The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-23

| SlOnr lVc
Of 1897. Before that it was a class of stu
dents. without officers without written
| constitution. without the usual formalities
| or appearing to do much and yet doing
little. In several respects its inception
and Its plan OF work were unique, 20 say
the least. Eight years ago the organizer
of this class. Mrs. Josephine Weatherly.
came to Harper, bride. For eight years
! before this she had been a teacher of elo-
cution. and eleventh year work in an east
ern school, and lover OF books all her
| life. The students habit being hers, she
continued TO study and read; to take active
parts in educational and literary work in
her new home. Even after the cares of
maternity were hers. and a girl and a boy
came to enlarge lner sphere Of usefulness.
she still read largely. In the meantime she
saw those about her reading also. IL is true,
but without any definite aim. Many OF
these, she found upon closer acquaintance,
were ladies of culture. but who. under the
pressure of social and household cares. had
given up all attempts to keep up their
| girlhood accomplishments; had come to
! consider II impossible to keep in touch with
the times: had relegated school books to
the dim corridors of former days; had left
the training of their growing girls and boys
| wholly to the instruction OF paid teachers.
She ventured upon the experiment. since
become a. glorious possibility. of getting
together ladies-young girls just fresh from
school; brides, with plenty of leisure upon
| their hands; mothers, with boys and girls
who would like nothing better than TO find
in mother a sympathetic companion and
helper; old maids, with bright, receptive
minds; grandmothers Eyes, a few, whose
hearts and intel'ects were still young. Out
from this heterogeneous collection has
grown a class of students, earnest, wide
awake and ever eager for the truth. Seven
was the initial number who met at the
home of the teacher five years ago and
began the study of our presidential admin
istrations. An occasional afternoon was
devoted to the digest of current events. as
found in the daily newspaper, that great
university of popular education. So great
an interest was taken in this intelligent
perusal of the papers that the members
Of the families of these ladies, now in
creased to twenty-five, talked Of the living
issues of the day at the fireside at the
family board and at social gatherings.
At the class Rotations no books are IN
evidence, The studying and looking up
of references has al been done at home
by each lady for herself the lessons hav-
ing been given out the previous week, in
topical outline. The discussions are in
dulged in by all. yet in perfect order. only
one speaker having the floor at a time. Oc-
casionally some good music IS furnished
by some musical member. Long papers,
upon some undressing subject. written by
someone who knows next to nothing about
the theme, copied almost verbatim from
the encyclopedia, and listened 10 with ILL
concealed Indifference, are the exception
and not the rule in this club
No dues are levied. Expenses. II incur.
red. are apportionei equally among the
members. A careful record of attendance
is kept and absence from three consecutive |
meetings drops member from the roll.
A. the close of the years work written
examinations are held. papers marked and
ladies graded. and given honorable men
ton accordingly. The executive committee
for each new year Is composed OF those /
having made the high 81 grades. and who
were not absent during the entire pre-
vous year
There IS one rule in force that has held
this class together during the last four
years in perfect harmony. and launched Il
safely upon its fifth years work, and that |
is. Each one must attend strictly 20 her
own business. and the boss must no be too
bossy."
The wear ISoS-ss was inaugurated by re-
ception a. the home OF one Of the members. (
Mrs. c. c. Share. The house was taste 4
fully decorated IN pink and green. the club 4
co'ors. The table decorations. menu cards 4
and refreshments carried ont the color /.
scheme Each guest was given dainty 4
bit ot chnaware as a souvenir % the oc- I
castor. Literary games were INDUCED n. I
and an afternoon of pure. social -a7~erse 4
was spent. An original poem. since pub I
lished BY The Club Woman. % Boston. was /
=. o.
The club readings for the coming term 4
are as follows: "u.ius Caesar Shakes
peare). '-Snartacus % the Gladiators'
C1enogg). "Cato's solroquy'' CAddisou), +
cicero Against Mark Antony CBrouFh- +
AMI. "Catiline Denounced Cicero. The
Diving Gladiator" CBy-on). The Coliseum
cStoryA. ''Rianzf's Address Clifford 'ouo
vadis" Csienkiewiczl. "Oid Rome and New
France" CRose Clevelsnd)
From the above I; viii he readily inferred
that the year vii be devoted 70 the study
OF Rome.
Six hundred words. selected by c NJ
Parker OF Tayio-ville. IL. : the work fl
spelling and diacritica' marking
Three papers are all that VIII - inflicted
upon the class. as follows: The Roman
Forum "Fau OF Jerusalem Nolan
med's Religion
MEMBERS OF STUDY CLUB
Ms. = p. Fulton. Mrs. Dr. Martin
Ms. J. Weatherly, Mrs. =. Garrett.
NJ. c. c Share. Ms !. Hunter.
Mrs 8 8 Sisson Mrs : 2 Cole.
Mrs Captain Lee Ms H Farweu.
Mrs o 2. Spooner. Mrs. Wil.iam Beesoa.
Mrs c Erhart. Mrs G Westtsl.
Mrs WV Dsckerson Mrs. z. D Rogers.
Mrs : Q Hart. Ms. :. Cox.
Mrs 9 Wolf N-s NCunni- ehz-n.
N'ss = F-''.on. Ms J. a lamar.
Mss NJ Nsr Mss Shr-ver