# Journal of American Folk-Lore/Volume 12/Issue 45/Local Meetings and Other Notices

LOCAL MEETINGS AND OTHER NOTICES.
Baltimore.—The Baltimore Folk-Lore Society has closed its meetings for the winter of 1898 and 1899 with the feeling that interest in the work of the society is increasing, and that valuable results will in time be realized from efforts now being made to interest the people of the State in the matter of preserving a record of the folk-lore about them.
The first meeting of the season was held on November 25 in the Donovan Room, Johns Hopkins University. The papers of the evening were given by Miss Alice C. Fletcher and Mr. La Flesche, who were guests of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Wood. Miss Fletcher's paper was on " Song and Story in Indian Life," and certain parts were illustrated on the piano by Miss Jane Zacharias, and at its conclusion an Indian song was sung by Mr. La Flesche.
Following this, Mr. La Flesche gave a paper of his own on "The Splinter, the Thorn, and the Rib," in which he told in a humorous vein the way in which certain portions of the story of the Garden of Eden struck a group of Indian boys at a mission school, he being one of them.
After his paper Mr. La Flesche by request sang other Indian songs, Miss Fletcher accompanying him on the piano. There was a large and appreciative audience, and the evening has since been referred to as a classic one.
The December meeting was held on the 30th in the Donovan Room, ​Johns Hopkins University. At this meeting the President, Dr. Henry Wood, who had been present at the meeting of the American Folk-Lore Society at Columbia College, gave an interesting report of that meeting, with a brief resume or thought from each paper presented, to which he added a word of his own. The second paper of the evening was presented by Dr. Charles C. Bombaugh on "Christmas Observances," in which he touched on the historical side of the question, besides bringing out many of the quaint and curious customs connected with the season. This was followed by a contribution from Mrs. John D. Early touching the same subject.
The January meeting was held on the 27th in the usual place. At this, an animal folk-tale was given in negro dialect by Miss Anne Virginia Culberthson, after which Dr. Henry Wood presented a most thoughtful and suggestive paper on "The Folk-Lore and the Literary Motive in Poe's House of Usher." Mrs. Robert M. Wylie followed him with a paper on "Street Cries of London."
At the February meeting, Mrs. Waller R. Bullock gave a paper on "The Onion in Folk-Lore" which was suggestive, and led up to discussion of the place of the onion and kindred subjects in folk-lore.
At the March meeting, a paper showing profound thought and careful study was presented by Rev. Charles James Wood, of York, Pa., the title being "Primitive Culture in the Mysteries of Eleusis."
There were three meetings in April. The first, which was held at the home of Mrs. John D. Early, was called for the election of officers for the ensuing year. Those already in office were reelected, after which a committee was appointed to formulate plans for future work, these plans to be presented at a later meeting of the society. A paper was then read by Mrs. Waller R. Bullock, written by Miss Marion V. Dorsey, which she called "A Trace of the Taghairm." It gave the account of how an aged negro, by the use of the hide or skin, was believed to be able to foretell certain things.
The second meeting in April was held in McCoy Hall, Johns Hopkins University, and was an open meeting largely attended. The first paper was read by Prof. Paul Haupt on "The Cherubim and Seraphim," and was listened to with profound attention by an appreciative audience. Professor Haupt was followed by Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, who presented a most interesting paper on "The Altar of the Hopi Indians." This paper was illustrated by stereopticon views and the graphophone.
The third meeting of the month was held at the home of Mrs. Waller R. Bullock, and was purely a business meeting, at which certain subjects were chosen for general discussion at the different meetings of the coming winter. Besides this, subjects were chosen to be studied in "groups" or committees, while individual members pledged themselves to certain lines of work in connection with the collection of Maryland folk-lore now in hand. Arrangements are being made by which prizes may be offered in the schools for more folk-lore material, much interesting matter having already been collected through that source. Printed slips are also being prepared ​for general distribution, which, it is hoped, will interest individuals and county papers, so that they may make a record of some of the folk-lore in their immediate neighborhood.
Anne Weston Whitney, Secretary.
Boston.—Friday, March 24. The Boston Branch met at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hyde Dwight, 306 Commonwealth Avenue, at 8 P.M. In the absence of Professor Putnam, Mr. W. W. Newell presided, and introduced Dr. F. N. Robinson, of Harvard University, who spoke on "The Hero Poems of Ireland." Mr. Robinson read many fine renderings from early Celtic literature. His paper was followed by a discussion which turned largely on the causes of the pathos so characteristic of Celtic literature.
