New-York tribune., 1899-11-18
VASSAR COLLEGE.
THE BARRINGER PRIZE-WORK OF THE
UNDERGRADUATES CLUBS

UNDERGRADUATES CLUBS.
Poughkeepsie. ~ Y, Nov. flowing to the fact
that Thanksgiving Day and the Philalethean an
niversary this year on consecutive days the
faculty has decided to make the second day a
whole holiday instead Of a half holiday. as usual
This. with Saturday. affords a Thanksgiving vaca-
ton OF three days and avoids the disadvantage OF
the double interruption of work caused by the oc-
currence OF the two holidays in separate weeks
The Barrnger prize. awarded yearly TO the stu
dent Of highest standing in the senior class who IL
the daughter Of a physician, has this year been
won by Miss Ida A. Tourtellot. OF East Derry, y. H.
The work Of various clubs whose activity supple
ments the work done in the regular college courses
is now fully under way. One OF the largest and
most important OF these is the Contemporary Club
a literary society whose work consists In the study
and criticism OF contemporary authors. The novels
OF George Meredith furnish the subject for this
semester
The Marshall Club has for its object the promo
ton OF interest in social and economic questions
bv means OF collateral reading bearing especially
on the Illustrations OF social conditions found In
literature and by lectures from persons who have
made special study OF charitable and philan-
thropic work The club has this year been ad-
dressed by Miss Bertha Richardson, 80 on the sub
tect OF a training class for workers in charitable
lines with which she has been connected.
The name Of the Current Topics Club indicates
its purpose At It's weekly meetings reports OF
matters of general current interest are made. The
cIub also posts daily bulletin OF current events
both foreign and domestic. The society called
Civtas has the same object but somewhat
smaller membership. Each OF Its meetings is con-
Quoted by one Of the senior members, who gives
an informal talk after which general discussion
or an e1temporaneous debate follows.
The two debating societies, Out Nive ana the j.
and NJ House OF Commons. are very large and
active Membership in each OF these societies Is
held by alternate classes for two consecutive years
and ali members OF the class are Included. Inc
object OF practice In parliamentary procedure IL
attained by T. and NJ through its organization
which as It's name indicates. is modelled as closely
as possible after that ~ the British House OF
Commons. Regular mcnings are held Tor DEBATE
and an annual open debate between the TWO socle-
lies is given before the whole college, a..
The Hellenic Society holds Informal meetings Ior
the study OF archaeological investigations flpeLs
orc road and lectures are given by outside autnoFl
.,es and reports are received from the American
School nj Athens The work for this year. 80 tar
as MANNED at present. is the study OF the excaVa
tions AT Delphi and. COrinth. , r,
A French club has Just been ORGANIZED heBuihr
yeeklv meetings for German conversation are also
that department The study OF pedagogy Is catrieG
on by the Teachers Club. which consists chien Oh
nost-Rraduates end seniors who expect 10 teacn- i,
FspeciaIly attractive for It's outdoor inteIest u
the wake Robin Club. whose work is the lnvesiusa-
ton of the birds OF the vicinity. Inc meeuhss
with their reports OF observations take plhct w
the museum where the large collectons oi s'aeu Is
birds give an opportunity for caretuI ttuoy. JON"
Burroughs is an honorary member n the ciuo