[Letter] Feb.17,1887,Smith College [to F.H. Giddings]

Feb. 17, 1887, Smith College.

Dear Mr. Giddings,
            Thanks for counsel
as to criticism. I sent a letter
to Mr. Twining, Ed. of Independent,
with request that he forward it
to the critic. It explained
the misinterpretation on which
his charge of a socialistic leaning
was based. I may or may not
hear from it. Dr. Bemis
wrote that Dr. Seligman would
probably come in March. I hope
he will. We must get some
definite word if we can before
next meeting. Dr. Bemis writes
from Vassar full of enthusiasm
over his reception and success.
 About educational movements,
if anything is in condition to
push I would not wait for
club meeting before conferring
if there were anything I could
do about it. Mr. Geo. W. Cable
has started a system of
clubs - a 'home culture'
movement - for the young
working people, of both sexes, here.
The clubs are limited to six
members, have a leader, meet
once a week, and pursue in
the interval between the meetings,
a course of reading selected by
themselves with advice from
Mr. Cable. They have simple
refreshments at meetings, which
take place in houses of members,
when they have homes. It has
great possibilities, but is in its
infancy. I think Work and Wages
could be very useful by marking
out courses of study for clubs of
workmen.
 Although not just now in
politics I had a spasm of wrath
concerning pensions, and wrote
what you have seen in copy
of Workman sent today. If a
little healthy sentiment on
that point could be created
among labor organizations the
demagogic congressmen would not
be long in changing their
tone.

         Yours Very Truly,
                J. B. Clark

P.S.
No objection whatever
to your quoting from letter in
the circular. I suppose you
would not naturally give
writer's name.
P.S.
The criticism of the Post
is admirable. I do not think
the kitchen can be the
refuge that Mrs. Campbell thinks
it will be for working girls, although
I do realize that in a great city like
New York the relations of workshop
and kitchen are more favorable
to her view than, say, in Northampton.
We must get a league formed
for buying the product of a cooperative
shop, get a capitalist to furnish the
means and brains, and run the shop
on a profit-sharing basis. By the way,
Capt. David Hill did not get the Feb. No.
of Work and Wages. I suppose the
subscription came too late for that.
I am to lecture on Labor Question tomorrow
evening, and if I can, shall talk of the
question at issue with Post. I may have to give
a short series of the lectures. They are in public.