The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-01-20
THE LITERARY CLUB.


of literary club has been agitated,
and is in fair way of succeeding
Nothing would afford US more pleas
ure that to see club of that sort or
ganized in our little town. Letting
alone the promoters of good sound
literature and other results, it would
certainly contribute wonderfully 10
unite our people aud make life more
pleasant.
4 The members of the club may rely
entirely on the support of the Banner
Democrat TO promote the interest OF
the organization, and we have so much
the welfare of it at heart, that we hest
tate not in giving some points that
may help along the wonld-be organ
izers of it.
| OF course they should profit by ex-
perience, and as we had here at one
time q well organized literary club,
the Iris Club, they should inquire why
ii did not succeed.
| Mr.. j. E. Ransdell started the Iris
] Club and was the life of it during the
short period Of its existene, Que year.
He worked hard to make il success,
and during the few months of its ex-
istence the club proved to be source
of pleasure to all the members, but
especially to our young people.
Why it disbauded, we would at
tribute 10 three different causes; LIST,
the lack Of interest on the part of the
members to bring in their regular con-
tribulion; 2ud, movement 10 make il
a dancing club; Srd, that famous sup
per that killed it. dead. In order to
make success of new literary club,
the members of it should see that they
do not make the same mistake.
I How could they be remedied, and
how could the club be made an inter-
esting one, is the next question. We
would suggest that, as the club has to
meet at private houses, that the meet
ings should take place, causing no ex-
pense whatever to the person at whose
house il is to meet. Under no cousid-
Grafton should it he allowed to the
hostess entertaining the club to pass
around cakes, wine, refreshments OF
any kind the club should expect only
good warm room, plenty oflight and
plenty of seats. This should be made
a never-to. be-broken rule.
The club should be strictly literary,
and hare for its object the literary inn
provements of its members, and under
no consideration should it be made a
dancing club. Dancing should not be
allowed on the same night al the resi-
dence where the club is meeting.
That same thing shook the Iris Club
in its foundations, and came very near
killing it, and the organizers should
see that no discording element enters
the association. If they want to make
it a success, let it be strictly literary
and take in only people who want 10
improve themselves intellectually.
We said above that the supper the
|
Iris Club gave killed it, and we might
have said Justly also, that it was dying
its own good death. and that the sup
per was only the final stroke. A lack
of interest on the part of all the men,
. bers made the meetings dull, insipid ;
only few, and always the same,
brought their contributions, and their
stock of interesting literature was
soon exhausted. Other members
would be appointed at every meeting
to prepare contribution for the next
meeting, but most of them failed to
/ bring it, and the old relia6ie had to be
! called upon to fill their places, which
of couse, doing without preparation.
they did without success.
We would suggest that, instead of
The President calling upon so many
members 10 bring contributions to the
next meeting, he should only determine
at whose house the club would meet
The next week, or the next month, and
rely entirely on the hostess preparing
a programme for the entertainment OF
her guests. In this way, she would
exert herself to make it pleasant
evening. calling upon the different
members of The club of her acqnain-
tance to furnish readings, recilations
music, etc.
| Ii is impossible for the President of
a club to interview personally during
the mouth every member that be has
appointed to give contribution, and
see that they do it, aud beg them to
do it but tho hostess at whose house
the club is 10 meet will see personally
that all have fine time and that her