Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-05
SCHOOL OF METHODS
The W. G. 7. q. Convention Discusses
Departmental Plans.
THE REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT
Influence of Good Books in Com
petition With Saloons.
TIL E A r. Y "a n 7 E Z n

The first hour of the session of the ma
tional convention Of the Womans Christian
Temperance Union at Lafayette Square OPP
era House this morning was devoted to an
effort to catch up with the program, several
features scheduled for yesterday afternoon
having been postponed. The remainder of
the morning was given over to school Of
methods, conducted by Mrs. Hannah J..
Bailey, with Miss Marie c. Brehm as sec
rotary.
The prayer meeting this morning at Foun-
dry NJ. E. Church, at $40 o'clock, was I'M
der the leadership of Mrs. Harriet T. Todd
of Massachusetts, national evangelist.
Mrs. Stevens, the president, called the
convention to order promptly at the ap-
pointed hour, 9:3s o'clock. Mrs. Tying, vice
president of Illinois. led in prayer.
Mrs. Emile d. Martin of New York, SUI
perintendent of the department of purity in
literature and art, submitted her report
ut is with satisfaction" she said, that
am permitted to state that the standard OF
literature as represented by the daily press
the weekly newspapers and the magazines
is constantly rising to a higher plane.
We take credit for the building up of bet
ter public sentiment and recognition or TINS
work.
The drama and fiction have become the
medium of the sowing of the social evil.
Ideas are as contagious as disease, ana
spread as surely. Encourage every one TO
be lover of good books and truer dra-
matte art and we will lift the whole race.
The man who has a nice-looking book un-
der his arm Is not half so likely to drop
into saloon. Books and saloons do not
seem to go together.
Interest is centering In the pubic libra
ries of the cities. Much stimulus has been
given by the reorganization OF the Con-
gressional Library at Washington, the Bos-
ton and other libraries.
Many of our large department stores are
setting the pace for better and cleaner
style of advertisements. Why? Because
the people demand IL, and 1t is gratifying
to state that there is a marked improve
ment in the character of the advertise
ments. billboards and posters. The true
limits of artistic freedom and propriety on
the stage is not to let each one do as he
likes, so long as he does not interfere with
the liberty Of any one else doing as he
likes. When find that any play or spec
tacle is dull or coarse we should promptly
condemn and array public sentiment
against it. The drama as interpreted to-
day does not NEST with the appreciation Of
the general public. leading dramatic critics
and many of the profession.
THE theater should be the home of beau
ty, poetry and art. The drama should be
a repository of noble thought, romantic
imagery and pure and gentle influences.
Acting should show Its spectators an ideal
ners-making them happier than they were
before seeing 1t and leaving their hearts
uplifted and minds refreshed
Many towns and cities throughout the
country resented the appearance of Neither
sole as Sapho, Langtry in The Degener-
ates" and Carter as ZaZa, and they were
prohibited in many places from appearing
in these plays. This work has only been
started
There is much to condemn in the impure
and indecent novel that finds large patron
age. Just as we are creating sentiment
against the cup that intoxicates at the BAN
quet feast, so we must create a sentiment
for better class Of reading. The entire
reading public responsible for present
conditions
NOn-AlcOholic stimulants.
The report Of the department of non alco-
holic medication was submitted by the SUI
perintendent, Mrs. Martha NJ. Allen Of SYRIA
cuse, N. Y. The object Of the department,
1t was stated, Is to reach the people with
the teachings OF distinguished physicians
who. having made special study of alcohol
as medicine, have become dissatisfied with
1t as remedy and have discarded 1t from
their pharmaceutical outfit. Mrs. Allen
said: While the W. c. T. u. objects to
alcoholic medication principally because
many people have been led into enslavement
to drink through this agency, these physi-
clans ground their objections entirely upon
drinks not only unnecessary In the
treatment of disease, but often very harm
full" "
AT this point Mrs. Bailey. who conducted
the school of methods, took the chair The
president. Mrs. Stevens, stated she would
be absent for a time, as she was called to
the Capitol 20 appear before the Senate
committee on foreign affairs to present the
resolutions passed yesterday regarding the
restriction of the liquor traffic in the colo
MES OF the powers.
Exposition of Methods
The school Of methods consisted of plyinp
the superintendent of the various depart
ments with questions regarding their work
DR.. Louise c. Purington Of Massachusetts,
superintendent OF the department of health
and heredity, asked for an Endorsement Of
the pure food bill now in Congress, which
was given by a rising vote. Mrs S. L.
OLerholtzer of Pennsylvania, superintend-
ent of the department Of school savings
banks, stated that since these banks had
been introduced in the schools of the coun-
$4,000. The latest savings bank estab-
Eshed Is at the Greenleaf School in this
city.
Mrs. H. F.. Hammond. superintendent of
the department of unfermented wine at
the sacrament, was asked what could be
done toward securing the use of infer
mented wine In the German Lutheran
Church. She said it was serious problem
but she believed all things were possible
with God. Mrs. Hammond was piled with
many questions. but the time allotted did
not permit of her answering all.
During the school the departments were
taken up in the following order:
Work among foreign-speaking people.
Mrs. A. barley, Colorado: work among COL
ored people. Mrs. Lucy Thurman. Michigan
health and heredity, Dr. Louise c. Puring
ton. Massachusetts, non-alcoholic medical
ton, Mrs. NJ. NJ. Allen. New York; scientific
temperance instruction. Mrs. Mary Ii.
Hunt, Massachusetts; physical education.
Mrs. Frances w. Letter, Ohio: Sunday
school, Mrs. Stella B. Irvine, California;
temperance literature, Miss Ellen D. Nor
ris, Missouri; temperance and labor Mrs
Mary G. Stuckenberg. Massachusetts,; par
liamentary usage, Mrs. A. s. Benjamin.
Michigan; w. c. T. U. Institutes, Miss
Mary Hadley, Indiana the press, Mrs. Min.
ME Barker Horning, Illinois; anti-narcotics
Mrs. e. b. ingalls,, Missouri; school saw
ings banks, Mrs. S. L. Oberholtzer, Penn
sylvania: medal contest, Mrs. A. E. Car
man, Illinois; evangelistic, Miss Elizabeth
W. Greenwood, New York; unfermented
wine at sacrament, Mrs. H. f. Hammond
Ohio; proportionate and systematic giving,
Miss Esther Pugh, Ohio; penal and refor-
matory work, Mrs. Jane NJ. Kinney, Michi-
gan: work among railroad employees, Mrs.
E N. Graham, Maryland; work among SOL
dierS and sailors Mrs F M Thatcher New