EMPLOYMENT FOR WINTER EVENINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue III, 21 July 1894, Page 68

EMPLOYMENT FOR WINTER EVENINGS.

THE READING CIRCLE. The plan of this organization is somewhat intricate, yet; there is no work entailed that is not within the competency of its busiest member. Its scope may be fitly indicated by an inversion of the classic apothegm non multa, sed multum, for it is not mnch of any one author, but a little of many authors that is sought. Perhaps the beet way of making clear the proceedings will be to describe an actual meeting. As close to eight o’clock as possible the members assembled in Mrs L ’s drawing-room, and after a few moments devoted to greetings and general conversation, Mi L , who is chairman for the evening, calls the gathering to order. The subject for consideration is one of the authors of the day, and it is the duty of the host or hostess to present a biographical sketch, and whenever possible, a portrait of the author. The biography may be simply the condensed summary to be found in • Men. of the Day,’ or • Women of the Time,’ or it may be a more elaborate and more exhaustive article obtained from some literary review. Of course, if the person responsible for the account of the author’s life and work has sufficient enterprise and energy to prepare an original paper that is still better, and the doing of this cannot be too warmly encouraged. It is an advantage in every way. An important feature of the account ought always to be a full list of the author’s writings, with the date of their appearance, so that a clear view of his or her development may be had. Assuming now that the subject of the evening is Robert Louis Stevenson, and that the story of bis life has been briefly told, bis portrait presented, and any questions that may be asked answered, then follow the readings from his books. These have been assigned at the preceding meeting, and the persons appointed are expected to come fully prepared to give a lucid summary of the book, and a reading or two from it that may serve to illustrate its chief characteristics. In assigning these works careful judgment should be used. CHOOSE A QUINTETTE. * Treasure Island,’ *An Inland Voyage,’ ‘ Virginibus Puerisque,’ ‘ Underwoods,’ and * A Child’s Garden of Verses ’ are five of Stevenson’s productions which, perhaps, as fairly as any other quintette, represent his prowess in the realms of fiction, descriptive writing, essay writing and verse. Therefore if each of these be assigned to a different person, and receive anything approaching justice at their hands, the resulting effect ought to be to impart to any one not previously familiar with the brilliant Scotchman an impression of him sufficiently clear to enable the decision to be made as to whether or not he is an author to be cultivated. And it is just along this line that the reading circle may be the means of accomplishing the most good. To busy men and women many of the most promising authors of the day are little more than names met with from time to time in the papers or magazines. They know nothing of their relative worth, and think they have not time to find out for themselves. Now if they would join a reading circle, and, taking for granted that the standard authors, the Crawfords, Scotts, Thackerays, Coopers, and Tennysons are already sufficiently known, would confine their attention to living authors, they would inevitably find their range of literary vision wonderfully widened, and would soon be able to step surely where otherwise they would not dare to venture. THE NECESSARY RULES. The only rules necessary for the conduct of the circle are these : First, that members should be prompt. Second, that those appointed to read should be duly prepared. Third, that no reading should occupy more than twenty minutes. Fourth, that the readings should all be finished by ten o’clock, so as to allow of some discussion and interchange of opinions. The third rule is especially important, as non-adherence thereto may shipwreck the circle. To guard against any such mishap there should be a timekeeper appointed, with full authority to bring to a halt any one trespassing beyon the limit, and the success of the circle will material! depend upon the fidelity and impartiality with which this timekeeper’s duty is performed. Previous to breaking up, the author for the next meeting must be decided upon, and the readings assigned, care being always taken where an author has done good work in different fields (as Thackeray, for instance, whose novels, descriptions, essays and poems must all be taken into account) that the whole range of his genius be, if possible, represented. Of course, there is no obligation upon the part of any one to play the part of critic. It is an enlarged acquaintance with the author, not a practical anatomy of him, that ought to be kept in view, and no member should feel bound to point out flaws when really there is not sufficient time to indicate all the excellences.

First Married Man : • I got to know my wife only about three months before I married her.’ Second Married Man : * And I mine only about three months after.’