Evening star., 1937-10-03

city Where nearly W.. ua
every other per-
son is from somewhere else, she has
made this Kaleidoscope scene the
medium for what she calls her last
rose, of Summer" activity. that of a
current events lecturer in our midst
and beyond our borders.
Her grandfather, Lewis Winans
Ross, was member of Congress from
Illinois during those stirring times
when the destiny of the survival of the
Union hung in the balance. He knew
Lincoln personally. Her father, John
W. Ross, was member of the Illi-
nois Legislature before he was ap-
pointed postmaster for the City of
Washington under Grover Cleveland.
Later in his career he enjoyed the
unusual distinction of serving three
consecutive terms as Commissioner
of the District of Columbia under as
many Presidents of the United States,
Harrison, Mckinley and Theodore
Roosevelt. He also served as a presi-
dent of the Board of Education for
our public school system. A bronze
bas-relief in the District Building,
Ross drive in Rock Greek Park and
the Ross School, attest the citys ap-
probation of his public-spirited serv-
ice for it.
Calls Work Her AvocatiOn.
1t is, therefore, by inheritance as
we'll as inclination that his daughter,
Georgette Ross Howard, has gravi-
tated toward her present vocation,
which she claims is also her avocation,
30 much does she enjoy pursuing it.
Asked how she happened to choose the
particular field which she has de-
veloped so successfully during years
when most women are retiring from
activity, she very modestly explains:
I'm a sense because it is built upon
all of my life's experiences. The one
member of our family who was always
ready and willing to accompany father
to all sorts and kinds of official gath
erings, I early developed real love for
people and events, and in the swap
Ding of opinions as to why things
we're as they were. Therefore the idea
occurred to me, Why not try to capi-
talize yourself along the line of vou,
own most salient interests? You have
always been fascinated in watching the
wheels of government go around. and
following the general progress of the
world. Perhaps similar curiosity on
the part of other people as to the gov
ernmental scene in Washington with
its worldwide ramifications, might
involve q willingness to have 1t in
terpreted to them "
Friends to whom she somewhat
hesitantly confided her idea, encour-
aged her in the plan, which presently
developed, of starting a current events
class or series of lectures based upon
a careful and discriminating study Of
current trends in national life with
light and humorous touch, as we'll as
interpreted through good contacts with
able minds. That was nine years ago.
The first class organized with much
fear and trepidation, was a very small
one. attended by group of Washing
ton business women in the Y. w. c. A.
after their day closed. Others fol-
lowed, larger and rapidly expanding
group of business and professional
women at All Souls Church, another
of Army service women at Walter
Reed, and an opportunity to address
the students at Mount Vernon Sem
mary.
Able Platform Lecturer.
To her college days at Goucher,
which she has since served as an
alumna trustee, Mrs. Howard attrib-
uted the ease and facility with which
she is now able to make her profess
sional appearances as platform lee
turer, never referring to notes or
memoranda.
I'm our public speaking assign
ments, such as making announce
ments and presiding as toastmistress
at banquets, verbal stumblings and
vaverings were expected and con-
doned, but dependence upon life-sav-
ing notations were simply taboo, no
matter what our sad plight" she said
with a. reminiscent chuckle.
This training stood me in good
stead, too, in my professional career
In the Public Library here in Wash
ington prior to my marriage" she
continued. "As a library assistant
there fell to my lot the interesting
experience of opening the library's
reading service in our public school
system, an idea of DR.. Bowerman's
which has been widely acclaimed and
taken over in many of the cities of
the United States. My particular job
In connection with its initial stages
was to make personal visits to the
various class rooms of our public
schools and tell in five-minute talks,
sandwiched in between the patient
teachers efforts to teach the three RS,
the advantages the library was offer
ing for the enriching of their hitherto
professionally unguided reading tastes
Never in my life did I so strenuously
prepare the spontaneous humor, al
lure and charm with which I strove
for their interest by apt quotation
when opportunity afforded as to the
treasures that awaited them between
the covers of the library's books.
None of the present branch libraries
was then in operation"
Today mature, silver-haired, but
enrichened by full and colorful life
that has known and been happy in
marriage and motherhood, Mrs. How
ard with the zest of youth and humor
sparkling forth from eyes that look
upon world she finds good and in
finitely challenging, is doing the thing
that she would most like to do, al
Turing her public to more meaning
full Interpretation of what is being
written and said concerning current
frtArestS