378 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE 



been completely realized, except by the very few. but it has nevertheless 

 been a topic of absorbing interest to the public mind for the last ten 

 Tears, and there have been many reasons assigned for the existing state 

 of affairs. Although no one of them offers a complete explanation, 

 probabh' all of them have been factors in the development of the present 

 condition of woman. It is argued by some that the whole social organ- 

 ism is a direct outcome of the increasing spirit of democracy — that, in 

 the effort to bring everything to a common level, man has unconsciously 

 received woman on the same footing with himself. Others contend that 

 woman has recently discovered her actual superiority over man in many 

 respects, has found out that she possesses undreamed of abilities, and has 

 risen above the conventions that have, until recenth', bound her down to 

 n narrow walk in life. It would seem more logical, however, to ascribe 

 female liberty to the fact that w^oman has simply responded to her 

 opportunities. The last half century has teemed with events of vital 

 Importance, especially to the American people. The practical extermina- 

 tion of one race of people and the emancipation of another, the growth of 

 our large cities, the development of the public school system, the rise of 

 democratic ideas, the progress in science, resulting in wonderful in- 

 ventions — all these things have had a most important influence upon th'.' 

 ■civic and social existence of this people. What wonder is it that woman, 

 when she saw growth and development about her in every direction, re- 

 sponded to the quickening touch, and found herself able and eager to 

 accomplish what she would never have dreamed of attempting fifty years 

 ago? What wonder that her horizon has broadened, until now, for- 

 getting her own limitations, she is in danger of rushing to the opposite 

 ■extreme? 



The Woman's Club movement is the natural and logical outcome of the 

 position the sex has taken for itself. Mankind has always realized that 

 '''in unity there is strength," hence whenever there has been a definite 

 end to accomplish he has formed associations. The vast army of 

 Crusaders was nothing more nor less than a society with the red cross 

 for its badge and the capture of the holy city for its object. A more 

 striking example of this tendency is found in the labor guilds, which 

 sprang up all over Europe during the Middle Ages, and did nore than anv- 

 thing else to weaken the power of feudalism. The condition of France 

 just prior to the French Eevolution furnished another opportunity for 

 men to unite in the accomplishment of a great purpose. In the "same 

 way woman has realized that her position is a critical one, and that order 

 can be brought out of what now appears like chaos only by united action 

 •on -her part. This I believe to be the true explanation of the origin of 

 the Woman's Club movement. Its growth has been enormous and rapid, 

 and a study of the present condition of affairs shows that in many ways it 

 is the most complete expression that we have of the spirit of the" times. 



In the first place, the question arises, ''Is the Woman's Club a fad?" 

 It is a difficult one to answer. When we consider how recent the move- 

 ment is, and the enormous proportions to which it has already attained, 

 we are astounded. Over one million American women are enrolled as 

 club members. More than this, during the last seven years such per- 

 fection of organization has been reached that individual clubs are nov; 

 joined together in one grand federation, and below this are the State 

 federations, which are of no mean importance. Then the multiplicity of 



