USA > Ohio > The Western Reserve of Ohio and some of its pioneers, places and women's clubs, Vol. II > Part 8
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Among the names on the executive board-all of which are notable ones-by right of age and special service in all good and high causes, comes the name of Mrs. Mary B. Ingham. Mrs. Ingham is a woman who writes and speaks equally well, whose judgment is wise and sure, and whose executive ability is unusual. It was fitting that she should be regarded as a kind of dean of the executive board, for there have been few coun- cils of Cleveland women in many years past in which her voice has not had a powerful influence.
But even without its club-house, Cleveland Sorosis gets a deal of respect from Cleveland men. Part of this is due to the fact that its members are of the most gracious and cultured women in the city; part of it to the fact that all the professions of men, including medicine and the law, are represented among the women of the Sorosis, and no small part of the deference that these gallant men are impelled to offer must be attributed to the fact that Sorosis is usually blest with a large proportion of clever and interesting and good-looking women .- Helen Wat- terson, in Harper's Bazaar.
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WISE THOUGHTS
K
From the Pens of Great and Discerning Men
Seeing much, suffering much and studying much are the three pillars of learning .- Disraeli.
Who dares do all that may become a man and dares no more, he is a man indeed .- Shakespeare.
It is only necessary to grow old to become more indulgent. I see no fault committed that I have not committed myself .- Goethe.
There is certainly something of exquisite kindness and thoughtful benevolence in the rarest of gifts-fine breeding .- Bulwer.
No man can be brave who considers pain the greatest evil of life; or temperate who regards pleasure as the highest of good .- Cicero.
If you want to be miserable think about yourself, about what you want, what you like, what respects people ought to pay you, and what people think of you .- Charles Kingsley.
It is a high, solemn, almost awful thought for every indi- vidual man that his earthly influence, which has had a com- mencement, will never, through all ages, were he the very meanest of all, have an end! What is done is done; has already blended itself with the boundless, ever-living, ever-working uni- verse and will also work there, for good or for evil, openly or secretly throughout all time .- Carlyle.
As you know more and more of the created world, you will find that the true will of its maker is that its creatures should be happy; that He has made everything beautiful in its time and place and that it is chiefly by the fault of men, when they are allowed the liberty of thwarting His laws, that creation groans and travails in pain. The love of God exists and you may see it and live in it if you will.
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FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUB
From the Cleveland Leader.
The biennial meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs was held in the Music Hall of Chicago. It is one of the largest auditoriums of that large city, and was packed with eager listeners except when they were barred out by previous order.
A white ribbon encircled the delegates, but the galleries and back seats were filled with friends and club members, for they now number 20,000, and are earnest, thoughtful mothers and grandmothers inquiring into the causes for pauperism, ignorance, and the extravagant waste of money of the tax- payers, and the few public improvements as compared with other nations.
The opening address of Sarah Hackett Stevenson was bold and often satirical. Among other things she said: "Man has been so afraid of his rights that he has lost the greatest one -the intelligent help of woman." She told what a little girl said when a fashionably dressed woman was pointed out to her, "Mamma, what is she for? and what are you for? To me the sin of the world is the degradation of labor. Not until brain workers learn to use their limbs and the hard workers their brains, and both learn that there is no such thing as menial labor, is there any hope for humanity."
Mrs. Brown, tall, stately, and with a countenance beaming with good nature, said: "Ours is an age of intellect and of critical investigation. It is in this fearless and relentless search for new truth, woman comes to the front and is an important factor in the great problems of the hour. Let. women be educated and qualified as men are, to hold positions of responsibility, and they will no longer need to demand their rights."
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"Women's clubs are to teach them to think and to express their thoughts clearly on paper. If you ask what is the use of the club or the club movement, you might as well ask what is the use of Fourth of July, Christmas or churches, or Chris- tian or temperance associations. There is value in the moral sentiment they generate. Results are garnered up. Clubs working in ruts join hands and feel the electric current of 20,000 club women, then go forth to do their best."
Mrs. May Wright Sewall sat at the same table with our president and held the convention in check by her positive opinion of what was parliamentary.
