OVER THE TEACUPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10768, 14 May 1913, Page 6

OVER THE TEACUPS.

DAME RUMOUR AND A WOMAN'S

CLUB. (By FBMINA.)

Some "little bird in the air" has been giving away the secrets of the grove, and singing of a project that may soon leave the World of Unborn Enterprises and make its appointed way to port in the Galley of the Dawn, favoured by the goodwill of all winds that blow fair for womanhood in this progressive year of grace. The garrulous bird, in so many words, declares that the idea of a women's club for Canterbury has taken sudden but auspicious root, and already is putting forth leaves of inquiry in this and that direction, to what end Time alone can show, though there would seem no doubt that this is the hour for the Province of .the Plains to help itself on lines along which educated and intelligent feminity, elsewhere lias found freest voice and happiest scope in our opening century. Women's Leagues, indeed, are legion; Women's Societies are multifold wearinesses of the flesh, but the club idea is not a rival to these labours of love and duty; it is a harmonising, a lightening, a quickening of these isolated agencies, a " hands-all-round " movement that touches the inner simplicities of modern womanhood. Can our women of the Plains become widely and intelligently " clubable " ? Can they bring their .several gifts of home-making, music, art. literature, professional attainment and social distinction to the common club-fund of pleasant communion and articulate cooperation? Can they leave the controversial details of their politics, isms and social panaceas outside on the club doormat and bring in the generous enthusiasm and glow of progress which is the essence of all of them? These are the questions that float in the air of Christchurch at present, with relevant speculations as to sane finance and cautious outlay, for clubwomen cannot meet like birds on a bough, but must needs do all things decently and in order.

Thus far the busy tongue of Rumour has carried the matter at present. The rest lies on the lap of the gods.