MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY

CLUB.

The Massachusetts Library Club held its annual meeting at the Cliff Hotel, North Scituate, from Friday to Sunday, June 22-24. The meeting of the previous year, held in the same place, was so successful that it seemed wise to return. About two hundred librarians were in attendance, including a considerable number from adjacent states. The spirit of the whole meeting was hearty and enthusiastic.

At the first session, on Friday afternoon, Mr. Ralph Bergengren, the wellknown essayist, gave the assembly "the key to Scituate" in an amusing address which put everyone in good humor. The main business of the afternoon was a symposium on library work among the foreign-born, led by Miss Edna Phillips, the new Director of the work of the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission among the foreigners of the state. Miss Phillips presided with tact and charm, and the program which she had arranged proved most interesting and suggestive. Miss Alice G. Worthen, Librarian of the Union Square Branch of the Somerville Public Library, told many encouraging stories of the "Americans of To-morrow";

MP7: 8.2.23: 750.

Miss Esther Johnston described "Library Contacts in New York's lower East Side"; Miss Maud B. Colcord, Librarian of the Loring Reading Room, connected with the Plymouth Cordage Company, set forth the varied effects on the community of her library work with various types of foreigners; and Mrs. Marguerite R. Wetmore, of the Providence Public Library, under the title "Wanted: a Policy," gave a most stimulating address on the problems presented to the country by the herding of immigrants in large industrial centres. At the close of the meeting a delightful informal reception was held, at which, by an ingenious device, everyone shook hands with everyone else.

AUTHORS AND GAMES.

At the session of Friday evening Miss Katherine P. Loring, President of the Board of Trustees of the Beverly Public Library, spoke intimately and delightfully on the topic, "Authors I have known." She told stories of William and Henry James, of Lord Bryce, of Asa Gray, and of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Fields, and made all the audience. share in her sympathetic acquaintance with these distinguished persons. At the close of the session the Club devoted itself to playing games under the

direction of Mrs. Hartzell; those who have not yet played Fox and Goose under her supervision have a rare pleasure in store. The evening concluded with lively song-singing, under the leadership of Mr. Albert H. Hall, the echoes of which were still audible on the beach at an hour well after midnight.

The session of Saturday morning consisted of a round table on library topics conducted by Miss June R. Donnelly, of the Simmons College Library School. Many practical and helpful suggestions were brought out, and the morning was full of profit for

everyone.

The afternoon of Saturday was given up to the New England School Library Association, meeting under the conduct of its president, Miss Elizabeth H. Furst, of the Library at Adams, Massachusetts. The meeting indicated a considerable increase of interest in school libraries, which leads one to hope for a time, not far distant, when every town will have its school librarian.

Saturday evening was the gala night of the meeting. The dining-room tables were arranged as for a banquet, and the assembled librarians all seemed in high spirits. At the close of the dinner the election of officers was held and the new president was inducted into office to the tune of hearty applause.

THE REAL WORLD.

Miss Loring and others told good stories until eight o'clock, when Henry Turner Bailey, Director of the Cleveland School of Art, whose summer home is in Scituate, was introduced to speak on "The Library and the World of Art." Mr. Bailey opened the door of what he called the world of spirit, in which live all the real men and women, the animals and the faery places, which have been created by the world's artists, from Moses to the present time. To this spiritual world the librarian holds the key, and Mr. Bailey pointed out the many ways in which we have the power and the privilege of leading others into this abode of beauty. The

address was deeply inspiring, leaving the audience full of gratitude to the seer who had opened their eyes. For the remainder of the evening, the librarians were entertained by a group of clever young people under the leadership of Mr. George H. Evans, the genial Treasurer of the Club. Singing on the beach followed until a late hour.

On Sunday the librarians gradually scattered to their homes. In the morn

ing Mr. William D. Goddard, Librarian at Pawtucket, R. I., gave an effective dramatic reading of the Book of Job, which afforded a new insight into the power of characterization displayed by the ancient writer.

The meeting was one of unusual interest and pleasure, with a delightful setting. A large delegation from the Boston Public Library, including Mr. Belden, was present, and did its part in giving spirit to the sessions.

The officers for next year are as follows:

President, Edward H. Redstone, Librarian
State Library.
Vice-Presidents, Miss June R. Donnelly,
Director Simmons College Library
School; Harold A. Wooster, Librarian
Westfield Athenaeum; Miss E. Louise
Jones, Agent Free Public Library Com-
mission.

