El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-26

OBJECT was general culture. anu THIS
culture was only to be obtained IN
most clubs by cOpiOuS draughts Of lit
erature of various classes. As the or
ganization developed and other depart
ments sprang into existence, the lit
erary feature became special depart
ment and general culture became di-
vided into several subjects. Then the
movement for the extension of libraries
developed and many clubs took up IL
brary WORK IN active manner. Snder
J these conditions the general culture
of the earlier clubs, which at first ire
| quently included art, music and htera-
ture, was done away with IN the
| larger clubs as they developed regular
| departments of music and art, leaving
! the literature section to develop with
1 library work as a strong branch, eX-
| cept when the latter also became
\ branch by itself
The charge frequently has been made
that the general culture of the aver
age wOmen's club is so superficial as
to be of no practical value, Dut lhls
complaint has never been sustained
and it has met with many denlals from
1 club women and also from many edH-
cational leaders. AT the beginning or
| the club movement, there was Of ne
! cessity a certain amount of superIlclal
study work done in the clubs because
many women did not fully understand
/ what standards should be required,
and also because there was difficulty
/ in securing text books that met the
needs of club work. Now the expert
mental stage belongs to the past ana
those who wish to take up studies
along any line are sure of finding eff
! cient aid in the programs and study
! schedules issued by either the general
! or the state declarations.
Educators Cooperate.
| The greatest educators IN the coun-
| try have recognized the possibilities
/ of advancement in education through
! the medium of the wOmen's club study
movement and are cooperating with the
/ leaders of that work In supplying prop
/ erly arrange lectures, photographers
! and text books which will give essen
/ tial information in manner TO De
] readily cOmprehended, even though
club women cannot give the time 70
/ study that the college or university
would require for course IN the same
/ topic
I English history and Literature, pre-
| pared for club women by a professor
I of Pennsylvania State college, Is espe-
/ ciaIly popular with the clubs. other
courses IN general and speclIled HieIa-
| ture and history, in botany, ethnology,
! ORTHODOXY and other subjects con-
nected with nature work, IN elemental
| chemistry and in political and social
/ economics are included in the pro-
grams provided by the declarations for
club study In the past year more
than 10 subjects were studied by the
! different clubs in the country.
Travel Glass Popular.
The travel class is a popular feature
| in many clubs and one which furnishes
no small amount OF information II
properly managed This class might
perhaps more properly be called a
geography class, since il embraces
study of different countries Usually
I one or two countries are selected for
seasons work and the travel con-
sists in a careful study Of the deScrlp-
tion and history OF that country, aided,
if possible, by lectures from someone
who has visited it The great advance
made in the use Of stereOptican views
frequently makes II easy for the CLUBS
to command pictures OF the more I'M
portant towns and features OF the
country being studied, thus presenting
them even more clearly to the mind OF
the average member than the pest
written book. A number of state led
eratiOns provide lantern slides 10 &C
company different study courses.
Through its literature department,
the general federation has held num-
Der of literary contests which have
added materially to the literary ma
terial produced by the clubs Prizes
have been given to the writer Of the
best theses upon subjects suited TO the
general culture work of the clubs a
wide range Of subjects has been COW
cred The thesis receiving the highest
award last year was written by cluD
woman from Kentucky, whose subject
was The Dramatic Elements OF the
Old Testament" Maryland furnished
the one receiving the second hOnOrs
entitled "Origins OF Italian Literature"
Both of these papers were written Dy
members of the club study classes ana
are excellent proof of the value OF
the courses provided They have been
printed in the Federation Bulletin in
order that they may be readily ac-
cessible to club women everywhere.
Many FrONn Upon study Glasses.
Many of the newer club women are
fTowning upon the club study classes
on the ground that they detract from
the more important work Of the clV1cS-
This IL found be generally untrue.
however, as many of the women who
accomplish the most effective work are
continually adding to their stock OF
Information by attendance upon the
club classes
Besides the travel class and some
times in connection with II, the gen
erai culture work Of the club may in
clude a class of current events which
frequently becomes a most important
feature. Sometimes this subject IS dl-
Yided into sections, each In charge OF
a competent chairman or leader who
makes herself responsible for Keeping
the club in touch with the latest
events in politics, legislation, art, sci
ence and every other matter OF gen
eral interest and Importance. To the
busy woman who has not time TO read
the papers closely herself, the current
events class is invaluable, enabling her
to keep in touch with the real progress
of the world without wasting time
pouring over nOnessentials.
This feature of club work has called
into existence the current events teach
er or lecturer who devotes her time en-
tirely to a study OF current events
from a club woman's standpoint and is
well paid for her services. Sometimes
such a teacher will cover the work in
two or more cities, arranging to give
one or two days to each as the pro-
grams of the clubs may make il posi-
BILE. From the current events classes OF
the Women's clubs has evolved the
large current events lecture courses
These are popular in every city, even
among society women who have no I
interest in club work but who desire
to have a knowledge OF current events
to help them socially. This is one OF
the indirect methods by which the Wo-
mems club has helped to raise the in
tclIectual standard even of women who
do not belong TO clubs
CELEBRATING the Press"
Another matter to which the literary !
influence of the club women of the
country is being directed is the ele-
walton of the public press During the
past few months the president OF the |
federation has been called into confer |
ence several times by prominent news !
paRer editors and invited to secure the !
cooperation of her organization in les
sening the demand for the sensational |