The Complete Club Book for Women Part 8

Study the history of Germany in connection with this building, the different palatine emperors who lived here, the wars in which it played a part, and the great events of which it was the scene. Read the description by Victor Hugo in "Turrets, Towers and Temples."

Clubs should also take up the Cathedral of Cologne, the Castle of the Wartburg, the Dragonfels, and the church at Aix-la-Chapelle.

V--THE MOSQUE OF ST. SOPHIA

The Mosque of St. Sophia at Constantinople is the great example of Byzantine art. Its history begins in the latter days of Roman history.

Constantine, Theodosius, and Justinian all were connected with it. Read of the part each emperor took. Study next the rise and development of its style of architecture; note how uninteresting is its exterior, how curious the material of which it is built, and how wonderful its interior is. Note especially its marvelous dome, its pillars, built of marble and mosaics, its galleries and seats, so unusual in a great church. Take up the history of its greater columns, some from the Temple of the Sun at Baalbek, built by Aurelian, others from the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, and still others from Thebes, Athens, Rome, and Alexandria. This one topic of the columns could fill a meeting.

The use of color in the church should be emphasized; greens, blues, reds, black and white, rose and gold all mingle here in the decoration.

Lamps, globes of crystal, even ostrich eggs, are suspended from the ceiling. Carpets and rugs, inlaid lecterns, painted sentences from the Koran are all of interest, but perhaps most remarkable are the scenes of Moslem life and worship at all hours.

As to the history of the great church,--that covers all of the Middle Ages, and extends even to our own day. Christians and Mohammedans have fought for it; it has withstood sieges and bombardments, and known ma.s.sacres and pillage. Read from many sources; one good description by De Amicis is found in "Turrets, Towers and Temples."

VI--MOORISH ARCHITECTURE IN SPAIN

On a hill-top in Spain in the fortified suburb of Granada is the famous palace of the Moorish kings, the Alhambra. A large part of it was torn down by Charles V to make way for a palace which he began but never finished; it has suffered from neglect, from spoliation, from bombardment, from earthquakes and from fire; yet it still remains to-day an exquisite and unique piece of architecture. The whole place is easily divided into its parts, and papers may describe them separately. The entrance with its great vestibule and the inner portal, one with a gigantic hand and the other with a key, around which emblems cl.u.s.ter fascinating legends, may be the first subject; then will follow others on the Hall of the Amba.s.sadors, the Court of the Fish Pond, the Court of the Lions, the Hall of the Two Sisters, and the Hall of the Abencerrages. The Court of the Lions is the most beautiful, with its alabaster fountain resting on the crouching lions; the Hall of the Abencerrages witnessed a famous ma.s.sacre; show pictures of these two rooms. Notice how everywhere there are the vaulted ceilings of carved cedar wood, the bubblelike domes, the mosaics, the tilings, the arabesques, the delicate tracery of color, and the marvelous lace work of wood and marble. The deep well of icy water is also to be mentioned, and the repeated fountains; the glorious views from the various windows and arches are also famous. Read several chapters from Washington Irving's "Alhambra," and also from "Spain and the Spaniards," by De Amicis (Coates).

The Giralda and the Alcazar, both of Seville, should also be studied as other Moorish remains; and if there is time there may be one meeting on the Escurial.

VII--NOTEWORTHY RUSSIAN BUILDINGS

The Kremlin is the citadel of Moscow and is built on very much the same lines as the Alhambra, for a wall surrounds it and it contains many important buildings. Here are churches, palaces, and towers. Clubs should spend several meetings on this place, for it is of immense importance in Russian history. Have one paper on the Bell Tower; pa.s.s from this to the Cathedral of the a.s.sumption, and describe its ma.s.sive interior and the painted walls, with the figures whose aureoles, breastplates, necklaces, and bracelets are of precious stones; mention also the burial place of the Metropolitans. Follow with another paper on the cathedral of the Archangel, and a fourth on the new palace, which holds the art treasures of Russia, its famous ma.n.u.scripts, paintings and jewels. The library, museum and university should also be described, the whole place forming a wonderful group of buildings.

Read the description by Theophile Gautier, in "Turrets, Towers and Temples." See also "The Russian Empire of To-day and Yesterday," by N. O. Winter (The Page Company). Give the description of a coronation.

VIII--NOTRE DAME

The history of the great church of Notre Dame in Paris goes back into pagan times. A heathen temple once stood on its site, and later a Christian basilica. The present church was begun in the twelfth century.

Clubs should first take up its architecture, which is not pure Gothic but transitional, and understand how it differs from many of the beautiful pure Gothic French cathedrals. Some of its many striking features are its three deep porches in front, the ma.s.sive square towers, the delicate gallery, with its openwork arches, which supports a heavy ma.s.s of stone, and the huge rose window.

The history of the church is of the deepest interest. One paper may be on the curious fact that, though the French kings were crowned at Rheims, an English king, Henry VI, was crowned in Notre Dame, and give a description of the times and the event. Note also the great Te Deum sung here in 1431 when Paris was retaken.

During the French Revolution this was the Temple of Reason, and a travesty on the usual religious services was performed. Napoleon, wishing to impress Europe, summoned the Pope to Paris, and was here crowned Emperor of the French, but by his own hands. All these and other historical points are to have papers.

Read parts of Victor Hugo's novel, "Notre Dame." Study also other French churches, especially the cathedrals of Amiens, Rouen, Chartres and Rheims. Read "Rambles in the French Chateaux," by F. M. Costling (The Page Company), "Old Paris," by H. C. Sh.e.l.ley (The Page Company).

