Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-09
The Miane
Club Woman

education; music; Art Schools OF New
Orleans and Chicago" Mrs. Fellows;
ARTS and Crafts Movement" Mrs.
Hurd: discussion of the latter paper
Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Laura Hamlin.
In an Instructive article on the loI-
nation of book clubs, Margaret l..
Sangster has the following to say upon
the selection Of books:
"In choosing volumes for book club
fiction probably will claim the nrst
place ard be the most popular. Our
fiction at present ranges over an I'M
mense field. The social problems OF
the day the varying phases OF lie In
what we CALL for want OF better
name. the smart set the antagonisms
het Ween labor and capital the shifting
aspects Of modern life are presented in
oar novels.
"Then, too we have novels of rO-
nance, of hair breadth escapes and
thrilling adventures; we have histori-
cal pictures in a medieval setting, or,
as in the work of Mrs. Humphry
Ward, we have reincarnatiOns in fic-
ton of well-known characters who oc-
cupied the stage a century ago. No
one cannot afford to neglect current
fiction. and in reading fiction no one
need be afraid that she is wasting
precious time. The time passed on a
good novel is time we'll invested.
1--WE all wish to read whatever book
| is for the moment on the top wave 1t
! cannot be an altogether unworthy
book which wins its way into the
/ homes of thousands. We also all want
to read the latest works Of whatever
!; author is popular in Europe or America
! at the present eXacting and exciting
period.
should personally examine the books
that are purchased and vouch for their
fitness for general reading. Merely
, gocdy-goody books should be excluded.
Books of travel, particularly those
which describe countries where great
events are happening--books for ln-
stance, about Korea, Tibet, India,
China or Japan-Will never be left
| neglected. we who stay at home yearn
to view the world through travellers.
eyes. Books of biography, giving the
lives of noted men and women who
have well served their generation, are
also appropriate. But technical books.
. works of science. philosophical Inquiry
and specialties of one or another va
riety are not for the book club. Meth
er an abstruse history nor a cook book
! is appropriate in this lending list"
| Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker. president
of the General Federation has sent out
the following Christmas greetings to
the thousands of club-women scat
tered throughout this country:
~ merry Christmas and happy
New Year. How shall we help to
bring these to the world? There are
three wishes which are in my heart
today for the club women of America,
and which, if gratified will be leaven
which will go far to make a new mean
ing of the birth of the Christ-child and
the coming of the New Year.
"First l wish that we may study and
learn happiness. 1t is not, as we have
believed, an inheritance, birthright.
No, it is a science to be studied and
practised, like any other grace or ac-
complishment. AS l tore off my
quotation calender this morning, 1 read
this-a good omen: blessed are the
happiness makers; thep represent the
best force of civilization. They are to
the heart and home what the honey
suckle is to the door over which 1t
Climbs" There are bitter, heart
breaking sorrows for all of us, it is
true, and we must bend to them at
times; but the minor ills of life, the
daily pin pricks, the usual disappoint-
ments. may be conquered by per-
sistent taking hold of ones self and a
resolve to see only the bright side. If
we practice laughter instead of weep
ing, in a generation there will be no
reed for hospitals for the insane.
THE scond wish is that the club wo-
men may have work not only the home
duties, the loving ministrations Of
wife, mother. teacher and friend, but a.
bit also of the worlds work. There is
no pleasure like it. there is no educa-
ton of books equal to it, there is no
satisfaction to be compared to that
which one feels in having been even
the smallest factor in the world-build-
ing process-work, cheerful, happy
work, with the hands, head and heart.
1.-The third desire of my soul is that
the club women of America may come
more fully to believe and realize the
high mission of the federation; that it
may dawn upon each and every one of
you that this union of forces is here,
not happening. not for a few years.
but a part of the plan of the world;
that it is a great. helpful. uplifting in
fiuence for the making of the king
dom. We have not united for this
|. great union for fame, for notoriety. for
discomfort. We have Joined hands to
work for better homes, for better laws,
for better schools. for the honest, sys-
tematic, scientific upbuilding of great
nation. May the three wishes be
granted-the shining of the spirit, the
useful worlds work. the abiding faith
in the federation; and may "this be
truly said of us and OF all u.s." With
rejoicing for the past and courage for
the future. very sincerely yours. Sarah
Plat Decker
The Philomathian Club of Fort Fair