New Eng- land thought as in this corner of Northern Ohio. This accounts for the intellectual activity which has singularly characterized its men and women ever since Cleveland grew out of a settle- ment. It accounts for the atmosphere of Sorosis, which, though no more stimulating than the atmosphere of a woman's club in Chicago or Denver, nevertheless has a certain earnestness
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and intensity about it that at once suggests the New England temperament. Cleveland's Sorosis is peculiarly fortunate in its officers and executive board. Just as the men of Cleveland have kept on voting the Hon. W. G. Rose into the office of Mayor of the city, because no one else suited them so well, so the women of Cleveland have always laid the work that de- manded the greatest wisdom, tact and enthusiasm upon the capable shoulders of Mrs. W. G. Rose. For years Mrs. Rose has been at the head of some of the most progressive and helpful movements in that city, and when Sorosis was organ- ized, she was at once made its president. With her were as- sociated as efficient vice presidents, Mrs. L. O. Jones and L. A. Wilson. No more successful selections could have been made.
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