The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-06-16
NEW FRENCH CLUB.
BRANCH OF THE ALLIANCE
 FRANCHISE.

Formed in This City-Honorary Com mittee Headed By President and Mrs Hadley-Professor R. L. sandersOn Elected President--Other Officers.
 Various attempts have been made to start a. branch of the Alliance Fran caise in New York, but no general in terest has been manifested until quite recently. when, through the efforts of Mime. Portere- -Baur, in bringing the work of the alliance to their notice, nearly a hundred people signifed their willingness to form a nucleus here, and it is expected that this number will be speedily and largely increased.
 At meeting held recently at the house of Mrs. Daniel c. Eaton on Sa- chem street, a constitution was adopt ed, and the following officers elected;
 Honorary committee President and Mrs. Arthur T. Hadley, Rev. and Mrs. Anson Phelps Stokes, Rev. pr. and Mrs. Timothy DWlgnI.
 President-Prof. R. l.. Sanderson.
 Vice presidents-E. P. Arvine, Mrs. William Farnam, Miss Mary Quincy. Mrs. George Watrous.
 Secretary-Mme. Portere- -Baur.
 Corresponding secretary = W. C.. Farnsworth.
 Treasurer-K. Mckenzie.
 Reception committee-Mrs. George Farnan, Mrs. William Farnam, Mrs. Grant Thompson. Mrs. Thomas Ben nett, Mrs. Kate Trowbridge. MT. Farnsworth.
 The association starts with sixty-five members enrolled; additional names may be presented to the board of off, cers by any two members. The en- trance fee is fixed at two dollars, and the yearly dues are to be three dollars. The main object of the group just formed is to afford it's members an opportunity of hearing and speaking French. The alliance each year sends to this country one or more distinguish ed men, each of whom addresses the 
 master. These men will now include New Haven in their tour. It is hoped also to supplement the work of the French club in brining here the lec- turers who come to deliver the Hyde lectures at Harvard During the com ing spring the New Haven group has planned to give dramatic perform ance and other schemes to sustain i'm terest are being discussed. The meet | ings will be open to members only, in l cluding affiliated members, but it is as- l sured that at least one public meet ing will be arranged each year.
 The Alliance Franchise Is a national association of great importance and far-reaching aims It was founded in Paris in July, 1883, was approved by the minister of ublic instruction in January, 1884, and was recognized as an institution of public utility by a de- cree of the president of the republic in October, 1886. Its object is to encour age the understanding and use of the French language, and at the same tinle to spread a knowledge of French Literature by lectures, and incidentally toI win favor for French commercial 
 bring the French colonies into closer relations with the mother country, but its branches have spread rapidly over the entire world wherever groups of Frenchmen were to be brought together Dr groups of synpathizers formed, so that now it's aims have become broad ened and the association addresses an immense range of supporters
 The resources of the association at he beginning of this year amounted to learly 5,000 francs; many large dona- ions having been received particularly rom M. Giffard, M Cernuschi, the 2othschild family, the Baroness Hirsch, while the Institute of France recently ave the sum of 25,000 francs for the pundation of prizes. With the inter- st of these moneys and from other avenues the alliance constantly aids chools and missionaries in many lands, Institutes prizes, sends gifts of books, tc.
 The thing that perhaps appeals to breigners, to Americans in particular, the foundation of courses in French nguage and literature, given during he summer months at various univer- ties through France. Planned at rst on a modest scale, the courses giv- under the patronage of the alliance hve enormously increased both in lmber and attendance, so that in e summer of 1904 instruction will be ven not only in Paris, the headquar- IS of the association, but in eleven her places as well; this instruction
 planned especially to fit the needs
 foreigners, and draws to France. oh year hundreds of Americans; its lue and importance cannot be too rongly emphasized.
 The Alliance Franchise numbers at esent over 30,OO0 members. Its pres ent is Pierre Foncin, inspector gener-
 of public instruction in France, nile on the list of officers are found names of many other notable and 7uential men, such as Paul Meyer,
 atole Leroy -Beaulieu, Professor Bru- t, Baron d d'Avril
 n the United States there are anches in all the largest cities and
 many small ones. A federal bureau
 charge of committee in New York
 des the work Of various groups Il helps the into arrange for lectures.
 this the president is James H. Hyde.
 latter, together with Professor de
 nichrast of Harvard, President
 .,f <e