Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-01

to the fact that Kiplng's 'Recessonal' is
to be sung by a double quartet of our best
musicians. At any rate the club bids fair
to start its work with an enthusiasm that
is unusual. The club will be as large as
ever this year, the paid membership being
reported as 464 This does not include
large number who upon reasonable excuse
for postponement are allowed to pay dues
in the fall, nor the long list Of applications
for new membership now In the hands of the
membership committee.
Work of the Department..
The departments, many Of them, have al
ready held preliminary meetings to place
their work or have arranged an outline of
study through committee. The Art de-
partment, directed by Mrs Keysor, will de-
vote itself to the history of Gothic architec-
ture. After careful review of terms they
will proceed with the study in France, Eng
land, Germany, Italy and Spain. The
library is strong in the literature OF the
subject, and the class is looking forward to
a study which will be quite specific and
which will emphasize the characteristics OF
individual cathedrals. One of the adjuncts
to the year study is the circulating picture
club, which Is managed on the principle OF
neighborhood magazine club, each woman
of group purchasing picture which she
loans to each of the others for month. The
photographs chosen this year are the cathe-
drals of York, two views; Durham, two
views; Lincoln, Litchfeld, Amiens, st.
Marks, st. Paul's, Ely, Carlisle and the
Church OF st. Butolph.
The motto Of the musical department is
"the best possible music at the lowest pos
sible price for the greatest possible number
"a proposition that is practical enough IL
worked out from the right end. The COM
mittee is, therefore, trying to place a large
number OF season tickets at a price which
Will make each concert cost less than 20
cents, but which will produce a fund sufn-
cient to secure good artists at fair prices.
This department also conducts a class in the
history OF music and another in chorus
drills. The committee in charge of tho
three branches of work consists OF Mrs.
Frances M. Ford, Mrs. ]. H. Barrett and
Miss Estelle Shane.
Literary Studies.
The study OF literature is represented by
one class only, that conducted by Mrs f.
II. Cole, in the plays of Shakespeare.
There are two history classes. German, in
charge OF Mrs r. II. McKevey and the for
mer French history class, which, having
finished a course covering two or more years
will now devote itself to Greece The
English history class OF three years stand
ing finished its course OF study last year
and dsbanded. The class in social science
will follow an outline adapted by It's leader
Mrs. g. S. Lobingier, from one furnished by
the American Journal OF Sociology. The
department has been at work five years on
general principles. 1t now proposes TO find
how these apply to conditions in Omaha
and the study will he nractical in charactar
The department OF Current Topics and that
of Household Economics have new leaders
this year in Miss Ida Wilson and Mrs.
@. II. Townsend respectively. The former
has been heretofore the largest department
or the club, numbering last year 1870. while
the latter has reputation throughout the
state enjoyed by no other department. This
Is due probably to the fact that the former
leader, Mrs #. II. Pugh, has been a popu-
lar lecturer on household topics among the
clubs OF the state and has organized a
number OF departments similar to her own.
The department OF Parliamentary Practice
is class whose training is constantly mani
Tested In the public sessions OF the club.
1t is conducted by Mrs L. r. Hartford, a
woman OF far more than local reputation as
a parliamentarian and one TO whom the club
owes many an escape from parliamentary
disaster.
The class in French Conversation is an
enthusiastic one led by Mrs. Sibl. Its work
is indicated by Its name and ITS annual