The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-27

also among the many who do not un-
derstand the significance OF the term
Federation as applied TO the womans
club movement.
A writer in the "Club Woman gives
are logical convincing and conclusive.
She says, first:
ITO my mind the greatest benefit OF
federation, both To the individual and
to the club, is the breadth IL gives in
every way, breadth of outlook, breadth
OF association, breadth of sysmpathy
breadth of work. And with breadth
comes growth, the one thing needful
alike 10 character or to club. The
longer l live, the more strongly L be-
lieVe that the truest test Of worth is
capacity for growth.
"Second-Fcderato keeps us abreast
OF truth as nothing else cam
Federation develops latent power,
Thereby encouraging growth and direct
ly benefiting the individual. Federation
teaches US 10 be large. tolerant and inn
personal, instead of petty and particu-
lar as women are prone TO be.
''Third-AnUtf1rr great benefit of fed
Grafton is the increased knowledge OF
one another IL gives. IL brings wo-
men and clubs from all over the state
down to first principles, as IL were,
simple sincere, human basis OF active,
helpful work together, ana good times
together-a dear togetherness,' as Dr.
Gannett puts it, And last and best OF
all, the benefits 60 the individual. Fed
Grafton develops the altruistic spirit 10
a wonderful degree.
Most of the women's clubs began
with sef-cuture, the lowest form OF
human endeavor. as their object; but,
by a gradual process of evolution, the
club movement is beginning 10 exem-
plify today a high form of organized
altruism, "A sincere cooperative seeking
for the greatest good of the greatest
number.
1T is a small remote club, indeed. i'm
these days, that does not include edu-
cational and philanthropic work i'm its
yearly program, that does not reach
out from it's darkness OF self-absorption
10 the light OF organized work for 9TH
ers and thereby climb 10 it's soul IN the
flower OF self-forgetfulness. Self-cul-
ture deadens and stupefies. work Tor
others yitalizes and brghtens.'
In conclusion the writer sums up the
main benefits as follows: First and
foremost the elevation of the standards
| of public opinion.
"Second-The promotion of sympathy
| and cooperation.
"Third-Improveme in educational
| conditions.
"Fourth-Improvemen i'm sociological
conditions and the securing Of needed
| legislation TO better the condition of the
defective, dependent and delinquent
classes.
"Fifth-The promotion OF interest In
the preservation OF our forests.
"Sixth-The establishment of recip-
| rocity among clubs and state fedora
| tions."
| rhe week In review among our local
clubs shows fewer meetings than It's
predecessor, which was unusually full
OF literary work.
Perhaps one OF the most important
gatherings OF the week was the open
meeting of the Mothers club held on
Monday evening in the hall of the Clas-
steal High school. where large au-
dience assembled to listen TO Mr.. John
:. Clarke, OF the Prang Educational
company. i'm his thoughts upon Child
Study from a Parents Point OF view
Among the many interesting points
touched upon by Mr.. Clarke we may
quote the following
So many people are now making
definite, systematic study of children
or of childhood, from so many different
st9ndDoints, il seems likely that much
really valuable light will be gradually
thrown on old problems of education
and of social economy. The anthropolo-
glsts. the psychologists, the physicians
and phianthropists and educators are
all at work in their several ways Lit
erature during the last twenty years
shows the devotion of good deal of
thoughtful study to the psychology OF
onild life witness Du Maurers Peter
Tbbetson, Marie ISashkiriseff's Autobi-
ography, Mrs. Burnetts story of The
One ! Knew Best OF AL, Barrle's Senti-
mental Tommy and other notable con-
tributons TO the study of child nature.
In the very nature of things the par
ents' standpoint is one OF the most
promising wherefrom 10 make observa-
lions Gully says that valuable SER
vice in the cause of child-study can be
given only by those who possess "a di-
Vining faculty, the offspring OF child
love, perfected by scientific training
Earnest teachers are always at work
in this direction, whether they are eN-
plicitly enlisted i'm the so-called move-
ment for LLild Study 0F not Parents
have ft IN ttIEir power to greatly in
crease, through sensible and friendly
cooperation. the effectiveness OF such
teachers educational work for indiYid-
uals and. for the community. Mothers
in the humber walks of life are often
practically reader to cooperate with
the teachers than mothers OF the more
leisurely class but a better state Of
things is being established through the
wOmens clubs.
The leaders OF the Child study move
ment have directed large share OF the
new Investigations into physiological
lines and into lines where explicit facts
can be collected regarding chldren's
preferences. suDersttions, range of
familiarity with nature etc. These are
all useful lines OF research. But there
are others at present much legs regard
ed. which promise valuable returns and
for which parents are likely TO be rich
est I'm opportunity. Much more might
profitably be made OF the study of chill
dren's ideals, childrens imaginations
and the traceable effect OF these ad-
mirations upon conduct and character.
\ fuller understanding of chld-nature
in this respect may make room for
much more effective work I'm develop
ing the higher possibilities Of that ma
turc.
I'VE hear o great deal these days
about studying and deferring 90 the
jnstinctiyc interests Of childhood. In
deed some educators go so far rs to
call FOR the practical effacement ~ the
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