The Forrest City times., 1899-06-09
"sUNNYsrDE READINGS" 1"
The henehcent Work of an InvaliA Woman In . Massachu-
 oetts Town.


 casual visitor at the little town of Harvard. Mass, would hardly consider it possible that fhis farming communi- ty of HOO people, the largest of its two tiny villages consisting of only a score of houses, should possess the clements necessary for forming Q very thriving club.
 In 1888 summer resident of Harvard invited six invalid women of the neigh oorhood to spend an afternoon at her home. Obliged by delicate health to lie upon couch, she provided six other couches for her guests. She read to them Emerson's Essay on Books" and then, fearing she had offered too solid reading to people to whom Emerson was but name, ended the programme with popular story. One of the wom- en, who was never again able to join the group, said years afterward that that essay opened to her new world. The other six women agreed to read together once week. Others soon joined them, and at the end of two or three years the attendance had so in. creased that the hostess could no longer serve refreshments, as had been her custom. Dispensing with refresh | ments was a test of their interest" she remarked, while talking of the club re- gently, but the attendance was not lessened at all. There are now from 40 to 70 or 80 present at each meeting. | mostly wives and daughters of farmers. ranging in age from F years to 70. The older ones have had a common school education only; many of the younger ones have been through the high school. and last year we had one college grad. nate' They all appreciate an opportu. nifty for further mental culture, and
 about six years after the club was started these people were preparing excellent papers in unexceptionable Enghsh-better essays, in fact, than many which appear in the magazines. We have no constitution, no officers, no membership fee. We are morgan ized, but not disorganized. It has been suggested that we organize and join the federation. But organization has It's disadvantages. Wait, I say. until our present methods prove inadequate. And, if we join the federation, we shut out the men, who are now welcomed. lhree ministers attend regularly, and II we could meet in the evening many more men would join us. But the wom. en live too far away to come at night. Occasionally a farmer does leave his work and come to meeting, and all ways seems to enjoy it. The men take the greatest interest in the club and Tn the work done for it by the women of their families.''
 "Sunnyside," the home of the hostess. has given its name to the enterprise, which is known as the "Sunnyside readings" Meetings are held only dur. ing July and August, but work prepar. atory to them goes on throughout the rest of the year. In the autumn coun. cil consisting of three ministers and three or four other persons is called together. They select topics for the next season and appoint a leader for each meeting. The leaders choose their own committees. Such necessary books as are not found in the town public Ii. brary are purchased by the organizers, who bear all club expenses, and sea- son of study and essay writing begins. The plan now followed devotes four meetings each season to the study of some country and four to miscellaneous topics. In this way Greece and India have been studied, and next year Egypt will be taken up. A professional mu. sician is engaged to furnish music at each meeting, and one afternoon each year is given entirely to music, selec- tions from single composer being ren- | dered.
 For the last meeting of 1898 the "Sunnyside" enjoyed Pilgrim day" Plymouth and early colonial times were the subjects treated. The great parlor at "Sunnyside" was arranged to repre- sent room in the colonial period; those who took part in the exercises wore ap- propriate costumes, and the music con- sisted of old hymns, sung by 'Pil- grim" choir. There were 90 persons present.
 The club has broken down denomina- tional barriers. Religious antagonism has disappeared since the three pas- tors and the three sets of parishioners have found common ground to meet on. In spite of its disregard of organization, or, perhaps because it is not organized, the movement, inaugurated not quite il years ago, has united the forces of the community for the advancement of the | common welfare.-N. Y. Post.
 New Dainty.
 Kangaroo tail soup is dainty which is understood to be greatly appreciated {n the sshacL hlockSv of AucfraEo Ny