The Complete Club Book for Women.

by Caroline French Benton.

PREFACE

In a previous volume, called "Work and Programs for Women's Clubs," more than twenty leading subjects were given for club study, including Shakespeare, the opera, the drama and child study, each with ten programs made out under it, comprising papers, talks, readings and discussions, with the names of books for reference. Probably many of the clubs which have used that book may still prefer the subjects and method employed there, and some who have not used it will find in it their work made easy.

Others, however, who believe in "self help," or who wish to harmonize their study programs with some practical work the club is doing, or who find it necessary to adjust their work to the varying tastes of the members, will prefer the method followed in this second volume.

Subjects are here presented with suggestions for divisions into separate meetings; then the papers or talks are outlined under each, with many references to books by contemporary writers. From the ma.s.s of material given each club is to select what best suits its individual needs and arrange from it a year book.

If a club wishes to have sixteen meetings a year on one subject and four on another, the chairman may select one of the large subjects, shape the material offered into sixteen large divisions, add the necessary subdivisions beneath with the references, and then selecting a shorter program, divide this in the same way and combine the two.

Or, supposing a club wished to master a subject with unusual thoroughness, a large subject may be divided into a two-year study course. Several of the subjects indeed might easily be taken up for still a longer time. Any one of them has in it material enough for serious work, yet some are capable also of being taken up in six meetings if that is desirable.

A model Const.i.tution is offered which any club may easily adapt to its own needs. Some condensed Rules of Order are also given. It is earnestly hoped that in this little book every club woman may find everything she requires.

CHAPTER I

SUGGESTIONS FOR CLUB WORK

There is no difficulty in starting a club; any group of women who are interested in the same things may form themselves into a simple organization. But the great question will surely arise: What shall we study? And here club members are certain to divide into three distinct cla.s.ses.

The first group consists of women who have for years been absorbed in home-making and child-rearing. The world of books has been practically closed to them. The club to which they wish to belong must offer them an opportunity for self-development, one in which they will obtain the culture which comes from the study of art and music and literature; one where their hungry minds will be fed.

But the group of young women,--perhaps college graduates,--have no sympathy with this desire; they have had enough of books! They demand that all the energies of the club shall be devoted to the good of the community, to the "larger housekeeping," to preparation for citizenship.

Who can stop to write dull papers on Italian Art in this day of efficiency?

Between these two groups of women there is a third, made up of women who have kept up their reading in spite of family cares, and who also believe in the practical work outside the home which seems to them almost within their grasp. But they lack self-confidence; speaking in public is absolutely impossible; even to lift a voice in a club discussion is a serious matter.

Now the perfect club takes cognizance of these three cla.s.ses of women and provides for them all. It offers to the first group an opportunity for study; and surely no woman ever grows beyond the place where she still has something to learn. There are always fresh fields of poetry and travel, of music and art which unfold with the years and tempt one on.

And then it offers training to the timid woman who fears to hear her own voice. At first she may merely read a club paper, but little by little she learns to give a quotation, to put a motion or offer a suggestion; and finally she finds she can speak without notes, or take her part in a debate and hold her own with self-possession and dignity. And that means that she has acquired a liberal education.

As to the energetic cla.s.s between these two, the ideal club has plenty for them, also. There has never been an opportunity for community work like that offered to-day, offered especially to those women who have been made capable by their training in their own little study clubs to cope with questions of hygiene, of tenement house wrongs and immigrants'

problems; they have the widest scope for their energies. If they are wise, they will accept the opportunity of using the woman's club and make it a center of social service.

The following programs are planned to cover all these requirements. The first one is intended to lay out many lines of community work from which each club is asked to choose what best suits the needs of her own locality. Every second club meeting may be given to the study of the various problems presented by the town, and remedies may first be suggested and then resolved upon. Cooperation with other clubs is also urged, and also the need of working with, rather than against, the city fathers.

Alternating with meetings on these practical and helpful lines clubs are invited to study some one of the subjects which follow this first comprehensive program. Whatever appeals most to club members, music or history, literature or travel, may be selected. References to books are offered to a.s.sist in preparation of club papers.

