Las Vegas optic., 1913-01-20
WOMAN1S CLUBS
COVER BROAD
FIELD
IN ADDiTioNgTo THE EXTENSION
or CULTURE THEY WORK
FoR CIVIC IMPROVEMENT.

work along lines of civic improve
ment, the cultural side OF club activ
ity is by no means neglected by them
Az the shrine of literature, where
womens clubs were first conceived
they still continue their devotions
communing with the great minds Of
thought and expression, and steadily
cultivating. the delightful art Of con
versation. This is as it should be.
From familiarity with the best liter.
ature comes the inspiration to noble
endeavor, and unless our study leads
to some form Of beneficent activity
it is useless.
The general federation is fortunate
in having as chairman of its literature
and library extension department
Mrs. Frances Squire Potter Of Chi
cago, woman Of broad culture, who
is also one OF the most gifted speak
ers in our country. Mrs. Potter is
truly the embodiment or expression
of Bosanquet's definitnion of culture
as 'the habit Of mind instinct with
purpose, cognizant of a tendency and
connection in human achievement,
diligent in discerning the great from
the trivial"
The president of the General Fed
GRAFTON of Women's Clubs in her last
message makes strong plea for
greater attention to correctness and
elegance of speech-a timely plea
that we should all ponder In listen
ing to Frances Squire Potter's per-
feetly modulated voice and her mas
terly use of our native tongue, one
sighs to reflect how seldom we hear
the language of Shakespeare and MIL
ton spoken in its purity and with
nice discrimination.
Mrs. Potter's outlines for the study
of English literature from the begin
ming down to the Romantic Revival
have been found most helpful to
clubs, as have her. Old Testament
literature outlines. She lays special
emphasis on the importance of famil-
iarity with the King James Bible as a
literary production, and her lectures
based on Bible topics are Certainly
most inspiring.
The Importance Of dramatic art is
increasingly apparent, and also the
responsibility of club women as
moulders of public taste and senti-
ment AS Mrs, Pennypacker well
says We must never forget that
into our hands are given the Ideals
of the nation, and it is the earnest
endeavor of the General Federation
women to live up to their high call
ing Miss Mary Gray Peck of Chi.
ago, is chairman of the drama com
nittee, under the literature depar
nent, and her syllabus of study OF
he modern drama is most helpful to /
he increasing number of clubs that
re specializing along this line.
The other committee under the de-
Of literature is that Of IL
,ary extension, the chairman of
hich is Miss L. h. stearns, of Mad
on. Wis. Believing tffat it Is mot
le few great libraries, but the thou.
md small ones" that are most useful
} the people, this committee is
rgely devoted to helping in the es.
of these small libraries
Id also In the multiplication If IL
AIRY commissions. Just at present
is assisting Kansas in its enlarge {
ent Of the scope Of its trlyeling Il. ,
airy commission to include an or
lnizer to work among the public i
aries Of the state. Through one OF {
) members, Miss 5. S. Page, Of West
rginia, 1t will endeavor to all tnat
ate in securing a library conais. I
on and more and better public Ii {
aries This committee has helped (
lie stale of Arkansas to establish /
brary association andswill lend cor I
ial aid in promoting the library
ioyement IN any state.
The establishment Of Libraries and
brary commissions, the education
the people to an appreciation Of
aally noble dramatic art and the cui-
walton Of more intimate acquaint-
nee with the best English literature
ARE not these ideals worthy Of an
composed Of one mil
on Of the most enlightened women /
/ The United States?
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