Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-04-16
A NOVEL INDUSTRY.
A Woman's Scheme for Spreading Usef
Knowledge i'm Society,"

a Woman's Scheme for Spreading Useful
knowledge i'm Society.
A comparatively new avenue of en-
ployment for women, particularly for
intelligent and educated women, is that
of purveyor of information on topics of
the day. The plan originated with
bright woman who, at a dinner some
months ago, when the Samoan matter
was first prominent, beheld the con-
sternation into which the entire com
pany was thrown by the innocent ques-
tion of one of them: Where is Samoa,
by the way?" None of them, including
herself, knew for certainty, although
several more or less hazily correct sur
misses were given. The bright woman,
whose resources needed eking out, saw
her opportunity. Within week she had
sent out TO various ladies of her acquaint-
ance little written notices that on the
following Tuesday afternoon an informal
talk" upon Samoa and the Samoan
matter" would be delivered at tho resi-
dence of Mrs. -, West Seventeen
street, somewhat prominent society
woman who lent her this aid. 1t was
further stated that the purpose of the
talk was to present in concise and
portable way the salient features of
subject at the moment on the popular
tongue. Fully score of ladies were
present from which number class of
ten for a course of talks was evolved.
The terms were dollar apiece from
every member for lecture, and one
lecture per week was given during the
following three months, the class in
Creasing to twenty in very short time.
Before she had conducted the enter
prise month the fair lecturer had Sc
cured classes in both Brooklyn and Jer-
Sey City, and this year her scheme has
so enlarged upon her hands that four
days in the week she is at work morn
ing and afternoon, for, in addition to
the three cities, she has classes in
several suburban communities One
lecture, of course, serves for a weeks
work, and as she will take no class of
less than ten paying members, it may
be readily seen that the work is profit
able. 1t is also pleasant and not
difficult. The newspapers furnish her
with topics and an afternoon at public
library affords the information needed.
Occasionally, though not often, a fashion,
able book is the subject of talk; the gist
of such, however. is usually so readily
obtained through any one of the innum-
cradle newspapers and periodical re-
views that the value of comment is not
so obvious as in the case of other popu-
lar topics. The success of the pioneer in
the work has been of nature to attract
others to non-competitive fields. Two
charming women in Seneca Falls have
taken to the parlor platform, joining
forces in the undertaking, and have
flourishing classes, not only in the viii
lage named, but in Waterloo and SYRIA
cuse. with designs upon adjacent neigh
borhoods. All of the takers made a
speciality of complete and accurate in
formation upon the topic discussed,
rather than voicing their individual
opinion upon it. 1t is gratifying COM
ment upon the growth of the standard
of development in village communities
that the disciples of the metropolitan
lecturer SO quickly secured their audi
ences,-N, Y. Sun.