The degree of interest in work depends largely upon the degree of its
variety. A class which nods over the same day-in-and-day-out routine of
questions and answers, wakes up, smiles, thinks and becomes animated
when a new way of doing even familiar work is proposed. Local circle
life and strength depends very largely upon wide-awake schemes and novel
plans. Unless something fresh is continually arousing interest, a circle
will lose ground. There are many workers who are continually developing
new enterprises; there are others who never have anything to report but
the number of members, the names of officers, and the place and time of
meeting. Such societies are dwarfed by their own lack of ingenuity. The
kind and variety of work which is to be done in all circles can not be
better told than it is in an open letter before us from Newton Highlands,
Massachusetts:
“We are a mutual club. Our plan of work is very informal. Our officers
have been only a president and secretary. We meet every Monday at the
house of one of our number, alternating as we please. We commence
precisely on time, viz.: 2:30 o’clock p. m., and continue till 5:30, or
later. For the first two years our president was our leader. Since that
time we have taken our turn in order, as leaders, and asked questions
in order around the circle, on the subject of the former week’s work,
taking the lesson up by paragraphs, faithfully examining each, and
often incidentally bringing in (for drawing out of the members) much
information bearing upon the lesson. Often a subject was allotted to
a member, on which she thoroughly prepared herself and contributed
the information at the next meeting, either verbally or by reading a
paper. The memorial days were faithfully kept, though not always on the
identical day; but we selected a day most convenient for the club during
the month—for we are all housekeepers.
“For these memorial days great preparation was made. In the first place
we all assembled two hours earlier than usual, with the preparations for
a banquet, at the home of the lady who had invited us to dine with her.
“Each carried whatever she had previously pledged, or what had been
suggested to her; and here the ladies had ample opportunity to exhibit
their skill in the culinary line, which they did not fail to improve; so
that one of the suggestions, not yet acted upon, was to publish a C. L.
S. C. Cook Book.
“We had our post-prandial exercises too, though care was taken to send
each member the toast to which she was to respond, that she might not be
taken unawares, and having never had any training in that line we were
allowed to _read_ our responses, if we chose. Then at the usual time we
gathered for our work.
“After having celebrated the birthday of each of those selected by C. L.
S. C. for two years, we have since introduced other names to our list, as
Walter Scott, George Eliot.
“Once we had a _Roman day_, and one of our party wrote a description of
our imagined entrance into Rome, and locating us at a hotel, took us
daily trips to different parts of the city; each member describing one or
more interesting objects to be found on the way. A map of Rome hung up
before us, so that the imaginary excursion could be easily traced. The
members brought in any engravings or illustrations, medallions, etc.,
which were helpful, and our neighbors who had traveled abroad were happy
to aid us by loaning their precious mementoes. Our excursions, too, as a
club, have been very enjoyable and profitable.
“While studying geology we made an excursion to Harvard College and spent
the day in looking over the buildings and listening to the curator, who
kindly explained the articles in the Agassiz Museum, and then delivered a
lecture to us on “Ancient Mounds,” etc.
“After completing the History of Art, we made an excursion to the Art
Museum in Boston, and examined everything in the rooms which had been
referred to in the Art Book, thus fixing the knowledge already acquired
by seeing its representation. We also, through the kindness of friends,
had the privilege of visiting the State House, and examining the original
charters and ancient letters of Washington, Arnold, etc., also the Acts
and Resolves in the archives of the state.
“On our return, our president proposed to one of our members, whose
father had been in the legislature, and was well acquainted with all the
technical terms and methods in use there, to write an article for the
club, introducing a bill into the legislature, noting the steps necessary
for its passage through both houses, and tracing it even till it became a
law.
“This afforded us considerable amusement, as the sister was progressive
(?) and recognized in her look into futurity some of our club as members
of the different houses! and the bills were such as had an amusing local
significance.
“A trip to Wellesley College also was made.
“But time and your patience would fail me to tell of all our doings. One
thing more, however, I must not omit, and that is that our club _wrote
a book_. We will not call it a Romance, though it was the ‘Bridal Trip’
of a couple of young Americans. Each chapter, written by a different
member, constituted a part of the journey, and included an account of the
points of interest in or around some principal city. The couple journeyed
through Scotland, England, France, Italy and Germany.
“Of course it was necessary for a committee to act as editors, and write
these chapters so that it would read like a continuous story. Then one
afternoon we met and had the whole read aloud by the editors.
“We felt the attempt was an exceedingly great undertaking at first,
but as each one had a certain part allotted to her, and was allowed to
gather all the ideas she pleased from research, and use them in her own
way—fearing no accusation of plagiarism—we found it was not so difficult
after all.”