Secretary, Mrs. Bertha V. Hartzell, Li-
brarian Social Service Library.
Treasurer, George H. Evans, Librarian
Somerville Public Library.

Recorder, Galen W. Hill, Librarian Milli-
cent Library, Fair Haven.

Following a good custom of the Club, the retiring President, Mr. Harold T. Dougherty, of the Newton Free Library, becomes a member of the Executive Committee; the Club expressed by a rising vote on Saturday night its appreciation of the work of Mr. Dougherty and the retiring board of officers, in giving to the Club two of the happiest and most successful years in its history.

DICKENS AT WEST ROXBURY.

Little groups of serious youth gather in the cellars of Greenwich Village and Beacon Hill to discuss ultra-modern literature, but who ever heard of a Sherwood Anderson celebration or a

James Joyce party? Which of the new school of cerebral writers can persuade an entire neighborhood to come together and do him honor, and have an all-around good time into the bargain? It takes Dickens, "the great humanizer," to accomplish that.

On Saturday evening, June 2, the greater part of the population of West Roxbury jammed into the assembly. hall of the branch library to watch friends and relations bring to life those magical thick volumes of Dickens. To the right of the stage was a mammoth oil painting entitled "Mr. Pickwick's Dream," which has come into the possession of the Boston Public Library through the courtesy of the Dickens Fellowship of Boston. The picture is to be loaned about to the various branches, and West Roxbury is the first custodian.

Reverend Harold S. Arnold of the Unitarian Church was a delightful master of ceremonies. The program started off with a duet on the harp and violin by Miss Rollins and Miss Allen. Miss Guerrier was then unexpectedly called upon for a speech. As she is a person to whom speech-making apparently comes as easy as breathing, this did not daunt her. She described her own Dickens pilgrimages in London and Paris, to the delight of the audience. Finally, she discovered that Mr. Kelley, who painted the picture, was present, and turned over the stage to him. Mr. Kelley explained how the picture came to be painted, and declared that it contained "one hundred and eighty-five characters from Dickens's novels, with a horse, a bird, a dog and a gun thrown in." Mrs. Wise then sang "The Ivy Green," the one poem Dickens is known to have composed, which is always sung at meetings of the Dickens Fellowship.

THE TABLEAUX.

Tableaux arranged by Mrs. Sears Gallagher, wife of the artist, were then shown. Little David Copperfield being read to out of the "crokerdill book"; Mr. Pickwick; the little Kenwigses and their lovely sentimental parent; Pip and Joe Gargery; Sairey Gamp and

others, were rapturously recognized by those present. The costumes were remarkably true to the painstaking descriptions of the author. And how he would have loved the children who took part!

Mrs. Bowles, secretary of the Boston Branch of the Dickens Fellowship, through whose efforts the painting was turned over to the Library, read Kate Douglas Wiggin's touching account of "A Child's Journey with Dickens." Mr. Cronan, the ever-welcome story teller, then told the story of Great Expectations, or rather, gave his audience just enough to whet their appetites for more. There was a concerted sigh of disappointment when he broke off and advised those present to get the book and find out what happened to Pip and the escaped convict. Since then there has been a run on Great Expectations at West Roxbury. Mr. Arnold then announced "vicarious refreshments," in a dramatization of Fannie Squeers's immortal tea party, arranged by Mrs. Horace Morse, sister-in-law of the librarian. The comedy was delicious, and the audience applauded heartily.

It was a thoroughly delightful evening, and Miss Morse was showered with congratulations by her friends and neighbors.

M. E. P.

EXAMINATIONS AND COURSES.

During the month of June two important examinations were held for admission and promotion to the highest grade of the Library service. These

were:

(a) On June 23, a Grade B examination for persons of college education or its equivalent. This included language papers in French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish. Of the twenty-five persons who answered the general questions, fifteen passed with a grade of 70 or more, an unusually good showing; most of these also passed the language test.

(b) On June 2, a special examination for candidates for first assistantships in the branches, in accordance with the new plan by which appointments to

grade positions in the Library are to be made on the basis of examinations covering the duties of the particular positions involved. The paper differed from the customary grade examination. in that three-fourths of the questions dealt with the routine and technique of branch library work. In the afternoon. tests were given in the usual languages.