IX--IN THE BRITISH ISLES

The Tower of London has a more intimate connection with the history of England than any other building. Tradition says, probably erroneously, that it was begun by the Romans; certainly, however, the oldest part, the White Tower, dates back to 1078. Have a picture or plan shown which makes clear how it is built,--with walls, a moat and various towers and the Keep. Then take in chronological order all the great events which occurred here, giving several meetings to their study. Kings were crowned, held court here, and were imprisoned. Queens died or were beheaded. Famous prisoners spent years in its dungeons. Describe the square place in the court where the executioner's block stood; show the b.l.o.o.d.y Tower, and give the events which occurred there. Notice the gate connected with this, and also the Traitors' Gate. Tell of the Tower to-day, and its collection of armor and jewels.

In "Abbeys, Castles and Famous Halls of England and Wales," by Timbs and Gunn (Warne of London), there is an excellent resume of the history of the Tower. Or, a good English history, such as Green's, will give it.

Take also the history and description of Westminster Hall and Abbey, St.

Paul's, the different cathedrals of England and other famous buildings.

If possible add the famous buildings of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood, Stirling, and others. Wales has many famous ruins, notably Carnarvon, Conway and Harlech. Ireland has, among others, Ross Castle.

X--THE TAJ MAHAL

India has many notable temples and ruins, but for sheer beauty nothing can compare with the Taj Mahal, at Agra. Built in the seventeenth century by the Emperor Shah-Jehan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife and himself, it required the work of twenty thousand men for more than twenty years to complete it. It has been called a masterpiece of art, "a poem in stone."

A portico of red sandstone admits one to a long terrace built of white marble blocks, with wonderful gardens on each side and a ca.n.a.l reflecting the dark cypress trees. The tomb stands among these, reflected in the water. It is an octagonal building rising to a great dome, with smaller ones with minarets. All is built of marble and covered with exquisite carvings and inlays of flowers of turquoise and onyx, with sentences from the Koran in black marble. It is all simple, harmonious, and exquisitely beautiful. Within, in the bare central s.p.a.ce are the two plain tombs, covered with what is like a pall of carved, lacy marble. The whole forms one of the art treasures of the Orient.

CHAPTER IX

FOUR SHORT PROGRAMS

PART I

I--A GROUP OF FAMOUS BOOKS

Each of the six masterpieces of fiction suggested for this program must be read by the members of the club in preparation for their presentation at the different meetings. The plots and characters must be familiar, to have intelligent discussion.

When studying each book begin with a sketch of the life and work of the author; follow with an outline of the plot of the book and a description of each of the princ.i.p.al characters. Readings from all the books and criticisms upon them may be found in "Warner's Library of the World's Best literature."

FRENCH, GERMAN, RUSSIAN, AND SPANISH

A French book, "Les Miserables," is one of the best known books of history as well as literature, for it has to do with many vital social questions and reforms. Notice Victor Hugo's descriptive powers and discuss whether the book shows a knowledge of actual life or is largely theoretical. As it is the moral purpose of the book which has given it vitality, study the att.i.tude of society toward the outcast and the criminal as the author gives it. Does the artist in him at times overpower his moral sense? Compare the treatment of the criminal then and at the present time. In spite of the faults of construction, how does the book rank as literature?

Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister" stands in the front rank among German novels.

Give an outline of the book. Is there a plot? Is the book an autobiography? If not, how far does Goethe give his own experiences? Is the book a study in realism or does it deal with the unnatural? In what does the power of the book lie? What has the author to say of education, religion and esthetics? Is there a moral purpose, and are any problems settled?

Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" is of the greatest literary importance, for its author was the founder of the modern realistic school. Have several papers on the leading characters. What is the mainspring of Anna's character? Is the comedy character, Oblensky, satisfactory? Is Tolstoy really capable of humor? Is Levin a mouthpiece for Tolstoy's own views of life? Study the social side of Russian life. Are the problems of Anna the same as those which confront women in other lands to-day? Notice what famous men have said of this book: Matthew Arnold declared it "less a work of art than a piece of life." In a final meeting discuss the subject of realism in fiction compared to idealism, with examples of each cla.s.s of work. Study and compare the writings of James, Howells, and Arnold Bennett with Tolstoy's.

"Don Quixote" is not only the masterpiece of Spain, but a book with unique qualities. Discuss, Does it give an unbiased picture of the people? Is Don Quixote a madman, or does the author intend to show under his extravagances some philosophy of life? What does the author satirize? Does he successfully combine the real and the grotesque, or lean too far toward the latter? Is the book a parable? If so, what does it teach?

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN

Among the greatest works in English fiction, "Adam Bede" stands out conspicuous by setting forth the eternal question of moral values. In the study of the characters note that Dinah was drawn from life. Notice the development of character in Adam and Hetty.

How does the standard of morals differ in our day from that in the time in which the book is placed? Study the writer's humor and show how it serves to relieve the somberness of the book. Was George Eliot really a humorist? Above all, notice the great moral purpose which inspired the writer. Does her picture differ from that of d.i.c.kens in "David Copperfield"?

"The Marble Faun" is worthy of serious study. It is the American masterpiece of fiction. Observe in this book that Hawthorne gave the story such a faithful setting that it may be used as a guidebook to Rome. The style of the book is remarkable; its exquisite simplicity deserves more than a pa.s.sing notice. Discuss the mingling of the real and the mystical. Note especially the effect of the murder on the different characters.

The remarkable character a.n.a.lysis in this work is one of the author's famous points. The main theme of the book--Is sin really an element in human education?--should be discussed. Does Hawthorne answer the question?