Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28
The Boolovers' Hour

1f7HE Book Lovers Hour. held every
Monday evening at o'clock at
q the Young women's Christian As
ISOLATION, G and 14th streets. under the
leadership Of Miss Alice Hutchins
Drake. holds out unusual inducements
to Washington girls and their
stranger sisters for pleasant diver
sion.
At this time. when the city is crowded
with young women, many of them lone
some and anxious to meet congenial
people. the Y. w. c. A. extends cor
dial invitation to these new govern
ment workers to avail themselves Of
this opportunity to mingle with books
and book lovers. The Book Lovers, an
nounces Miss Drake. are especially
eager to reach a great number OF the
stranger host in town who feel the
need Of companionship with books and
with people.
Those who love the printed word and.
in addition. like to talk over favorite
books Of fiction or verse with other en-
thusiasts, will find this Monday class
body of kindred spirits. Miss Drake
has chosen a verse by Emily Dickinson
to express its aim:
There is no frieate like a book
To take us miles away,
Nor any courser like q page
Such traverse way the poorest take
Without oppress of toll
How frugal Is the chariot
That bears the human soul.
The hour on Monday is open to all
young women. quite free Of charge ana
with no requirements as to member
ship or regularity: One drops in" to
the class whenever it is convenient. The
evening on this account has for its sub
ject a topic that forms complete unit.
In this way certain Mondays may be
skipped without disturbing the CONT
huity of the series. Therefore: in
great many ways. this book lovers
class offers many attractive features
fhe opportunity to spend a great many
Interesting and beneficial hours.
The topics under discussion for the
evenings in April cover the following:
Of certain ancient cities that are suf-
ferinG from the war: French Ca,
thedraIs." Greek Hero Tales" and
Kipling's collected verse.
OF material. History. architecture. my
theology and modern verse-such variety
of subjects are calculated to appeal to
and express q catholicity Of taste in
order to reach the different types Of
girls who attend the discussions.
Current events. such as the discus
sion Of the works of RoGin, the late
French sculptor. whose death OCCASION
ed an evenings discussion. form the
general subject for one evening of each
month. The history of art. as expressed
in such pertinent subjects as that one
chosen for the presen, month. French
Cathedrals," and the cotemporaneous
poetry series. which Miss Drake has
taken particular pains to exploit are
two of the most poular subjects OF
each month.
In Connection with the art work Miss
Drake takes her class to Baltimore
each year on the 22nd Of February
each year On February %, to visit the
Walters Art Gallery. She arranges a
special talk for this occasion and ma kcs
of the little iaunt a gala event.
Many of the girls who attend the
Book Lovers group are tempted to Join
other classes IN English conducted by
Miss Drake as part Of the Y. w. c. A.
course. 1t was from the English
classes of the organization that the
nucleus of the first Book Lovers group
was drawn Some years ago a small
club was founded for ftreside social
meetings and discussions of literature.
A number of the girls who began these
meetings continued them throughout
the season and were moved, the next
winter, to keep up their interest and
branch out SO as to include all girls
who wished to attend of whom there
wc,Ild he neither tuition nor study ex-
scted Now that the city Is flooded
with strangers. many of them away
from home and associates for the first
time, the Book Lovers group wishes to
increase its membership and allow a.