The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-12
LIVE TOPICS FOR LITERARY CLUBS.

and superior character of its literary clubs.
In other towns and cities such clubs may
flourish, but here they have taken the lead
of ali other organizations. They have not
been confined to women, as in many places.
but include in their membership men of all
degrees-preachers, lawyers, doctors, editors,
business men, young and old. The educated
woman who does not belong to at least one
of these clubs is the exception. No high
intellectual requirements are necessary to
secure admission TO such club. The liter
airy club by no means demands that it's
members shall be literary beyond the
ability to read, write and dig paper" out
of the encyclopedia. Nevertheless pretty
high standard prevails in the organizations,
because the domineering element in each
and all Of them is of superior intellectual
grade. Perhaps it IS a trifie too high for
the average taste. There is no doubt that
the members have faithfully and ambitious
ly endeavored to live up to the measure that
seemed to be set for them and have cheer
fully, though laboriously, produced papers
subjects that even savants hesitate 10
tackle because of their scope and complex
ity. The strain must have been great in
many cases. The quantity of foolscap
stacked away in the desks OF Indianapolis
club members, covered with thoughts more
or less original on themes that are literary
TO the last degree, whatever the essays may
be- would surprise who has not given
heed to this peculiar and strictly modern
intellectual movement. There is no deny
ing that the men and women of indianapolis
have engaged eagerly and industriously in
the work OF improving their minds. For
years their leisure hours have been occupied
with this seemingly agreeable task and the
opportunity to listen to a paper on some
thing or other profound was always open.
Apparently this system of mental elevation
was TO exist undisturbed. but suddenly signs
of dissatisfaction are seen. Members are no
longer prompt in the performance of their
parts of the programme. They send ex-
cuses; they are ILL., they have guests, they
are called away from town." they haven't
time-anything will serve. And they do not
attend club meetings with the old-time re-
ligious regularity. The story. is the same in
ALA lack of interest and a falling off in
attendance. There must be a cause for this
Indifference where once was such zeal and
industry. 1t might be argued that in the
ten years more in which clubs have flour
ished they have so covered every topic of
human interest that even the hungry In
dianapolis mind is satiated and turns with
distaste from further explorations on IA
miliar ground, but there is some reason to
doubt that this is the true explanation. 1t
seems probable that the secret lies in the
fact that the club programme is not up to
date and the Indianapolis mind is. The pro-
gramme is made out one year in advance
and the members are expected to conform
to it with rigid particularly. If John Smith
is set down for a paper on the Napoleonic
era and Mrs. Jane Jones for discourse on
Ibsen, Mr.. Smith and Mrs. Jones will pre-
pare essays on the respective topics, though
when the day comes for reading them the
thoughts of Smith and his club are full OF
the Spanish-American war or of presiden-
tial election, or of street-railway improve
ments or of a new government building, or
other matter of current interest. Mrs. Jones
has had some thoughts on these public mat
ters, too or is perhaps deeply interested in
the novel or play of the day which every
body has read or seen and is ready to talk
about. But Mr.. Smith and Mrs. Jones will
carry out the cut-and-dried programme be-
cause it is expected of them. Their hearers
will feel bored without quite realizing the
cause, and will quietly resolve not to attend
the next meeting.
To put it plainly, the clubs need life, and
life cannot be given them by arranging a
year ahead a series OF topics for discussion
with the certainty that when the time
comes everybody Will be interested in some
thing else. 1t will be quite as literary TO
write of the Spanish-American war while
its events are fresh in every ones mind as
to write of the wars of the middle ages, in
which few have any interest, whatever they
may pretend. 1t will be as improving to
discuss expansion while it is live topic
in our own country as to discourse on ITALY
in the Eighteenth Century," as "educative'
to talk Of the campaign in the Sudan while
It Is yet recent thing, or of the progress
and development of Russia while the prog
ress is being made, TO dwell upon history
that is past. The clubs should at least have
the privilege of discussing current events.
or the subject that chances TO be upper
most. Everything cannot be left to chance
or the sweet will of the members, however
Let the experiment be made of printing a
programme in blank so far as the themes
for papers are concerned. the names Of the
members to be set down for the different
dates. each one to choose his own topic and
announce it to the secretary two weeks
ahead of its date. IL he shall select hack
neyed subject and write dull essay upon
it, that is his own affair. There will at
least be opportunity for elasticity and fresh
ness in the programme. and something win