The platform contained many whose names are as house- hold words. Jennie June, in her quaint little dress of brown with embroidered white front, read from her paper, short, crisp sentences expressing hope for more fraternal feeling, and not the wire pulling so often witnessed in politics.
Mrs. Chas. Henrotin said that "clubs too often made offi- cers of those who could best aid the work by speeches from the floor. All you want in a president is a woman of sunny temper, clear head, and knowledge of parliamentary law."
At the reception to delegates and club members given by the Woman's Club of Chicago, at the Art Institute building, the ladies received in separate parlors.
Mrs. Henrotin and Miss May Wright Sewall were each in full dress of bright colors, and to the question, "will correct dress be considered in the auxiliary work?" Mrs. Sewall re- ferred us to the subject as treated in the Arena, and as to the World's Fair being opened on Sunday, Dr. Henrotin assured us the power for machinery would not be used, and half fare admittance would probably be the outcome of the discussion now going on in the community.
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Dr. Lelia G. Bedell, in her talks on the helps and hindrances of women's clubs, gave at first the woman of magnified person- ality, then those who are in pursuit of some vagary. The nar- row gauge are those who feared to stir from the beaten path, and third, the needlessly aggressive. Also the chronic objector, who rose in season and out of season to a point of order. One great hindrance was the lack of money, and in consequence women had to resort to all sorts of musical and dramatic ex- pedients to raise funds.
The ideal help was deference to the will of the majority, good temper in debate, and learn of lawyers to disagree in debate, but agree personally.
Friday evening the last meeting of the convention took up educational problems, the kindergarten, university extension, and classic study in our public schools. The thought was in the most forcible language and fewest words, and was heard by every one in that vast auditorium.
Miss Anthony brought forth a huge basket of roses and presented it to Mrs. S. M. Perkins, of Cleveland, for her de- fense of the press, as their tribute. She said she "knew how to receive opposition for she had grown accustomed to it, but she did not know how to accept presents from those who ap- proved her." Then followed the closing address of Mrs. May Wright Sewall.
A WOMAN'S VIEW OF THE WOMAN'S CONVENTION
BY MRS. GEO. A. ROBERTSON.
Chicago is an anomaly. Few people catch the real mean- ing of her civilization. But now that the women are begin- ning to hold conventions there she will be understood. Chicago is the index to a coming civilization. Her women notably among whom are Dr. Stevenson, Mrs. Henrotin and Mrs. Potter
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Palmer, are the freest, most active in the world. I could every time select them from the crowded convention. Immense exposition buildings incomplete, with frogs singing in puddles around them to the music of the builders; buildings of such altitude as to be the wonder of the world; frogs singing amidst the infernal racket of cables and steam, and near man- sions and race track, park and business, seemingly crying "Peace! Peace!" where there is no peace. Walks more crowded than Broadway, a city with beautiful parks and lake front and shipping. This is the place where the "first biennial meeting of the general federation of women's clubs" met and were re- ceived with great hospitality. If few people understand Chicago life, fewer still understand the meaning of the great woman movement. The federation of woman's clubs is the greatest out- ward feature of this civilization. Thirty-one states were repre- sented at the late biennial, and the thought of the different clubs covered every idea of the era. The two words "club woman" combined will prove an "open sesame" to all action, ethical, philosophical, metaphysical, political and business. In other words, women are organizing, and when the lovely, active, intelligent but gentle spirit shown in the late convention is felt everywhere, there will be a revolution and evolution in many directions. As yet the lines are divided, simply from the fact that some have evolved faster and farther than others. Suffrage is not a popular idea to this federation.
I was complaining to a Massachusetts woman that the platform was a little narrow. She replied: "Have patience; most of these women have just picked their shells. Many will go the whole distance enthusiastically if you let them start right."
They talk about suffrage clubs not being allowed to join the federation, when, of course, if there be any "joining" the
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"federation" should join the "council," (an organization formed by the suffragists some years ago, including all of woman's work, and which had an international council at Washington,) as that is the older organization.
