The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-09

were carried back 10 the Victorian
era in American history. the period
between 1860 and 1890. Creating a
very lovely and effective picture
in their period gowns, Mrs. H. z.
WILDER and her committee, Mrs
Pliny Skinner, Mrs. George Elliott,
Mrs. Wesley Dawson, Miss Adella
Jackson. Mrs. James Glasgow and
Mrs. Carroll Curtis discussed the
architecture. schools, religion, poll.
tics. inventions and music OF the
time. in the atmosphere OF wom-
ans club meeting OF the lS9Os.
Mrs. WILDER opened the program
by greeting the small group OF
Victorian club women. and remark
ing that they were living In a won
derful time, as the papers they
were about to give would surely
indicate. Then she introduced Mrs.
Glasgow. who gave a vivid picture
OF Victorian architecture and furni-
ture. During this period OF west
ward expansion, sudden wealth and
mechanical inventions. Mrs. Glas-
gov said. architectural beauty suf-
fered. and though there was vast
amount OF building. ii combined the
worst elements OF Gothic. Italian.
Queen Anne and Louis XIV design
The result was elaborate, highly or
namental, heavy designs in houses.
as well as public buildings. In the
matter OF home furnishing and dec
Grating one likewise sees a profu-
sion Of ornaments, overcrowded
rooms, lack OF symmetry, and quiet,
restful, plain surfaces, said Mrs.
Glasgow. Such a lack of restraint
would seem in very poor taste to-.
day, but they thought it both beauti
full and picturesque. Not until the
end of this period-about 1890
when a young American architect,
Hunt, conceived the idea of using
the best proven European styles,
and adding to them something OF
his own personality, does one find
a new artistic trend.
Education and Religion Between
1860 and 1890 was Miss Jackson's
subject. She told in very interest
ing way of the outstanding educa-
tors OF this period and their con-
tributions to present educational
systems. Among these were Presi-
dent Charles Eliot of Harvard, who
developed the elective system for
college courses; G. Stanley Hall.
chief exponent of the doctrine Of
Periodicity in education. and Dr..
John Dewey, untiring critic of for
nalism of every type. Among the
great women leaders OF the last
century, whose names are in the
Hall OF Fame, Miss Jackson men
toned Jane Adams. Susan B..
Anthony, and Mary Baker Eddy. or
the religious leaders who had a dis.
tinct influence upon the life of the
century. Henry Ward Beecher.
Edward Everett Hale. Thomas De-
Witt Talmage and Phillips Brooks
were most outstanding. Notable dur.
ing this period was the movement
in the churches to organize young
people for church work and as a
result the founding OF the Chris
tian Endeavor. Epworth League,
B. Y. p. L., Y. NJ. c. A. and Y. w.
c. a.
Enlightening, indeed. was the
discussion Of the inventions OF this
reconstruction era in history, given
by Mrs. Dawson. She stated that the
development Of the sciences af-
fecting transportation and commun-
ication had an enormous influence
upon the industrial. political, and
geographical expansion of the coun.
try. In 1863 the railroad took the
place Of the pony express. stage.
coach and steamboat. Following
that, in this same 80 year period.
came improvements in railroad
equipment. design and comfort; as
we'll as the inventions OF the tele-
phone, cable. incandescent light,
phonograph. elevated trains, type
writer, and the construction OF the
Panama Canal and Brooklyn Bridge
Mrs. Skinner gave a very excel
lent panoramic picture of the polit.
ical and current events OF this
period, presenting it as though 1t
were being enacted in three acts.
upon a stage. Between 1860 and
1870 slavery was the great topic
Of the day; Lincoln was elected /;
states threatened secession; four
years of Civil War followed until.
with the country PROSTATE, the con-
flict ended. Then, after a very
saddened president was assassinat-
ed. slavery was abolished. During
lS70-1SS0 the country was more
peaceful and prosperous. The voices
of women, led by Susan b. Anthony,
could be heard claiming the right
to vote; the Valley OF the Yellow
stone was made a national park .
silver was made legal tender; and
the terrible Chicago fire called for
help In rehabilitation from the whole
country. The years 1850 to 1890 were
not as eventful. perhaps. except for
the Charleston earthquake and the
organization of the Red Cross. But
Mrs. skinner very APPROPRIATED,
closed with the thought that the
Spirit Of Liberty, which lived on
in the hearts Of the people of this
period, must live on in hearts today
Mrs. Elliott spoke most interest
ingly OF the musical development OF
the period between 1860 and 1896
and said that most of the culture
musical and otherwise. was derived
from European sources. 1t became
the popular thing for artists TO &c
abroad for study. and the cniteC
States became a rich field for con
cert tours by Europeans. The Amer
lean trend In music was upward
The Boston Symphony Orchestra
came into its deserved place. snt
the opera became both a cultura
and social force. Folk songs OF the
South and western plains found