Woman's Club Work and Programs Part 33

V--THE ART OF CONVERSATION

This subject opens a whole literary field and will be found delightful to expand into several meetings. A roll-call might be answered with famous _bons mots_ from some of the men and women to be studied. Sidney Smith, Charles Lamb and others have left many.

The first paper might be on famous conversationalists; mention Johnson, Horace Walpole, Macauley, f.a.n.n.y Burney, Samuel Rogers, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Sidney Smith, among many others.

The second would follow with some account of famous salons, especially those of France at the time of Recamier; see Sainte-Beuve's essays on this theme. What of corresponding salons elsewhere?

A third paper would speak informally of conversation to-day; is it becoming a lost art? Do we consider it seriously?

This paper will lead naturally to a discussion on these and similar themes: What of our home table talk? Should children be taught to converse rather than to chatter? Shall we prepare ourselves in advance for conversations at dinners and other social occasions? What is the relation between a good conversationalist and a good listener?

VI--MENDELSSOHN

When club members can not only write papers but also play and sing, this will be found a popular little program: Mendelssohn's famous grandfather; his father, interested in his son's genius; his early home life; his sister f.a.n.n.y; the little Sunday morning concerts; his education, his versatility, his gay, affectionate nature.

The second paper may be on the early beginnings of his work as a composer; of his first opera; the overture to Midsummer Night's Dream, and the formation and work of his choir. Speak of his travels in England and on the continent, of his marriage; his call to Berlin by the king, and his operas and oratorios; the foundation of his music school; and last his death.

The third paper should discuss his position among musicians, his greatest work and its lasting qualities. Discuss: Does Mendelssohn rank among the great musicians?

Between each two papers have played some of the Songs Without Words, and others of his best known compositions, and have some of his songs sung, or selections from his oratorios; or they may be given by using musical records. The Lark, I Would that My Love, and Had I the Wings of a Dove, are among the best.

VII--COLLEGES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

This is another popular program, and one easily prepared and discussed.

Divide it into two parts: first, the great universities, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Columbia; their history; their opportunities; show pictures of each campus. Follow with a paper on the small college; its advantages; the state universities; college athletics; fraternities, dangers of college life; does college prepare for a business life?

Next take girls' colleges in the same general way; describe Bryn Mawr, Va.s.sar, Wellesley and Smith; and show pictures of them. Have papers on, Is a college education essential for all girls? and What are its advantages over the boarding-school, and its disadvantages? and What of athletics for girls? and Should their studies be those of men's colleges entirely?

Discuss these subjects, and add others: Does college life unfit a girl for life at home? Is a college girl likely to demand a career? Does she marry? Have some college songs sung: Fair Harvard, Old Na.s.sau, Neath the Elms of Dear Old Yale, and others.

VIII--THE CARE OF CHILDREN AND THE AGED BY THE STATE

This is one of the subjects in line with the philanthropy of to-day, and will be found suggestive of social work for women's clubs.

The first paper might be on Orphan Asylums; the care of young children, their food, dress, education and personal oversight. What of adopting children from asylums? What of placing children in homes instead of asylums?

The second paper would take up: the defective children to be cared for in asylums. The blind, deaf, epileptic and idiots.

The third paper would be on the care of the aged; of almshouses, especially those of the county; are they sanitary, well cared for and cheerful? Are the old people well fed, clothed and amused? Are husbands and wives separated?

The last paper might touch upon English almshouses on the cottage plan and contrast them with our own large inst.i.tutions.

Discuss the near-by almshouses, and question what can be done to better conditions.

IX--RECENT BOOKS

A group of three or at the most four books are quite enough for a miscellaneous program for one afternoon. They may be selected on one general theme, such as biography, or on several. The first book suggested here is a delightful life study, that of Robert E. Lee, Man and Soldier, by Thomas Nelson Page. Notice the clearness and beauty of the style, the appreciation of the man's character and work, and the well chosen descriptions of his a.s.sociates. Read part of a chapter near the close of the book.

Second, have a paper on The Promised Land, by Mary Antin, one of the really great books of to-day. Tell the story of her life, reading here and there from her own words; show how she was handicapped and yet how she rose, and speak of the fact that such women bring inspiration to our sh.o.r.es.

Third, take The Three Brontes, by May Sinclair, a book of fascinating interest. Briefly give a resume of the family, and speak of the work of each sister; compare with Clement Shorter's The Brontes and Their Circle.

Or, for a program on several topics, have these three books for the papers: first, The Lady of the Decoration, by Frances Little. Give a review, with its story, the local color, the humor and pathos; read short selections.

Second, take Heretics, by Chesterton; here again, review his style, his mannerisms, and note his light touch; read briefly from two essays.

Third, take a collection of short stories, perhaps Jacobs' Dialstone Lane. Speak of his quaint dry humor, his sense of the incongruous, the similarity of his captain-heroes, and the absurdity of his plots. Read one story.

X--MARKETS

For a last program take the subject of Markets. If possible, ill.u.s.trate some of these foreign markets mentioned, the pictures to be found in magazines.

Flower markets will make a first paper; notice those of Paris especially, near the Madelaine; of Covent Garden, London. Note the smaller flower markets in connection with the ordinary markets of cities.

A second paper may discuss famous markets in our own land, notably the markets of New Orleans and other Southern cities; their picturesqueness; their value to the housewife. Are they hygienic?

Third, take up the larger aspects of the subject; our great meat markets in cities here and abroad; note the market at Smithfield, London, on Sat.u.r.days, and the old Fulton Market of New York, and others. What can be done to regulate our markets, and make them clean and wholesome? What have women done here of recent years to clean up the markets of the West? What of foreign markets, especially in Germany?

Discuss the practical aspects of the subjects. What of the relation of farmers to customers? Can the latter insist on cleanliness and fair trade? What has the pure food legislation done on those points?

THE END