Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-10-24
FIRE.


We have many reasons, in the direct
testimonials that have come to us, for be
leving that an article which we published
in this department II year or two since, ON
i" Winter Amustmcnts, was remalk kahIy
suggestive and stimulating in the establish
mrnt of clubs for culture and recreation.
We spoke specially of reading clubs,
Shakespeare clubs etc. The project
was entered upon in Il great many towns
throughout the length and breadth of tn"
land, and great good has come OF it. To
open Il still wider field of intellectual
recreation and instruction is the object Of
this article.
In IL certain country town, which w"
need not name, there was established last
wear a "Rome Club" considerable
number of in eligent ladies, moved there
to by the existence of literary club
among their husbands and brothers. gath.
cred together and formed a club among
themselves for the study Of historical
cities. Rome was chosen us the first city
to be invesligated-iJs pagan history, its
Christian history, its art in various depart
ments, its relations 10 the world ut various
ieuochs. etc. etc. Subdivisions of the lar-
ger topics were made, and each woman
was given u branch to stu y, with the du-
ty to write out her conclusions and re-
suits, and Dread them ut the weekly meet
mos of the club. 1t is declared to Us by
one who watched the development OF The
enterprise that rs the result OF thai
winters most interc> ting work, this town
contains the largest number ot women
who know everything about Eome that
any town in tn, United States can boast.
Every available library was ransacked ior
material, books were overhauled that were
black with the undisturbed dust OF u CEN
lury, knowledge was organized, put INTO
form, communicated; and when the WIN
ter closed, the women found NOT only tl'''
they had been immensely Interested, 5ul
that their heldof knowledge had been very
much enlarged.
rhis wear, this same club will take up
another civ. Whether it will be London
or Paris, or Jerusalem, or Athens, or Ven
ice we do not know, and it does not mat
fer. But what mine of interest ana IN
slrnction lies before them in any OF these
How very small do the ordinary amusc'
mGutS Ol IL IOWn lOOh " thN S' ~,
employments of such club as this Wha
In cure for gossip and neigbborhood twad
die is contained in such club! What al
enlargement Of the sphere OF though
comes of such amusements ana employ
mrnts! How the whole world, through al
It's ares and among all its scenes and reo5
nles' becomes Illuminated with marVel
ous human interest, to women who study
il together, and with Il certain degree o
competition, in this way! ,.,.
OF course, enterprises OF this klhd ar'
not nee ssariIy confined to the study o
cities. Countries may be studied win tn, t.n.,
same advantage perhaps even VIII
greater advantage. A special topic ma.
! be taken up. At this time much IS writ Wrl!t
+ t, n upon att. 1t is practically a new lopI
in tnls country. We. as nation, are ' nov
making our beginnings in art. Inc stema' m
. oct scnlptors and painters America ma
! produced are living men to-day; ART Ma
q no history here. Art, historically theh' :,
~, in its relations to ciyilizatioh--art i
: its influence on personal character-art Il
G 'n an outorowth Of life and power up.o
ife-fnrpishes II subject that may well III
, terest a group of women fora WINTER ~
onlv. but for many Einters. we Emo"
: girfs who are as much interested In worn
Q 0f nolitical economy as if they were nov no!
j. els Wo can hardly imagine any'nin ill
J. more interesting to d club OF prlgn' y"