It will be found that, on the whole, it is seldom best for a club to choose a miscellaneous program for an entire year's work. Too often such a choice means a grotesque range from Life in Early Egypt to the Waverley Novels, and from the Panama Ca.n.a.l to Spring Flowers. When one wishes to have a year of work with a different subject for each meeting it is at least possible to choose those which have some relation, and vary the program by having musical meetings also.

A word may be added as to the personal side of club life. A president, above all her other duties, should see to it that the atmosphere of the club is warm and friendly. If in other ways it is successful, if the study gives intellectual stimulus, and practical work is carried on effectively, still it is a failure if the members are either sn.o.bbish or unsympathetic. All the members of a club must be in harmony and work together in a spirit of comradeship if it is ever to reach its highest possibilities.

Last of all, should not a club extend its membership to as many as possible, rather than have a waiting list? Whatever prestige may accrue to it through that, will it not be of the greater good in the long run if its doors are always open to take in any woman who has something fresh to give to its life, or has a need that the club can gratify?

CHAPTER II

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT

One of the up-to-date subjects for clubs is what is sometimes called "The Larger Housekeeping." It is the study of the economic conditions of one's own neighborhood with the determination to find ways to make the place more hygienic, more sanitary, moral and beautiful. It is the development of the idea of social betterment.

A woman's club is an ideal social center from which this work may grow.

It is an excellent plan to enlist all the clubs in town, if that is possible. They may carry on other work besides, but each club may also have some particular line of study on the common theme, and at monthly meetings all the women may meet and discuss the one topic of community improvement. The men of the place may be invited later to join these public meetings; their cooperation, and that of the city officials especially, should be secured from the beginning. The one essential of success is "team work."

The first thing is to understand the actual conditions which exist in the town. The club should first learn who the town officials are, and what are their duties.

Next, find out what the town a.s.sets are: if there is a good courthouse and railroad station, good schools, a park, attractive streets, and so on. In contrast to these there should be a complete list of what the town lacks; better paving and lighting, better sewerage and water, a new milk supply, or sanitary groceries, and so on. Study and discussion make this list a long one.

Then, when once the club knows its own town (and here the first pamphlet mentioned at the close of this article should be read), each item on the list may be taken up and really mastered in its every detail; committees should be appointed for each.

I--SUBJECTS TO INVESTIGATE

The question of roads and pavements may come first. What is their condition?

The yards of the place may come next. Are they in good order? Are the alleys clean? Is the garbage well taken care of? Does the town need a "clean-up" day? Is the sewerage system in good order? Is the town water pure? Discuss the milk supply. A committee should inspect the dairies.

Parks and playgrounds are subjects which will bring up many questions.

Are they well cared for and attractive? Are there any playgrounds for children? Have they swings, parallel bars and the like? Is there a supervisor?

Next the town schools; members should be appointed to visit each school and carefully go over it. Are there vines, flowers and gra.s.s around the building?

Are there cheap theaters in town? Are the shows clean? Do children patronize them? Is the theater building sanitary? Have a committee unannounced attend some performance.

Is there a hotel in town? Is it a clean, well-kept place? Are there saloons, and, if so, do they in any way evade the law? Are they loafing places?

Is the railroad station attractive? Is there any one in charge of the waiting-room? Is the town jail sanitary? How is the poorhouse managed?

Are there tenements? Are they sanitary? How many churches are there and in what financial condition? Is there a town library? Is it up-to-date?

Is there any town nuisance, such as soft coal smoke or malodorous factories? Are advertis.e.m.e.nts painted on rocks or put up in fields?

These are only suggestions as to lines of investigation. When finally the needs and shortcomings of the town are known to all, practical work to improve conditions may be undertaken.

The best plan is to get a few of the many books on town betterment and read them before any reform is undertaken. In addition to readings from these, and papers showing what has been done in other towns on similar lines specialists should be asked to speak to the club, and the public invited to hear them. For instance, a professor from the nearest agricultural college may lecture on pure milk; on water supply the town engineer may speak; on the question of bettering the public schools the state superintendent may be invited. It is better to spend a whole club year in study and accomplish only one practical work for the town betterment, than enthusiastically to begin on a dozen lines and yet really gain nothing substantial in the end.