New Britain herald., 1915-04-15
Year s Work at Y. ". C. 4.
Classes Have Taken Rapid Strides and Con-
 tain Many Members-Social Gatherings Afford - Many Opportunities for the 521 Members.

many countries the hospitality that brought to them such happiness. Educational Department
 When we speak of the educational. department, our thoughts travel to that part of our fourfold purpose known as the intellectual. But after all is not plain intellectually as life less as statistics? And does not edu- cation really mean being better friend, and a more sociable companion and person interested enough in hu- man beings to give to others sympa- thy and love and the spirit of fellow ship? We do not wish to duplicate the work done by the schools. in eith- CT secular or religious education, but we do try to add the personal touch to all that the girls may want in any line of work. This kind of education al work has been carried out esecially in our clubs for growing girls,-that is for girls between the ages of twelve and eighteen years. These girls. 130 of them, who represent nine different clubs with nine different names (which names we will not take the time to mention) have practically all followed program calling for six weeks courses in plain sewing, cook ing beadweaving and reed basketry, also talks on astronomy, Indian lore and homenursing, besides the Christ mas plans of doing something TOT someone, which meant making scrap books for childrens wards in hospl- tals, and packing baskets of toys and food and other thoughtful things for needy families.
 "The Busy Bee club in addition to the regular program met on q second evening every week during the winter for chorus work under the leadership of Mrs. Theodore Brown. Tonight they are going to give us just a very small taste of the treat that is in store for all who attend the Folk Song concert to be given on Monday eve ming, April 10th.
 Right Spirit In Clubs.
 "Gathe ering around the council fires to be awarded for honors won, playing together on evenings meant for letting off surplus energy, making 300 calls in the homes of the girls as was done by the club leaders during the win ter,-all of these things manifest a noticeable change in the development of our young womenhood. And our young girls certainly do love the as- sociation, and their clubs, and their leaders, and each other. Not so long ago a secretary from a neighboring association said that she would gladly exchange the 500 members in their educational department for the girls in our clubs and smaller classes be- cause New Britain had the Spirit,> and by spirit we mean the something that each girl puts into the club or class, the friendly interest they have in each other, and the faculty of for getting self.
 Courses of Study.
 "As we'll as the class work 1one by these clubs, there have been for the older girls two splendid classes in bask otry, two first aid classes with an enrolment of forty eight enthus- iastic members, an advanced Mandolin club, a five weeks Travel club with an average attendance of forty, a six weeks Literature club taking up few of Dickens stories, and two small classes in English for foreign women. Two new clubs were started during the winter for older industrial girls of different nationalities, and their time is devoted to plain sewing and even bit of dressm aking. Tn re were 1240 books taken out from the circulating library, and many new books were received for which we thank the educational committee. "There are other groups such as tle Silver Bay club, the Altamont club and the Christian league. who meet to sew, read, discuss social problems and study the Bible. Perhaps there has been arising in many minds the question as to where we put these various clubs since there are only six ] work days in a week, and not-large- enough building. Well, we admit ] that the house has been extremely crowded most of the time and meet i ings have had to spill into the dining
 room several times every W-ek. Membership of 521.
 'Thc social gatherings aside from i the many smaller parties given by i different clubs, have been most pleas
 ant and have afforded tho opportunity l of acquaintance among most of our | 521 members The annual member ! ship banquet, our largest social affalr l always speaks for itself, and several | girls have asked why we could not
 have two or three membership ban , quets a year instead of one. There ! have also been rallies for the Camp 1 Fire girls and supper parties for the 1 mothers, and the twenty-siX outings ! last summer were times for whole.
 some fun and physical recrea ton, for 1 opportunities of nature study and