(iy2 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



PROGRAMS FOR EVENINGS WITH FARMERS' WIVES' READING-CLUBS. 



Those of our readers who are interested in Farmers' Wives' Read- 

 ing-Clubs should send for Bulletin No. i6, which gives suggestions for 

 programs for two meetings for each of the five winter months. 



Study clubs are by no means to be confined to the cities and towns. 

 The farmer's wife has the same need of study to keep abreast of the 

 times, to keep up with her children, and to preserve a joyous spirit, as 

 does the woman living in the midst of libraries, picture galleries, and 

 lecture bureaus. Her early education, like that of her city sister, needs 

 constant polishing to keep it bright, and her sympathies need to expand 

 rather than to grow narrow and insignificant. The very practical nature 

 of the farmer's wife's occupation makes it desirable to base that occupa- 

 tion on scientific principles as well as to relieve it with a thought of 

 poetry, history or fiction. 



Let some woman take the leadership, see the other women of the 

 community and arrange to meet on a certain date, either in a home, at 

 the school building, or in the grange hall. The meeting may be held 

 when the men have their club meeting, or alone, as seems most practi- 

 cable. Alake the organization as formal or informal as you please. Allow 

 no discussion of topics during the program hour except those selected for 

 the evening. The President should hold all members to a stringent ob- 

 servance of the rules in order to make the meetings a success. 



It is well to have the men present at these meetings and to ask them 

 to take part in the program, but it is suggested that they may retire to 

 another room and discuss agricultural subjects while the women are on 

 the domestic problems, or that time be given to them for a discussion of 

 their own subjects to which the women will doubtless be interested 

 listeners. The men can doubtless throw much light on the domestic 

 problems of the home. 



Elect a chairman. Draw up a few rules by which meetings shall be 

 governed. These may be added to as the occasion demands. Each club 

 will need to be governed by its own local conditions. 



Register as a club at once by addressing Farmers' Wives' Reading- 

 Course, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 



Have the Secretary keep the club in close touch with the University. 



Possibly the Supervisor of the Course may be able to visit the club 

 at a regular meeting. 



A traveling library will be quite indispensable to the carrying out of 

 this schedule, unless you prefer to buy the books. Apply soon for the 

 library. It is not connected widi this Extension Department, but with the 



