AMERICAN WOMEN'S CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 11

AMERICAN WOMEN'S CLUBS.

TO ENGLISH EYES,

Tho politely detached manner, the tolermtly pationt air that wo adopt for casual acquaintances in London is neither in uso uor of uso in Now York, writes Gertrude Kingston in tho "Daily Mail." I find I have to refurbish up my nico littlo manners that I keep for Vienna or Paris. I strain my cars to catch other names than my own when I am introduced, niako as good a 'hing as I can. of it, applying it at once, nnu run a desperate race to bo the first to say, "Pleased to meet you, Mr. or Mrs. ," and come in a bad second, having heard my surname Pronounced with a neatness mid crispness hat I can never hope to imitate. Everybody alert and interested and well informed; tho men having the world's politics at their, fingers' ends bocauso Wall Street, by her bankers' balance, controls tho balance of peace to a • great extont, and the question of the next European conflict will probably bo settled by the rato of interest at which the God of War can borrow his dollars; the women having tho world's literature on the tips of their tongues because lectures and libraries form an absorbing part of their day's programme. ' The struggle in Persia or Jolm Maseiicld's "Widow in the Byeetreet" therefore may be served up to you anywhero.and any day with the cocktail which it appears to be habitual to absorb before luncheon or dinner. Much less of self-consciousness, too, in the introduction into conversation of serious topics; and much greater expression of self. Tho high-pitched tone and ready speech strike, the ear at the door of a luxuriously equipped woman's club, which you enter through a portico of "Colonial' pattern, with a strapwork cornice of Chippendale design, a rather favourite form ot decoration here. The Club Spirit. A delightful effect is that of tho prim brick-pointed house, with its cluster of Blender columns, belonging to the period which corresponds to that of the Adam Brothers in England, and which we still, find in its original form "down town" in Washington Square, a quaint, old-world piace that has, I admit, more fascination for mo than the nioro. modish, neighbourhood of Central Park, quite two or three miles "higher up" in the social scale. The club I visited is half-way between the two districts—designedly-so—and intended to bo social in its aims. Accustomed as I am to the silence .and the for-Heavon's-snke-doii't-talk-to-riie-air of a London club, tho buzz of conversation that greets one on entering is at any rate novel. After luncheon, women ore sitting round tho fire discussing the theatres and players, and no one thinks it odd that a stranger should enter into the conversation and ask about plays to be seen. The old habitues do not look at the stranger out of .the corner of one eye and give a grudging answer, as we should in London, but turn to the questioner with their rational vivacity. It, is perhaps characteristic that though there is.a silent room for those who wish tj road and write without being disturbed, it has rarely been known to have an occupant. • From basement to roof-garden this club, decorated for the most part in the Georgian stylo by a well-known lady decorator, is complete in every detail. There is a gymnasium, in which the arduous game or basket-ball is played, and a swimming bath to plunge into after this violent exercise—classical in its treatment with its marble steps loading down into eleven feet of -water and its trellis of vine, with lamp-lit bunches of grapes overhead. -Adjoining it--are rooms for massage, for-Turkish and-Russian baths, for manicuring, for shampooing, for dressing, and even for/Nauheim. treatment. Upstairs, a .ball, or reception room, in which there are lectures, readings, and entertainments, and on the ground floor are to b© found books,rcviews, magazines, both American and English, and illustrated papers from both, sides of the Atlantic. Even "Punch" winked at mo from the drawing-room table as I passed. A coffee-room for members, and another for members and their guests, provided a luncheon that I wjs,h some/O.f our women's club co-rimittees-in: London.,could have been privileged to taste! For Artists and Writers, Next I visited a less luxurious but no loss interesting club, formed for the purpose of bringing together the feminino literary and artistic elements with those of the leisured classes, and hospitable to every foreigner of distinction in the world of art and letters. Designedly, I think, it has its entrance through a big studio building that gives it a pleasantly informal air at once, and the tent-like rooms leading into each other, full of modern works of art and interesting schemes of colour, have a studio effect that lends a distinctive atmosphere' to tho place. Here, too, lectures and literary entertainments are the great feature of tho club, and the cordiality and enthusiasm with which everybody welcomes the stranger who has attempted, achievod, or attained anything is very indicative of the national desire to' make history that is everywhere evident in. this city. And yot another club, to which both men and women can be admitted as members, where the princiiwl objects are to discuss and to demonstrate the principles of the art of music, literature, the drama, painting, sculpture, and architecture, and to aid in the extensiou of knowledge of works specially fitted to exemplify the finer purposes "of these arts. At both the former and the latter the clubs pledge thomselves to attend the performances of new plays and to encourage those that meet with approval, and printed notices of such are seat to,all the members. Thus tho uncommercial drama comes in for its share of attention from those of the public who are best able to appreciate anything of valuer; and it cannot be' entirely stamped out bv adverse criticism or by the public neglect, for some artistic member of the community will always .be found to urge others to follow his example and witness tho new drama for themselves. Throughout my visit here I realise, that England, with its tradition ami older civilisation, is far nearer to America than America ; is to England. Nor is there hero any of, the carping, envious spint of the Germans against the "Alte Kultur ' of the English, but a'genuine and ardent wish to emulate and acquire it as fast as modorn existing conditions will admit. _ That the'slow process of digestion is not quite possible in this insatinblo appetite for the heavier solids of old England is a matter of course, but my sympathies are -with tho hungrv who will risk tho headache to satisfy, their craving. WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW. That Miss Milsom for a. short time will treat and teach Ladies and Gentlemen the Scientific Treatment of the Head. She diagnoses all cases, either by letter or personally, states the preparations .(•/• bo used; because-what suits one case would be very harmful to another. This Is the only successful way to make hair grow, stop hair falling, to bring faded hair to tene and colour, to.restore and prevent grey hair. Treatments with instructions for home treatment from £1 Is. Delightful face treatment, to erase and prevent wrinkles, to make coarse B kin healthy, fine, and soft as velvet. Shampooing, Clipping, all treatments Blectrolvsis, latest methods iriualified Mme. Barkley, New York), permanent and painless. Miss Milsom, King's Chambers (opp. Stewart Dawson's), Wellington. TeleDhone BU.—Advt. Weddings.—Shower Bouquets for brides and bridesmaids. . Only tho choicest of Flowers used.- Specially.packed and rent to any part of the Dominion. Miss Murray, 35 Willis Street (Florist to his Excellency Lord Islington).