New-York tribune., 1875-09-27
STUDY AFTER SCHOOL DAYS.
THE SOCIETY TO ENCOURAGE STUDIES AT
HOME.

tTHoM AN oCc ,sIoSAL CORRESPONDENT TRIBUSEl
Boston, Sept. 23.-Tho modest Society TO Encour- |
agc Studies at Home, which has its local home in this
city, IS about 10 begin its third year, and the meas
OF success already gained confirms those inter-
csted in the belief that toccupes useful and really
important place. The Society is as simple in its or
ganzation as we'll he. A committee of ten la
dies constitute the management and a gentleman
well known for lis scholarship and for his interest
in all matters relating to sound educa-
tion is Chairman, his duties consisting, l
believe, in presiding at the single meeting
of the Society which is held in the course of the
year. The only other officer is Secretary and
Treasurer lady filing both Offices. The rules IN
force for ladies who desire to join the Society arc
brief and simple: The members must be at least
seventeen years old they must pay each fee of
two dollars year at the beginning OF each term to
meet expenses of printing, postage, ete.; they are
expected to try to devote certain amount OF time
each day, or each week, to their work msmbers
when joining, each lady procure programme
of studies from the Secretary, and when she has
selected the branch branches she wishes TO pur-
sue, she informs the Secretary of her choice and
receives in return the directions and questions
which have been prepared for the course she
has selected, at the same time being Informed to
which member OF the Committee and at what stated
times she is expected TO report her progress when
she will be supplied with farther lists and dircc-
tions. The books selected are as far rs possible
such "a can he easily obtained, either by private
purchase which is desirable or i'll case OF more eX-
pcnsive ones from the libraries aud book clubs, the
Society itself lending few at triaing charge 10
cover postage wear and tear, While advice is given
when asked with regard to the purchase of the
books. The term for study is from Oct to
June l. when a meeting IS held in some private
house in Boston, where all the members are invited
to hear the results of the yea and to take part IN TIE
giving and receiving of certificates and diplomas.
These rules indicate the simple plan pursued and
1t is az evident how unconventional 1t lS and
how far removed from the customary system of COM
pulslon. 1t is meant in general for those girls vino
have finished their education, in common parlauce,
hut have just began to have genuine love of read
ing and study. 1t appeals to their enthusiasm, and
seeks rathertO guide aud direct the enthusiasm than
TO invoke it, to cultivate habits of study partially
formed rather than to take Uniformed, untutored
minds and nstil first principles. 1t sulposeS good
groundwork of education in the first place, before il
undertakes to edifv further. Then it brings into
play. too, the delightful relation which may so nat
urally exist between an elder and a younger lady,
and all under simple system which is not embar-
rassed by too complicated machinery.
The Society has from tle first avoided publicity,
and especially when the plan in It's experimental
phase the ladies were wholly unwilling to have the
operation publicly discussed Now that the expert
ment has borne the test of tme the results are such
as TO make them confident, and while they still keep
the Society strictly private one, they have per-
mitted their circulars to pass and then into the
hands of those who likely 70 use them in more
public manner. do not feel at liberty to mention
tie names of any Of those engaged in this excellent
Society but they stand on The circular they repre-
sent families that have been long associated with
the literary, scientific and educational interests of
the city.
The last general meetirg held in June. gave occa-
sion for interesting reports as to the activity of
the Society. Eighty-two names appeared on The
lis for the second term and of these 90 students
were present from various places in the Ncw-Eng-
land States and New-YorS the places with which
correspondence is held scattered over the conn
try in 80 towns in 13 States the most remote being
Indiana and Tennessee. The records as kept ind;-
cate the quality of work done by each student and
il appeared that there was more than 20 per cent Of
satisfactory work. with per cent OF total failure; III
other words, 80 students had done well, of whom
2S took higiest rank, Is second rank, and Is
third rank, while z had withdrawn OF failed
to report. This was double gain on the Gst term
when there we're only 40 names and 90 per cent Of
satisfactory work. The courses open to the studeats
had been six and give these in the order in which
they were preferred by students with the number
choosing each some students of course took
than one:
English Literature selected by 43.
History was selected lv 81.
Science was selected y ~.
German selected y 10.
French was selected Ivy 8.
Ar1 selected by ..
To give some idea of the course in English liiera-
ture add the list of books given to students taking
that subject: Spaldng'S History of English Litcra-
tuIe; Chalnberss Manual Of English Literature,
ChambeTs's Cyclop@dia of English Literature, which
is preferable. After these, i'll chronological der.
separate works of great authors with special cIti
cisin as BacOlls Essays, with Macaulay's' Essay
Bacon; Mlton's Areopagitca, with Seeley's Essay;
Selections from Addison and Goldsmith with Thack-
eray's Lectures the lIumorists and Others SINH
larly chosen. Then students who would Ike to
make a careful study of of Shakespoares
plays with illustrative reading, given the oppor
tunity.
1t is of course impossible to state results in
than general terms, but perhaps some idea ca tic
formed of tbs character of the work sought from
the students by naming the titles of three essays
which were read at the meeting, eight essays having
been sent in:
l. On the Political Aspect of Europe at tho Begin
ming of the sixteenth Century.
IL On Some Works of Art, as Described by Wor-
nun, Compared with the Rules Of Lessing.
Ill. On the Witches in Sbakcspeare's Tragedy OF
Macbeth.
The Society was suggested by similar one in
London, and / do not why the plan cannot be
taken up in half dozen different cities and towns
by committees working quite independently OF each
other though no dOubt the Boston ladies would
gladly aid in such establishment by advice drawn
frou, their own experience. The charm of the Soc-
ETY., tn my mind, Is in the freedom with which it