Of the twenty young women who were enrolled in the second course on reference books, ten received a mark above 85 on the final examination. Those whose mark was above 95 were Grace Brady, South Boston Branch, with a mark of 99 per cent; Evelina Olivier, Jeffries Point Branch; Mary McDonough, Children's Room; and Annie J. Riley, Dorchester Branch. The class is to be congratulated on this fine showing.

In the examination at the close of Professor Rogers's supplementary course in American literature, twentyfour Library assistants obtained a grade of 65 per cent or more. The high mark was 90, which was reached by three members of the staff, Miss Bessie L. Doherty, of the Branch Department, Mr. William Graham, of the Catalogue Department, and Miss Harriet V. Mulloy, of the Ordering Department.

"LIGHTS OUT" IN THE DE

LIVERY ROOM.

When E. V. Lucas, the biographer of Edwin A. Abbey, was in this country three years ago, he contributed a series of articles to the London Times. In one of these he described his visit to the Boston Public Library, and stated that he was disappointed in Mr. Abbey's decorations, and felt that time had dealt harshly with them, in that they were already becoming faded and dingy.

When Mrs. Abbey read this article in London she wrote to Mr. Lucas that the decorations had not faded, as Mr. Abbey prided himself on the quality of his materials, and that the trouble was

entirely with the artificial lighting. Mr. Lucas therefore withdrew his statement when his articles were republished in book form.

During Mrs. Abbey's recent visit to Boston, she had various experiments. tried with the lights in the Delivery Room, none of which proved quite satisfactory. She therefore petitioned the Trustees to remove the lights, and the order was passed on May 18.

The fixtures have now been removed, thus putting an end to "lighting up" for distinguished visitors, and relieving the attendants of all responsibility in the matter.

KIND HEART.

The following pathetic story needs

no comment:

On Monday, July 9, Harry Lanzillo, 22 years old, of 22 Lynde Street, was passing through the yard of the West End Branch Library, when he saw a young bird which had fallen from its nest in a tree. Picking up the bird, he climbed the tree and replaced it in the nest. In descending the tree he slipped and fell, striking his head against the iron fence about the Library. Three days later he died at the Relief Hospital.

FESTIVITIES.

On Wednesday, June 27, Miss Alice M. Barry, of the Registration Department, was suddenly called home by telephone to meet "a friend." When she entered the house she was bombarded with confetti from every side, and was totally surprised to find not one, but sixty friends, who had assembled for the purpose of giving her a shower. She received many lovely presents, and was undoubtedly deeply grateful to those who had been thoughtful enough to provide a bundle boy, in the person of Mr. William McGowan, to assist her in unwrapping them. The room had been beautifully decorated with streamers and flowers, and in a central position was a doll in a bridal costume, made by Miss Barry's sister Anna, the prophetic token of a

coming event. LIBRARY LIFE takes this opportunity to offer its hearty congratulations to Miss Barry and Mr. McGowan.

On the evening of May 7 the staff of the Jamaica Plain Branch visited Miss Mary P. Swain, the retiring li brarian, at her home on Seaverns Avenue.

Her former assistants presented Miss Swain with a gold pin set with a sapphire and pearls, as a permanent token of their regard. Miss Swain. will long be remembered in the community which she served as a woman of fine spirit and real devotion.

On Saturday, June 30, a delightful farewell party was held by the staff of the Branch Department in honor of Miss Maud M. Morse, who is retiring from the Library service. When Miss Morse arrived that morning she found her chair decorated with colored streamers and a wealth of flowers on her desk. At one o'clock the members of the department gathered in Miss McCarthy's office, where luncheon was served from an attractively decorated table; the most honored among the guests was Miss Morse's mother, who is in her early eighties. Miss Morse. was presented with many little gifts from her former associates. The party broke up with three cheers for Mrs. and Miss Morse, who were then taken for a ride through the Park system, on the way to their home.

LIBRARY LIFE is pleased to announce the engagement of Miss Helen Ripley, of the Branch Department, to Mr. Ernest Clough. Mr. Clough, a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1920, is now connected with the Boston branch of the National City Company. On June 28, the staff of the Information Office gathered at Miss Guerrier's home in Miss Ripley's honor. At the picnic luncheon, which was served in the summer-house, Miss Ripley was presented with a number of gifts, including a pottery bowl and candlesticks. The rain, which fell in· cessantly, did not in the least dampen the festive spirit of the party.