New-York tribune., 1905-04-23
HOME CULTURE CLUBS.
What One Southerner Is Doing for
the North.


The recent visit of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew
Carnegie to Northampton. Mass, to witness the
dedication of a building given by them to the
Home Culture Clubs, has served in larger meas
ure than any previous agency to turn the lime
light upon one of tie country's most progressive
institutions for popular education and better
ment.
The founder and presiding genius of this in
stitution, George W. Gable, a Southerner of
rare temperament has been familiar figure in
the literary world for years through his Creole
stories and novels. Twenty years ago, seeking
a Northern home, Mr.. Gable attracted to
Northampton because Of it's scenic setting, its
culture, its historic past and it's educational
atmosphere, and he settled with his family in
the fair Meadow City AS a writer Mr. Gable
had become an earnest student of social and
Industrial problems and he turned from gen
eralites and foreign missions to centre his
attention and energy upon home needs and
duties.
Accordingly, in 1887, two years after becoming
a resident of Northampton, he organized the
first Home Culture Clubs. These were formed
among neighbors and their activities
chiefly in gatherings at the homes for study,
discussion and uplifting recreation. During
the first year twenty clubs were started, and
a lively interest in the work was aroused Next
and women Of the mills, who had no homes in
which to meet, and for these a reading
was opened in 1888. This offshoot from the
original Seeding of home culture grew rap
idly and presented such imperative demands for
special treatment that within few years it be-
came the main stem of the home culture plant.
Twice the reading facilities were ex-
panded, and finally, In 1898, through the gener-
Osty of the late Edward H. r. Lyman, an Cd
church building, in the heart of the business
district. transformed into clubhouse. and
made actual home for the line Of club
work.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Cables idea Of home better
ment had gone abroad, and at the end of Ave
years there were over fifty home culture clubs
in the country, with 425 members. all looking
to Northampton for guidance and all definitely
connected with the founder through correspond
ence and publication, 1.-THE Letter." which was
sent free to each of the clubs. Ten years from
the inception of the movement there were ninety
clubs and over $50 active members.
The clubhouse Immediately opened new OPP
pOrtunities for energizing the life Of the COM
munity, and their efforts properly to meet these
brought Mr.. Gable and his assistants face
TO face with the necessity of giving their entire
attention to the home work. The annual report
OF 1898 well expressed the situation as follows:
'In every town of this size there is much ser
vice 20 be rendered which does not fall prop
erly within the functions of the churches. char
table institutions, schools, courts. lodges en-
pOyment bureaus or homes. There Is need OF
a social, Industrial and educational clearing
house. to which all who do not readily find their
places, or who do not fall within any existing
classification, may come to be appraised and
redistributed; persons too old for the schools,
too Indifferent or too peculiar for the churches,
70 LOT
their minds remain inactive, strangers without
ether associations, persons who are left out Of
everything and those who must be in every