of the club that the questioner had fuhilled his duty and that the problem 

 had now become one of charity. Following this an adjournment was 

 taken at ten o'clock. 



From this it will be seen that a great variety of topics relating to every 

 aspect of farm life and work are discussed in these clubs. In the men's 

 clubs more technical questions of fertilization, of methods of planting, of 

 stock breeding and many similar branches of farming are discussed. 



The Pigeon^ Club is doing for the boys what these other clubs do for 

 their elders. Its scope is wider than its name. In it the boy receives 

 preliminary initiation into the mysteries of the farm. This club holds 

 an annual poultry show at the Lyceum Hall. 



The social significance of these clubs is very great. The week of the 

 full moon is always a steady round of festivities, as most of these societies 

 date by the moon. Even if the community had no other opportunity for 

 recreation than that furnished by its clubs, it would be better provided 

 for than is the average rural community. However, the activities of the 

 clubs do not begin to exhaust the list of amusements of this neighborhood. 

 Each season has its lectures and its musicals, at least two or three of each 

 and a half dozen or more of home talent plays and school entertainments. 

 These are held in the school assembly room or in the Lyceum Hall, and 

 are usually very well attended. The same sort of a change has been 

 going on here as elsewhere in the county, during the last thirty years or 

 more. Lecturers on sober topics do not now speak to the large, enthusi- 

 astic audiences that once faced them. However, these entertainments, of 

 whatever sort, are all of more than ordinary high class. There are usually 

 four or five dances a season in the Assembly Hall, sponsored by the High 

 School. These are invitation dances with an admission fee. The aver- 

 age attendance is fifty, plus plenty of chaperones. A number of other 

 dances are usually held in the Grange Hall at Olney or in private homes. 

 On the road between Ashton and Ednor there is a club house which has 

 been in process of completion for a number of years. It is still rather 

 airy for winter use, but occasional dances are held there during the 

 summer, perhaps four a season. In addition to these forms of amuse- 

 ment there are all the various outdoor activities of a well-organized 

 community. There are three tennis courts in Sandy Spring, and many 

 play. There is an annual tournament which attracts considerable 

 interest. The High School has a baseball team and during the summer 

 there is a neighborhood team. The games are all fairly well attended. 

 There is no admission charged. Of course, there is the annual game of 

 the "Hasbeens" and the " Never- were-anything-muches,'' without which 

 the life of no community would be complete. Basketball and soccer are 

 played at the High School. 



There are many private picnics and outings during the course of the 



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