Tuesday, April 18. The Boston Branch met at the Hotel Brunswick by invitation of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Leonard. In the absence of Professor Putnam, Mr. W. W. Newell presided, and introduced as the speaker of the evening Mr. Albert Morton Lythgoe, of Harvard University, who spoke on "The Arts and Crafts of the Ancient Egyptians." Mr. Lythgoe's paper was exceedingly interesting, and was illustrated by a choice collection of lantern slides.
Helen Leah Reed, Secretary.
Cambridge.—The following report gives the titles of papers presented before the Cambridge Branch during the year 1898–99:—
November 7, 1898. "The Folk-Lore of the Natives of Hawaii," by Prof. C. H. Toy, of Harvard University. Meeting at the house of Mrs. Hopkinson, Craigie Street.
December 3. "The Religion and Customs of Australian Aborigines," by Mr. R. B. Dixon and Dr. A. G. Mayer, of Harvard University. Meeting at the house of Mrs. Batchelder, Hilliard Street.
January 11, 1899. "The Folk-Songs of Poland," by Dr. Leo Wiener, of Harvard University. Meeting at the house of Miss Leavitt, Harvard Street.
February 22. "Ancient Norse Mythological Tales," by Dr. William H. Schofield, of Harvard University. Meeting at the house of Mr. Charles Peabody, Brattle Street.
March 11. "Sun Myths of America," by Dr. Franz Boas, of New York. Meeting at the house of Miss Yerxa, Lancaster Street.
April 14. "The Druids and the Ancient Celtic Religion," by Dr. F. N. Robinson, of Harvard University. Meeting at the house of Miss Catharine Cook, Appleton Street.
May 17. "The Folk-Tales of the French-Canadians," by Prof. J. B. Greenough, of Harvard University. Meeting at the house of Mrs. J. B. Warner, Brattle Street.
Sarah Yerxa, Secretary.
​Cincinnati.—The following is a report of the meetings of this Branch for the year 1898–99:—
The work of the Cincinnati Branch of the American Folk-Lore Society was well sustained during the year. With "The North American Indians " for the general subject, much interest was developed in their importance as factors in the study of folk-lore.
Papers were read at each meeting, beginning in November with "The Origin of the Indian Races in America," by Dr. C. D. Crank, who spoke particularly of the significance of the different cranial deformations of the Flatheads and other Indians, and their bearing upon the question of the origin of the Indian races of this continent. Casts were shown, and drawings of the various ways adopted to accomplish the results.
At the December meeting, instead of the stated programme, which could not be carried out on account of the illness of the speaker of the evening, Professor Edwards read a delightful paper on "Impressionist Views of Mexico," in which he described a trip taken by him through that country.
In January Dr. J. D. Buck presented a scholarly paper on the subject of "The Algonkins,"—"the people who live across the water." He called attention to the fact that the ancient folk-lore of this nation must be studied in its modern survivals, and pointed out the similarity of the myths to those of the far East. To the already proposed theories of the origin of the American Indian myths—that of physical contact, and that of spontaneous sources—the doctor offered a third, an origin traced to re-birth, and suggested that it might be applied with advantage to the study of folk-lore. The argument, which was lucid and forcible, commanded the close attention of the audience.
In February, "Indian Art," demonstrated by pictographs, were ably presented by President Edwards. The Indian manner of keeping the calendar of important events by the drawing and coloring of figures on buffalo hides was graphically described, and attention was called to the historical value of such records. Charts of totem poles were also displayed. A paper on the "Classification of Indian Languages" was also read at this meeting, reference being made to the light which such study would throw on manner of thought, customs, etc.
At the meeting in March, Mrs. Josephine Woodward recounted her own experiences during her long residence on the "Plains," while her father was in charge of the reservation. These experiences and impressions were presented with much of the charm of both humor and pathos, and fully repaid the close attention of her large audience.
In April a symposium was held, with "Prehistoric Remains" as a topic. "Indian Burial Mounds," with the theories of scholars as to their origin and significance, brought out an interesting paper, full of suggestion as well as information, from Mrs. A. C. Woods. "Pottery and Weaving," with data from the reports of the Bureau of Ethnology, finished the study of the subject for the year.
The year closed with promise of continued interest, and a desire to further a deeper study of folk-lore.
Georgina D. Hopkins, Secretary.