CLUB WORK IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS. 195 



are as follows : to call the members to order, to keep track of the 

 time, to see that each one has an opportunity to express an opinion 

 and that only one at a time shall be given the privilege of the floor ; 

 also to see that the simple exercises shall begin and close promptly. 

 The time assigned should not exceed two hours, and may be divided 

 somewhat as follows : Promptly at 2 130 o'clock the" members should 

 be called to order, if only one is present. The advance work for 

 the day should be taken up and considered for an hour. At 3 :30 

 o'clock a discussion should be started upon what has been gone over 

 during the previous hour. This will prove a useful experience, as it 

 seems to fix the information gained and to improve the powers of 

 expression. A half hour is sufficient for this portion of the pro- 

 gram. The last half hour of the program should be givun to general 

 topics, during which time each one is to give an item of information 

 gained either by reading or through observation, all the time re- 

 ligiously tabooing anything and everything relative to housework, 

 home life or neighborhood news. Gradually and quietly add to the 

 number of members, but limit the membership to ten or twelve. If 

 more women are eligible, encourage and help them to establish an- 

 other club. With too large a number, some will lose their in- 

 dividuality, then lose their interest in the work and soon drop out 

 of the club entirely. 



In mapping out the work for the year, do not assign so much to 

 one member and so much to another to do, but require all to do the 

 same work; then through some unforeseen illness or the absence 

 from home of one or more members the others are not retarded or 

 hampered in their efforts, and if only two are present the club work 

 goes on the same. The absent ones must make up the lost lesson 

 by reading at home. Another caution may be given right here : 

 do not attempt to have refreshments in connection with the meeting 

 of the club. Through the natural anxiety and worry of having this 

 properly attended to by the hostess, it will detract from her enjoy- 

 ment of and profit to be received from the program. It will neces- 

 sarily involve the expenditure of time and energy that should be 

 given to thinking and preparing for the study hours with the club. 

 A few suggestions will now be offered regarding the course of 

 study to be pursued. First thought might suggest practical topics 

 of household economics, but that would militate greatly against the 

 object we have in view, which is rest in the form of change, variety, 

 and recreation of thought. So let the thoughts stray farther away 

 into the fields of literature, history, art, science, music, etc. Of 

 course it is not possible to roam through all these fields at once, nor 

 to thoroughly turn the ground over of either one. but think of the 



