Miscellaneous Programs
When clubs have serious subjects for their year's work, which require considerable reading and the writing of substantial papers, it gives variety to arrange the general program in such a way that a light program comes between two heavy ones; or at least to have every third meeting of quite different character from the rest.
Often clubs can invite a speaker from outside to take up most of the hour; a traveller, a settlement worker, a college professor, an actor, a journalist, a judge of a Children's Court, a student of bird life, all have something worth while to contribute. Perhaps a writer will read from his books; or a musician will sing or play, or an artist will tell of life in the ateliers of Paris or Rome. Even in a small town one can find some one who has a friend who will come and help in such ways, and there is no better way to rouse interest in a club than to offer such meetings occasionally.
Where it is impossible to provide anything of this kind, it is still a good plan to have miscellaneous meetings from time to time; but there is always the danger that these will be spoiled by having them consist of odds and ends, a paper on one subject followed by another on something which has no relation to the first, and perhaps a third which is still further afield. It is best to have but one topic for each meeting, with music if possible, and a social hour afterwards.
One of the best ways to begin a miscellaneous program is to take up current events for ten minutes. It is possible to plan systematically for these, so that one member is responsible for a report on foreign affairs, wars or politics, or whatever is of national importance anywhere; another for great scientific discoveries or important inventions; a third, noteworthy music; a fourth, for the great book of the hour; a fifth, for anything of especial importance to women. No one should write these brief outlines, but merely give them informally. The material can be found by following the daily papers, or looking up articles in review magazines.
Clubs which study a historical or literary subject often find it interesting to begin these miscellaneous programs with a roll-call, members answering to their names with quotations from the authors of the period, or from one author alone. There are books of quotation which give the best short lines for such recitations, and one gets a good, if brief idea of writers in this way.
As to the matter of miscellaneous programs, the subjects should not be too heavy and papers should not be too long or too seriously written. Popular themes, the books of some well-known author, the magazines of the day, a philanthropy, a brief study of a political figure, all work out easily. Above all, whatever theme is selected, there should be a discussion of the subject at the close of the meeting. Women do not speak easily and naturally impromptu, and it is an immensely valuable training to be obliged to present one's views clearly, concisely and to the point before even a small audience, and even a short experience of this kind in a club is of enormous assistance. If the subject of the discussion is announced in advance members may prepare themselves to take part.
I—A CENTURY OF DRESS
A very simple but most interesting program for one miscellaneous meeting may be prepared on this theme. Divide it into three parts, having the first paper on The Dress of Our Grandmothers; speak of its durability, its simplicity, its lack of change from one season to another; mention the bonnets, mitts, slippers, muffs and fans; illustrate with old prints or fashion plate or illustrations from books of about 1820 and 1830.
The second paper would then be on The Dress of Our Mothers. This will cover the periods of 1860, with its hoopskirts, its coalscuttle bonnets, its shawls, worked collars, and cameo pins; 1871 too, should be represented, with the tied back skirts, the small hats perched on chignons, the ridiculous sunshades. Read Miss Flora McFlimsey at this point.
The third paper would be on Our Own Dress, showing the extreme styles, short, with scanty skirts and huge hats. Speak briefly of the sudden change of styles and their causes, and the tendency to extravagance.
Discuss topics such as these: How far shall we follow the dictates of fashion? How much of a woman's income should be spent for clothes? What of our daughters' dress?
It will add to the interest of this program if the three papers are read by members in the costumes of the times of which they speak, or if three or four tableaux are shown illustrating the papers. Have little ballads about dress sung if possible, the Old Grey Bonnet, the Owld Plaid Shawl, and Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be? among others.
Several programs might easily be made from this outline; one, on Peasant Dress, with illustrations from all countries; another on Colonial Dress; a third on Quaker Dress. By using the dress of all nations and all times, an entire year might be delightfully spent on the subject of Women's Costumes.
II—EMERSON AND HIS TIMES
Clubs which prefer literary study will find this subject most interesting, and like the previous one, capable of expansion into many programs.
Begin with a roll-call, the responses being selections from Emerson's prose and verse.
The first paper would be on his boyhood, his parents, his home life and education, his marriage, his ministry, his quiet life in Concord.
The second paper would take up the friends so closely associated with him, especially Alcott, Margaret Fuller, Thoreau, Longfellow and Whittier. The story of Brook Farm may come in here, or have a special paper by itself; close with his travels in England.
The last paper would be on Emerson's work as author and lecturer; of his place in his own day; of what Englishmen thought of him, especially Carlyle; of the influence of his essays on young men.
Have readings from prose and verse; read also from some estimates of him by great writers. See A Memoir of Ralph Waldo Emerson, by James Eliot Cabot. Discuss, Is Emerson's place among philosophers what it was a generation ago? Does the modern idea of social service find encouragement in him? What was his attitude in regard to individualism?
III—CHILDREN AND BOOKS
This is one of the topics on which it would be interesting to have the club invite some speaker, perhaps a librarian, to speak. She would probably take up some of the following topics. The effect of the public library for children of the poor, of their interest in it, their delight in the warm, charming reading-room, their growth in personal cleanliness as they learn to care for the books entrusted to them. Of what books children draw from a library; of the reading of history, of fairy stories, of poetry, of books of adventure. Definite and helpful suggestions will be given for children who have books at home, of what parents should give them to read, and how to interest them in good literature.
If no speaker can be had for the meeting, divide these topics into two or three papers, and have members write or speak on them.
Close with a discussion on these lines: What books have replaced the Rollo Books, Little Prudy, and the Elsie Books? What of giving children grown-up writers to read such as Shakespeare, Don Quixote, Mallory and Bunyan? Does much reading of stories vitiate their taste for better literature?
This program will be more delightful if songs about children are interspersed; Eugene Field's verses set to music by De Koven are admirable.
IV—MURAL PAINTING
In preparing this program look up in advance plenty of illustrations from historical books on art and architecture, magazines of art, and prints and photographs of famous examples, such as the Sistine Chapel.
The first paper will of course deal with the earliest form of mural painting, found in Egypt, Assyria, and Greece. Describe these, and notice the colors used by the Greeks.
The second paper should speak of the wonderful paintings in churches, of altar pieces, and the decorations in fresco of walls and ceilings; select from the many examples of churches in Italy. Then the guild halls of the middle ages should be mentioned, and the curious work on bridges and elsewhere in Germany. The third paper should speak of the extraordinary interest to-day in mural painting; note that of the Houses of Parliament and other places abroad; show pictures of the work of Abbey and Sargent in the Boston Public Library, and of Blashfield and La Farge in the Congressional Library at Washington and elsewhere, and the excellent mural paintings on our public buildings, court houses and capitols, and some public schools in New York.
Discuss: The Cost of Mural Paintings To-day: Are They Worth While?
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, Fanny 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 Récamier; 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 Fanny; 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, Vassar, 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 Nassau, 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 institutions.
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 associates. 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 shores.
Third, take The Three Brontës, by May Sinclair, a book of fascinating interest. Briefly give a résumé of the family, and speak of the work of each sister; compare with Clement Shorter's The Brontës 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, illustrate 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 Saturdays, 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?