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Graciousness in Our Meetings The gift of graciousness â€" or perhaps it's an accomplishment rather than a gift â€" IS the first requisite in introducing a speaker, thank- ing a speaker, extending “courtesies” at the close of an event. Introducing a speaker, the gracious Club woman knows that she has just one job to do â€" to make the audience eager to hear the speaker and to make the speaker eager to speak, or at least tolerany pleased with the prospect. She puts the spotlight on the speaker and is careful to keep out of it herself. The op- posite of this is “Mrs. Glib," very assured, very conscious of herseif. Introducing a speakâ€" er who is to give a talk on Switzerland, she may say: “I know what a treat is in store for us because of our trip to Europe last year. my husband and I enjoyed Switzerland more than any other country. I am sure Mr. Blank's cam- era caught the glow of the sun going down be- hind the snow-capped mountains. the roads spiralling up and up . . ." and so on. Perhaps this is not what Mr. Blank intends to talk about at all; and perhaps after what Mrs. Glib has said the audience will be disappointed at missing pictures of the sunsets and the winding roads, AnyWay Mrs. Glib had not been asked to make a speech herself â€" just to set the stage for the speaker of the day. And she would have done this more effectively if she had said nothing about her trip to Eur0pe. but had concentrated on the club’s good fortune in having Mr. Blank to speak to them. She might have told something about the breadth of his experience, the specific purpose of his travels, any books he had written or films he had made, anything that would contribute to the impression of an interesting personality. Among many observations of graciousness in club women. I remember a banquet where the entertainers were blind musicians. From the minute they arrived at the banquet hall there were women ready to be their guides and friends. serving them at the table. arranging a place for them to rest in the wings of the stage so thev wouldn't have to stumble up the steps when their numbers were called. I have another unforgettable picture. At an Institute meeting in a northerly settlement years ago, the programme had ended and the w0men were putting food on the table when the door was cautiously opened and a woman with four children stood outside. They were pitifully clothed and obviously hungry. Perhaps some of the Institute members knew them; anyway they lost no time in bringing them in, being as 12 friendly and casual as if there was nothing in}. usual in arriving at this hour, or in being hungry that food disappeared as fast as n conld be brought to them. A considerable part of the Significance w _,_ club, and certainly its public image, depe, first of all on the graciousness of its memh â€"Ethel Chapman (Ontario H k 'k 'k * "If I could have only two qualities on “5 to judge a boy's promise. I would choose curl: and resolution, for only the resolute overt: obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has alv excited me more than the intelligence qumjr- â€"Eugene S. \Vilsonâ€"Dean of Admissions, A ml- Collegeâ€"in Reader’s Digest. '1: ‘k ‘k CHRISTMAS SONG Above the weary waiting world Asleep in chill despair, There breaks a sound of joyous bells Upon the frosted air. And o'er the humblest roofiree, 10, A star is dancing on the snow. \X’hat makes the yellow star to dance Upon the brink of night? \Vhar makes the breaking dawn to glen So magically bright,“ And all the earth to be renewed \Vith infinite beatitude. The singing bells, the throbbing star, The sunbeams on the snow, And the awaiting heart that leaps New ecstasy to know, â€" They all are dancing in the morn Because a little child is hormiBliss Crirnm i: i i "Let us not begin a Certain thing Or start to solve a riddle, Unless we mean to see it through And not stop in the middle." * i at A NEW SPOON FOR CHRISTMAS Miss Pear! Clark, sales representative for the commemorative spoons has announced the availability of a new spoon for Christ- mas. This is a coffee spoon, silver-plated and engraved with a charming "Noel" motif- Other new spoons include Canada with maple leaf, the peace tower, Canada‘s Northwest Territories and special portrait spoons. Order forms and a complete price list may be obtained by writing Miss 5. Pearl Clark, 66 Rasedene Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario. HOME AND COUN '/