III--IRELAND
The beautiful country; the Lakes of Killarney; the northern coast; pictures. A brief resume of Ireland"s history; St. Columba; St.
Patrick. Historic features; cathedrals and churches; the Round Towers.
The Irish poet, Moore. Music: "The Harp That Once Through Tara"s Halls;"
"Those Evening Bells;" "The Last Rose of Summer;" "Oft in the Stilly Night." Brief sketches of some of Ireland"s great men--Burke, Sheridan, O"Connell, Swift, Goldsmith, etc. Music: Moore"s "Canadian Boat Song."
IV--ROBERT BURNS
Description and pictures of the village of Ayr; the House Where Burns Was Born; the Brig o" Doon.
Sketch of Burns"s life.
_Songs_: "The Banks and Braes of Bonny Doon;" "My Heart"s in the Highlands;" "Whistle and I"ll Come to You, My Lad."
Reading from "Tam o" Shanter."
Reading of four short poems: "Highland Mary"; the "Mountain Daisy"; "Mary Morison," etc.
Reading from "The Cotter"s Sat.u.r.day Night."
_Songs_: "Comin" Through the Rye;" "John Anderson, My Jo, John;" "Auld Lang Syne."
V--WOMEN AND SOCIAL RELATIONS
Papers and talks on: Our Grandmothers" Ideas of Woman"s Place and Our Own; Woman as a Wage-Earner; The Mother as a Business Woman; Music; The Conscience of the Woman Purchaser; Would Woman"s Social Usefulness Be Increased by the Ballot? Music.
VI--THE MADONNA IN ART
Paper or talk on the earliest painters; crude representations on walls and canvas. Botticelli and his pictures; ill.u.s.trate with photographs.
Raphael; sketch of his life; his pictures; ill.u.s.trate with well-known examples, such as the "Sistine Madonna" and the "Madonna of the Chair."
The Madonnas of Murillo; "The Immaculate Conception." The modern Madonnas; pictures by Gabriel Max and others. The Madonnas of Burne-Jones and his school. Intersperse with suitable Christmas music.
VII--THE CITY OF LONDON
_Papers_: Its Early History. Remains of Oldest Buildings: Bits of the Roman Wall, St. Bartholomew"s Church, St. Stephen"s Hall, The Jerusalem Chamber, The Tower, with William the Conqueror"s Church. Literary London: The City in Shakespeare; Johnston and the Clubs; Milton and Addison; d.i.c.kens"s London. Famous Landmarks: Parliament Buildings, Westminster Abbey, The Churches, St. Paul"s, The Tower, Grey Friars, The Royal Palaces, The Museums, The Art-Galleries, The Parks.
VIII--BIRDS
_Song_: "Hark, Hark, the Lark!"
_Reading_: From "Our Neighbors, the Birds," by Mabel Osgood Wright.
_Reading or recitation_: Sh.e.l.ley"s "To a Sky-Lark."
_Paper_: "The Birds and the Milliner."
_Reading_: From "The Tragedies of the Nests," by John Burroughs.
_Song_: "Spring Hath Waked the Song-Bird," by Mendelssohn.
_Reading_: From "Bird Courtship," by John Burroughs.
_Recitation_: "The Robin Singing in the Rain," by Kate Upson Clark.
_Song_: "Swing, Robin, Swing."
For some of these readings others may be subst.i.tuted if preferred. Here are a few suggestions, which can readily be amplified: "Baby Days" and "The Tricks and Manners of a Cat-Bird," by Olive Thorne Miller; "Bird Life and Its Romance," by John Lea, and numerous magazine articles which may be found in an "Index to Periodical Literature," contained in all public libraries.
Among the many poems appropriate to the occasion are: "O, Swallow, Swallow, Flying, Flying South," from Tennyson"s "Princess" and Wordsworth"s "To a Sky-Lark."
Some lovely songs are: "From Twig to Twig," by Rubinstein; "The Pa.s.sage Birds" Farewell," by Mendelssohn, and "The Nightingale," by Schumann.
Liza Lehman has also written some fascinating bird songs, including "The Wood Pigeon," "The Yellowhammer" and "The Owl."
A really valuable paper on "Bird Music" might be written; material for this will be found in any good reference library, for it is a subject which has interested several musicians. A delightful discussion could easily be arranged by the chairman of the day on "Personal Experiences with Birds," with brief talks by members on what they have actually observed in the way of nest building or feeding of young birds, or how they have tamed some bird.
IX--THE MODERN SCIENCE OF HOUSEHOLD SANITATION AND HYGIENE
Paper on Our Grandmothers" Ways (disregard of what is to-day considered as essential).
The Sanitary Nursery; carpets or rugs; cribs; ventilation; the preparation of foods for children; the care of milk; the baby"s bottle; disinfection.
The Sanitary Kitchen; sinks and floor corners; mops and dish-cloths; refrigerators.
The Butcher and Grocer; pure food.
The Family Table; discussion on new ideas; vegetarianism; the use and abuse of cereals; how to meet the high cost of living sensibly.
X--THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF THE CHILD
_Paper_: A Child"s Right to a Perfect Body.
_Paper_: The Child"s Sleep. Arrangements for Perfect Sleep; Hours for Sleep.
_Discussion_: Shall the Baby Sleep Out of Doors?
_Paper_: The Child"s Dress; Healthfulness; Simplicity; the Plague of Clothes.
_Paper_: The Child"s Food. The Education of Mothers on This Line; the Milk-Supply in Town and Country.
_Discussion_: A Child"s Health as Affected by Its Surroundings.