, 1935-11-17
SOCIETY-THEATRES
Miss Grace Edman Is Guest
Speaker For SelfCulture
Club Wednesday Afternoon

the department Of social science In
q local school system. She gave a
most interesting anu enlightening
address on the Constitution of the
United States ana the various con-
SrlrutlcnS under which --..aS de-
velcped into q great state.
Every system OF modern govern
ment invO- yes a fundamental law. a
constitution, which is OF q superios
order and Of q more permanent
character than legislative acts. LnE
subject Is especially appropriate
this year as September was the 548th
anniversary O. the birth Of the Con-
stitution OF the United States and as
Texas Is approaching her Centen-
NAL much interest Is displayed In
every phase OF her history.
The first real document deScrip-
tive OF government for the thirteen
original colonies was the Articles of
Confederation adopted at the time
OF the war for independence. Later
the realization came that something
broader was needed and as a re-
suit came the Constitutional Con-
vention from which IN 1887 came the
present Constitution, a orieI manu-
script Of some 1000 words, which
has satisfied citizens in a country
Of growing population. has pre-
served a representative republic, and
Is considered by thew orld the
greatest o-cument o. human history.
The English statesman Gladstone
said OF 1t 1T is the greatest piece o.
work ever struck off at a given time
by the brain and purpose Of man."
Like the United States, Texas con-
stttutions find their origin fr, In
the distant past, but unlike the
United States she has a Spanish
and Mexican setting as well as Eng
llsh- The first Spaniards to enter
Texas was late In the 18th century
and the first governor was appoint
ca by the King OF Spain, eventually
the power OF Spain w3ned and Mex
leo gained her independence in 1921.
In 1924 came the National Mexican
Constitution when constructive his
tory OF Texas really begins. In 1927
a joint Constitution was adopted for
Texas and Coahuila with Texas be-
ing promised q separate statehood
She lived under this for nine years
with no sign OF statehood and with
growing dissatisfaction. Finally,
conditions became unbearable and
she declared and won her indepen-
dence. In 1886 Texas ratified a Con-
stitution Of Representative Provis-
ional government much like that OF
the United States but pros.-nIg only
-or the election Of governor, lieuten-
ant governor and one representative
In each house In l645 she officially
became a part of the Union and her
Constitution, perfected. was a very
meritorious document. In 1861 came
the question OF states rights and
secession. An extra-legal conven-
ton was called and the constitu-
ton changed so that she might Join
the southern Confederacy and
adcpt her constitution.
After the Civil War came the re-
construction period IL Texas and in
1903 she readoptec the con titutich
of 1845 and again became a state
under the laws of the United States.
In 1876 the present constitution was
ratified after long elaboration and
appoval BY a state wide election.
At the close or Miss Edman's ad-
dress she gave her hearers the priv
ilege OF choosing the Three Great
Constitutions"
Guests Of the club were Mrs. A. ID.
Huey. Miss Eleanor Hunt, Mrs. Leroy
Robinson, Mrs. N. II Richardson,
Miss Mary Barber OF Austin. and the
guest speaker, Miss Grace Edman.
During the social hour and the
serving o. a salad course by the host
eSS, guests and members expressed
appreciation OF the forceful talk by
Miss Edman
The next meeting win be will
Mrs. Milton West at GIL Washington
street.