Carroll Club Christmas
186 THE COMMONWEAL December 22, 1926 t CARROLL CLUB CHRISTMAS I N Los Pastores, the Mexican folk-play which the dramatic classes of the Carroll Club of New York are presenting during the...
...But the recreational offerings of the Carroll Club are so diverse that nearly every member is affiliated with at least one special group and many with several...
...And as the shepherds were in some cases hard put to it to find gifts for the Wonderful Visitor, so there was at least one occasion when gifts of the club had unexpected visitors who put them to strange shifts that none should be sent empty away...
...The orphans were heartily welcomed, and while the regular entertainment proceeded half a dozen of the girls descended on the ten-cent stores for presents, while others went from room to room of the resident members collecting handkerchiefs, beads, ribbons, and whatnot to load an extra gift bag...
...for, at the conclusion of the program at headquarters, the singers will speed to the Veterans' Hospital at Kingsbrldge Road and Sedgwiek Avenue, where the dozen numbers will be repeated...
...Nicholas F. Brady for Catholic girls, is that the members, like this same Tulio, shall "caper before the Infant God, strike up--and after, pray...
...Thus, on Saturday, December I8, members of the physi- cal education department were hostesses to hundreds of chil- dren...
...Age limits for membership are from 18 to 35 years, but a junior department provides for the needs of girls from I2 to I8, and this department has its own swimming, dancing and gymnasium classes, with other special attractions...
...On the following day, the Social Committee entertained a Big Sisters' group of neighborhood children...
...Membership in the club carries with it the privilege of joining any of the athletic or recreational classes in which instruction is given, or any of the educational courses, at onehalf the price charged to non-members...
...It would be difficult for any Catholic girl in New York not to have good times at the Carroll Club...
...Some-times it does, as in the case of the colored scout troop which preferred to make fun rather than have fun made for it...
...It is the homely gift of two pieces of ribbon, by the way, that the little boy Lisardo offers in the miracle play, while Tulio, having naught else, presents his lute to the Blessed Mother, so that "should Jesus cry, why sound the strings and straight He'll smile...
...As the shepherds ap- proaching the Holy Babe are more fervent than formal in the expressions of their love, so the Carroll Club girls seek to void all of their efforts on behalf of their guests of every tinge of formality...
...Housed in one of the finest specimens of colonial architecture in New York, designed by Stanford White and decorated by Elsie de Wolfe, it contains swimming pool, indoor tennis court, ballroom, restaurant, library and spacious lounge, sun parlor, rooms for recreation as well as for educational classes and meetings of committees and, for those who remember after to pray, a beau- tiful little chapel...
...186 THE COMMONWEAL December 22, 1926 t CARROLL CLUB CHRISTMAS I N Los Pastores, the Mexican folk-play which the dramatic classes of the Carroll Club of New York are presenting during the Christmas season, the shepherds and their women folk who come to adore the new-born Babe bring each a separate and distinct offering to the Holy Rose, His Mother...
...The analogy between portions of the old Spanish miracle play and the attitude of the members of the dub which is presenting it might be carried further...
...Announcement had been made in a daily newspaper two years ago that the Carroll Club would entertain "groups from orphanages" on a certain day, but the names of the orphanages invited were not given...
...Those who are not attracted by tennis or horseback riding or hockey, may find their good times in membership in the Outdoor Club which arranges week-end hikes and occasional skating parties...
...The plan of the Carroll Club, founded in I919 by Mrs...
...For in addition to some 1,2oo non-resldent members and 4o resident members, the Carroll Club offers its courses to those of other faiths, and several hundred non-Catholics willingly pay the full rates to obtain the advantages offered...
...It is a rule at Christmas time that any group invited may provide its own program if it so desires...
...The Mary Carroll Guild and the Glee Club will join on December 26 to bring joy to many others who will come from the different parishes...
...a letter of recommendation from any priest attached to the parish of the applicant is all that is required...
...One need not be enrolled in the Children of Mary or be active in some sodality in order to become eligible...
...While education is provided, it is not necessary to mem-bership that a girl shall enroll in any of the classes...
...If there was momentary consternation on the part of those in charge of the festivities the little Sister never knew it...
...For that matter, she need not engage actively in any of the sports if she is not so inclined...
...So, in their plans for a fitting celebration of the anniversary of the Great Birthday, each of the several groups in the unique Catholic club for girls that is giving the entertainment, has its own program for sharing with others the joys of Chrislanas- tide...
...One of the features of Carroll Club life which deserves special mention is the course in liturgical music, conducted under the Justlne Ward Method by representatives of the Pius X School of Music of Manhattanville College every Wednesday evening...
...A dear little nun, seeing opportunity to furnish her charges with a real Christmas entertainment arrived on the scene at the hour specified with an extra contingent of considerable size...
...If inclination does not pull toward these forms of exercise and if the basketball and baseball games in the gymnasium fail to appeal, there are dancing circles and bridge courses, not to speak of membership in the Glee Club, which may better suit the taste...
...Even now there is laughter at the club when memories are recalled of the dusky little damsel with the Sis Hopkins curls who urged dancers of the Charleston and dog experts to wilder and more extraordinary efforts, the while with rolling eyes and teeth agleam she sought the approval of the audience...
...In this connection it may be mentioned that the religious qualifications for member- ship in the Carroll Club are of the simplest...
...The junior members will bring their gift to the Crib on December 28 by making the birth of the Saviour a happy remembrance to still other young ones...
...The promotion of sociability, friend-ship and good health are announced as the main purposes of an organization which also shall "provide recreation, education and good times for the Catholic girls of New York...
...she is in exactly the position of, say, a member of the New York Athletic Club, who may make use of the facilities for athletic or gymnastic diversion which his dub affords or use it to lounge, to read, or to meet his friends...
...Finally, for those who can find good times only in serving others, there is the Mary Carroll Guild for social service and religious activities...
...Even the singing of Christmas carols from the balcony of the dub-house at I2o Madison Avenue, which has become a feature attracting ever-increasing audiences, will be carried to the shut-ins by the Glee Club...
Vol. 5 • December 1926 • No. 7
