Part 19 (1/2)

Have some college woman address the club on work done in the line of higher education of women, and its results. See ”The College Girl of America,” by Mary C. Crawford (The Page Company).

IX--POSTGRADUATE WORK AND NEW IDEAS

Postgraduate work, the topic for the next meeting, includes that done in medical, law, and theological schools, and the work for degrees.

Representative schools may be selected as the subject for papers, and speakers from these should be had to tell of them to the club, if possible.

The final meeting on education may take up some of the new ideas of work, such as the opening of the school of journalism at Columbia University, and other attractive fields of study. Summer a.s.semblies may be spoken of, and their value, especially to those who have had few opportunities for study early in life. Correspondence schools may also be mentioned and their work discussed. Are they really as useful as they seem at first sight? Notice that many of them are able to give important help on special lines. Musical festivals, lecture courses, ill.u.s.trated talks on travel, and other of the many opportunities offered to the public may also be spoken of.

There is an abundance of material to be found on all educational subjects in a good encyclopedia. On special topics there are the educational journals, the educational department of the _Survey_, and magazine articles constantly. The Educational Bureau at Was.h.i.+ngton will give information and material on request. The excellent book ”Citizens.h.i.+p and the Schools,” by J. W. Jenks (Holt), should be read, and ”Education for Efficiency,” by E. Davenport (Heath), and the life and work of Horace Mann.

CHAPTER XIX

SPECIAL PROGRAMS ON GREAT MEN AND WOMEN

Often a club finds it best to break into its ordinary routine of work by having a special program. The birthday of a great writer, artist or musician offers a good subject for such a meeting, and the following programs are arranged to suggest such names with a brief outline of work on each.

Some clubs may like to select from the names given two or more for each month and so arrange a program for an entire year. In this case it is a good plan to take alternate writers, musicians and artists, giving a day to each one.

I--SEPTEMBER

History, music and literature may be represented by the life and work of Queen Elizabeth, General Lafayette, Dvorak, and our own Eugene Field, who were all born in September.

Divide the age of Elizabeth into several topics: the Court and the Queen's favorites; discoverers; wars; Mary, Queen of Scots; and the great literary men of the time, Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Spenser, and others. Have readings on all these.

The story of Lafayette begins with the American Revolution; then the Revolution in France and the part he played in it. Follow his career and friends.h.i.+ps, and the relations between France and America. Close with a sketch of Lafayette's visit here after the war, and read a description of it. (See the Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris.)

A good musical program can be arranged by having first a paper on the composer, Dvorak, with comparisons of his work and that of his contemporaries, and then several selections played from his compositions.

Last, the life and work of Eugene Field will be found delightful. Have a paper on his home life, his whimsical personality, his friends; read from his prose, and have some of his verses sung. Compare his poems with Stevenson's ”Child's Garden of Verse.”

II--OCTOBER

In this month art, drama and music are offered, in the works of Sir Christopher Wren, Sheridan and Verdi.

In art Wren was a prominent figure in his century. Living when London was being rebuilt after the great fire, he stamped his genius on no less than fifty churches, and built St. Paul's, his own great monument. He was called a ”rare and early prodigy of universal science.” His friends.h.i.+ps are among the most interesting points to be studied.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan wrote the ”Rivals” and ”The School for Scandal,” two plays which stand unequaled for humor and clever satire.

Read of their presentation, and of Sheridan as manager and theater owner. Turn from this to his career as a parliamentarian and read his speech at the trial of Warren Hastings, which marked him as one of our most brilliant orators. Notice his death in poverty and his burial in Westminster Abbey. Read from his plays.

Verdi wrote ”Ernani,” ”La Traviata,” ”Riggoletto” and ”Ada.” Speak of his long and interesting life, and his remarkable work. Note that his influence over others was of unusual force. Have a musical program from his operas.

III--NOVEMBER

Martin Luther, Schiller, Oliver Goldsmith and George Eliot all have birthdays to remember at this time.