So the great federation of women today stands aloof from the great council of women, afraid of suffrage, and yet two-thirds of them suffragists. The federation is working unconsciously to develop womanhood, the feminine principle; to unify the thought ready for action in suffrage and upon a higher mental and spiritual plane. It cuts off or leaves out charities and suffrage: But there is a beautiful spirit of womanhood about it which is utterly indescribable.
The council is working on the plane uf supposing this feminine principle, womanhood, already developed and pushing her claims. United, they will be the greatest idea since the coming of Christ, and the Columbian exposition will unite them. The timid ones will then catch the action and love of the daring ones if they will only attend the proper congresses. Many are already beginning to see that Susan B. Anthony is the real mother of the woman's club and the woman's move- ment today in whatever form, and that to her, woman owes much more than can ever be repaid. I could wish that now, something be done to show our appreciation and not leave the task to the sculptor.
The spirit of the convention more than any work ac- complished or proposed, helped those in attendance. The union of thought is not complete, but rapid progress is being made in that direction. This union is surely coming. Then what? Women themselves do not understand the movement. But this meeting of clubs has a mighty significance.
The women in attendance from Cleveland were Mrs. Perk- ins, Mrs. Rose, Miss Quintrell, Mrs. Churchill, Mrs. Dautell,
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Mrs. Pearson, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. Ambler, and Mrs. Davidson of Oberlin, Ohio, accompanied the party from Cleveland.
I need not say at this late day that the Cleveland women, and all Ohio women were proud of our Mrs. Perkins. She could be heard when she spoke. She spoke at the right time; said the right thing, and then sat down at the right time, which last was a great point.
FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
From the True Republic .- Editorial of Mrs. S. M. Perkins.
About two hundred clubs joined themselves into a confed- eration and held their first biennial meeting in Chicago the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of May. Music hall was crowded during the three days, and most able papers were given by the delegates. About a dozen women went from Cleve- land, representing Sorosis, the Literary Guild and the Conver- sational.
Nearly all of us went by the Nickel Plate railroad and had a long, delightful day, and enjoyed the opening buds and flowers and the spring time scenery. We lunched on strawberries and cream at Fort Wayne, and reached Chicago at eight p. m.
The first day we gave to the Federal Suffrage Association, completed the organization, adopted the constitution, and are now ready to work with the valiant western women in the united effort for justice by extending the ballot to women. This meet- ing over, we attended the federation gatherings and listened to the excellent papers and thrilling addresses, and found it a most inspiring occasion. Julia Ward Howe, at seventy-three, is still the bright, particular star. Antoinette Brown Blackwell is still as earnest and Christian as when ordained to the min- istry, thirty years ago.
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There were many southern delegates, and these, too, seemed to the manner born and made most telling speeches.
Charlotte E. Brown of New Jersey was re-elected president, and is the right woman in the right place. Mrs. Hall, the daugh- ter of Julia Ward Howe, was listened to with extreme interest, and she unites her mother's graciousness with her father's logic and reflection. With such an ancestry, she ought to be a wise woman. A little woman from New Orleans charmed us all by her ready wit and practical sense. Lucy Stone's daughter was there, representing the Woman's Journal. She is now a trustee of Boston University, and is a fine writer. Famous persons were on the right of us and on the left of us, and it was a notable gathering. "A beautiful basket of flowers was pre- sented to me, because of a little speech that happened to hit rightly; and as every person has one bright idea in a lifetime, mine came to me in Chicago among that coterie of brilliant women." It was a privilege and an inspiration to be there. Mine hostess Mrs. Bush, rendered most charming hospitality; horses and carriage were at my service, and their genial society will be a pleasant memory.
A meeting in Toledo, in Dr. Bacon's church, on Sunday evening, and a nice visit with Mrs. Eck, closed a busy week, and Monday noon I was again with my loved ones at home.
