MONTHLY PARLOR MEETING.
Music.
1. Roll call—Quotations from Greek Authors.
2. A Map Exercise. Trace Philip’s conquering march, as indicated by Demosthenes in his third Olynthiac oration.
3. Essay—Demosthenes.
Music.
4. An Analysis of Tennyson’s “Princess.”
5. A Paper on the Famous Women of Greece.
Music.
6. Debate—Resolved, that the effects of the modern theater compare unfavorably with those of the ancient.
Music.
It may not be amiss to follow our programs—which are intended to be merely suggestive—with a very short exposition of our program-philosophy. It is not a heavy philosophy; indeed, it is so simple that we half suspect we may be laughed at for calling it a philosophy at all, but its principles, we believe, are true and useful; as such we offer them. According to our ideas there are four subjects which should be represented on each C. L. S. C. program; first in the list and in importance is the week’s or month’s reading, its prominent features, its suggestions, its facts, its practical lessons; second, the world’s work of to-day, not merely its events of public interest, its schemes and disasters, but its science, invention, art, literature, morals, social life, civilization, its men and its manners; to follow both exercises and clinch what has been suggested, “good talk” ought to be an invariable part of each evening’s work. Take care that talk, free, genial, interested talk, follows every performance, or every program, and be sure that always
“Music dwells
Lingering and wandering on as loth to die.”
These are the four elements necessary to a good program. As to how they shall be treated we have also a theory. Its first principle is let everything be well done; while thorough, do not go astray in dates and statistics, but go to the point which you desire to make. Then be bright and interesting, the third essential in each performance. Withal, suit your theme and your treatment of it to your audience. Let the subject be of common interest, the matter neither so commonplace as to seem puerile nor so technical as to be “over the heads” of your auditors. Such is our program-philosophy. A better you will undoubtedly formulate by practicing this.