Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-28
NEW-CENTURY CLUB.

Dir. S.eC. Schumacher of the wost
Chester Normal School leutured at the
club on Monday afternoon before an
audience composed largely of children.
on "Our Little Brothors OF tho Air, :"
who, however, are not 30 closely related
to us in structure as soma other ami
mails. IL you have ever held live bird
in your hand you have noticed how
warm is it's body. how fast its heart
beats, and how il draws its breath in
quick, short pants, caused you supposed
by fright. But this is its normal con
dition it's ordinary temperature is 100
degrees, which in Us would show a con-
dition Of high fever This temperature
must be maintained by tho most highly
nutritious and condensed form Of food
which can he rapidly converted into
fuel and this il finds 10 insects and
seeds, and 10 the very heart OF fruit
aud flower buds. In its feathers it has
the most perfect protection against cold
ana yet the lightest covering possible I;
the Tail is the rudder by which it steers
in it's fight.
In speaking of the mother love in
| birds Dr. Schumacher told how noticing
the erratic flight OF hawk 200 feet in
air he looked through his field glass
and found 1t was mother hawk teach
| ing her five babies to fly. She did not
allow single one TO fall; az souu us
one began TO sink sine would fly under
meath and give it rest and boost, :"
and with watchful eys kept them all in
air.
lie appealed to his hearers not 10
wear the plumage Of any bird not killed
for fOud, except the feathers Of the
ostrich. 1t is often said that it is Just
IA cruel to wear them as it is to wear
any other feathers as the bird suffers
when they IRE pulled, but this is not
true. If pulled when in their prime,
it would hurt the bird, and ostriches
are TOO profitable to be thus injured, go
tho feathers are cut when in proper
condition, anu the quilts pulled out
when almost ready TO drop OF their own
accord. DR.. Schumacher said we might
as we'll accept the English sparrow us a
fellow citizen and cease to dislike him,
as he has come to stay. Our native
birds are losing their fear OF him aud
are returning to our cities and thor
neighpOrhood again.
The closing exercises of the Current
Events Glass were held on Tuesday
afternoon. The chairman, Mrs. Berlin,
was presentod by members OF tho class
with largo nouquet of roses, her
favoriie flower. in recognition Of her
faithful and untiring work al chairman
OF tho class for the past three years,
and of her unfailing courtesy to all.
The programme opened with piano
solo by Miss Peoples, followed by q
duet, Welcome to the Swallow, " sung
by Mrs.. Miller and Miss Lore. Miss
Preston read some notes on domestic
economy; In alluding to the much
taiked'of French economy. she said il
would require great moral courage in
an American housewife to put on her
table at each meal, the exact amount oil
foud needed by her family, and no more,
as ia done 10y the French housekeeper,
yet this is good plan, both economi.
cally and hygienically. Miss Grey and
Miss Isabel Grey of Salem, N. j..
kindly contributed to tine entertain
ment by singing some plantation songs
with banjo accompaniment Mrs.
Elizabeth Robinson related in rhyme
the lung list OF the past seasons work
OF the class and ended with the timely
suggestion:
Now let us 60 home andtake rest,
And let our winters mental food digest
quartet song was! given by Mrs.
Miller, Mrs Tatnall, Miss Berlin and
Miss Lore accompanied by Nj lisa Peoples.
Miss Berlin whistlsd some selections,
and Miss Grey sang Scotch song.
Mrs. Nielda reviewed the momentous
national events of the past week. MIS-.
Lindley q. Kent kindly consented tc
act as chairman of tbs class for next
season. and Miss Aleine L. Jones was
elected for secretary.
The ladies' Of the Dover Now Centur,
Club hons fur large attendance from
our club ut the fret meeting of thu
State Federation of Women's Clubs al
Dover on May 9th. Information regard
ing trains, &C., may he obtained from
Mrs. A. y. Warner, No. 1902 Delaware
avenue. or of Mrs. Horace Belts, No.
l006 Madison street.