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CELEBRATION Of the First Anniversary of Cleveland Sorosis
The first annual meeting of the Sorosis occurred in the ban- quet hall of the Hollenden yesterday. The meeting excited con- siderable interest, and fully a hundred well-known ladies were in attendance. Two sessions were held, and the ladies had lunch at the hotel. The morning session was devoted exclusively to the transaction of business. Mrs. W. G. Rose, the president, read her annual report. She gave an interesting resume of the work done since the Western Reserve Club became the Sorosis a year ago yesterday. Mrs. Rose explained why the change of name was made, and expressed the opinion that every member had congratulated herself upon the widening of the scope of the society and its success in all that it had undertaken. The Sec- retary, Mrs. J. M. Nanson, also submitted a report that dealt with the details of each meeting. This report was followed by one from Mrs. Helen C. Purdy, the treasurer of the society. The financial statement showed that the receipts amounted to $236.41, and the expenditures to $155.20, leaving a balance of $91.21.
In the afternoon the annual election occurred. The nomi- nating committee recommended the election of the following officers: For president, Mrs. W. G. Rose; for first vice pres- ident, Mrs. B. D. Babcock; for second vice president, Mrs. F. A. Kendall; for third vice president, Miss H. E. Hammond; for fourth vice president, Mrs. S. C. Smith; for fifth vice president, Mrs. Kate Avery; for recording secretary, Mrs. T. D. Crocker; for corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Ingham; for treas- urer, Mrs. H. C. Purdy, and for auditor, Mrs. Spargo Frazer. The nominating committee presented the names of many ladies
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for members of the executive committee and when the balloting was finished the following were declared elected: Mesdames J. M. P. Phelps, Geo. A. Robertson, C. W. Loomis, N. A. Gilbert, D. W. Gage, C. C. Burnett, Wm. Bowler, Leo Doutell, J. M. Nanson, and F. A. Arter. As chairman of the twelve commit- tees having charge of the twelve subjects considered each year, the nominating committee presented the names of the following ladies, who were elected by acclamation: Music, Mrs. S. P. Churchill; literature, Mrs. C. C. Burnett; art, Miss Mary Quin- trell; drama, Mrs. Anna C. Tucker; science, Mrs. Davidson of Oberlin; philanthropy, Mrs. H. C. Purdy; education, Mrs. N. Coe Stewart; house and home, Mrs. X. X. Crum; business wom- en, Mrs. F. A. Kendall; physical culture, Mrs. Lee Caldwell; temperance, Mrs. E. T. Silver; dress reform, Mrs. W. G. Rose; suffrage, Mrs. S. M. Perkins; parliamentary law, Mrs. H. E. Hammond. Mrs. Charles Seymour was elected chairman of the committee of custodians. Mrs. Spargo-Frazer thought the so- ciety should have a seal, and upon her motion a committee to select her design and have it copyrighted was appointed. Mrs. Frazer was appointed as chairman of the committee with au- thority to select the other four members. Similar authority was given the chairman of the standing committees.
The remainder of the afternoon session was given to the rendition of a musical and literary programme of more than or- dinary excellence. Miss Beatrice Floyd played two guitar solos. Miss Leuty Corwin read an exposition of her views on the study of theology by women, not for the purpose of becoming ministers of the gospel, but simply to fit themselves for the teaching of the Bible. She recommended theological studies for women and especially the study of the Bible in the Hebrew and Greek lan- guages, as productive of a clearer understanding of the intent
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and meaning of the sacred writers. She declared her belief that philology would be utilized to a greater degree in the settlement of disputes concerning the Bible than history.
Virginia F. Townsend, the New England authoress, whose works have attracted a great deal of attention in the world of letters, was present at the meeting and gave recitations from her poems. She selected two ballads founded upon incidents occurring during the eventful march of King George's men un- der Major Pitcairn from Boston, on April 19, 1775, toward Con- cord, where the American revolutionists' stores were kept. The second ballad told the story of little Nabbie Blackington, an eight-year-old girl, who had been sent by her mother to watch the cow. She saw the column of red-coated grenadiers advanc- ing toward Concord, with much affright. The perverse cow strayed across the road in front of the column, and before Nab- bie recovered her thoughts the soldiers were between herself and her charge. The sight of the frightened child and her evi- dent desire to recover the stray "bossie" touched the heart of the homesick soldiers, whose commander halted, opened ranks, and bade the child pass through in search of her charge. The story came to the authoress in a peculiar way, as it is not generally known in the neighborhood where the incident occurred. Miss Townsend met a lady in California who had met Nabbie Black- ington when the revolutionary lassie had grown to be an old lady.
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PHYSICAL CULTURE Talks from a Follower of Delsarte
From the Plain Dealer, October 26. 1891.
The physical culture fad reached its height some time ago. It died as all fads do after a short time. It died, not because the public was tired of it, but because it was seen to contain something worthy of making it more than a fad. It died, too, because considered as an accomplishment, and people are now coming to look upon it as a necessity. The progress in this direction is slow, but it is sure. Its urgency does not press itself upon us as does the necessity of earning our daily bread or of learning how to make the bread after the ingredients are earned, so it has received attention from but a limited, a very limited number of people, and the impression has gone out that physical culture consists merely in the knowledge and practice of a few rules to promulgate grace of movement, which, by call- Ing into use all the muscles of the body, cannot help but be con- ducive to health, or in other words, health via grace, with a good big emphasis on the grace. Few have any idea of its moral nature, and its effect on health even is but little under- stood. It cannot be denied that those who undertake the study do it more from a wish to be beautiful than for any other rea- son, but eminent doctors now send many of the patients, es- pecially women, to reliable teachers of physical culture, consid- ering them far better able to cope with disease than themselves. One lady in this citv, the wife of a well known professional man, has been a sufferer from a spinal trouble for over twenty years and has been ordered to treat herself according to the tenets of physical culture, with the almost positive assurance of a total cure, or at any rate great improvement in her con- dition. Even stairs lose their terror when they are ascended,
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according to the teachings of Delsarte, and countless numbers of patients have been ordered to take lessons in stair-climbing and in breathing from Delsarte exponents.
There is now in this city a charming lady from New York who is thoroughly instructed in the arts of the great discoverer and talks entertainingly on the subject. She is Mrs. John Bailey, who has gained considerable reputation for herself as a Delsarte exponent throughout the country. "The height of physical culture," she said in conversation recently, "is a per- fect voice because a perfect voice requires perfect breathing, perfect breathing requires perfect poise, perfect poise requires perfect training of all the muscles, nothing so quickly distin- guishes the cultured from the uncultured," she continued, "as pronunciation, enunciation and the voice. The beauty of the face and figure strike the eye. The beauty of the voice strikes the heart. In a nutshell, physical culture is expressive strength. It trains the body to perform its duties with the least possible expenditure of nerve force, and that is what we stand in need of knowing in these hurrying days. It seems as though we never have an opportunity for rest. Even at night when we lay ourselves down to sleep it is with a hurried feeling because of the vast amount of work to be done on the morrow. Delsarte traced back to the origin of things. He analyzed the expressions of the body as related to mind and soul. He formulated and gave the practical application of the philosophy of expression, called attention to many things which had before passed unnoticed or unexplained and he gives the flexing movements whereby overanxious, overworked, nervous, hurried, care-battered humanity can soften themselves, over- coming the angles and kinks. In fact he explained ourselves to ourselves. It is wonderful, the effect the poise of the body has
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on the spirits; that is where the moral part comes in. Emerson says the tell tale body is all tongues. Nothing is truer. In- stinctively we judge a man by his carriage. We all of us know the effect which a little bracing up on our part when we feel least like it, perhaps, has on us. The Delsarte school requires no apparatus, in fact his disciples deplore any such method, as it invariably calls out a waste of nerve force, and that is most what we want to save. Delsarte observed that man's movements when under control of the highest and noblest emo- tions were not angular or jerky, but were made in graceful lines and curves. Harmony of movement is the foundation of all grace. It is natural to man to be beautiful. It is the conven- tionalities of life that make men awkward. He must first eradicate his habitual forms and give himself an opportunity to manifest the true and beautiful. What we call natural to us is apt to be only a habit. When people say in excuse of some action, "Oh, it is natural for me to do so and so," I think of the little verse I picked up from somewhere.
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