News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-05-29
W0MAN'S WORLD.
SCROSlS ON THE HEROINES OF
MEN AND WOMEN NOVELISTS.

The Pink Dinner = Pretty Dresses for
bridesmaids woman's Shooting.
VIII Marry n Bavarian COunt-Hints for
Housekeepers and Mothers.
Sorosis was in all her glory. she filled
the parlors of Delmonico and smiled
sweetly and benignly on all. She wore
her Easter garments and Easter flowers
adorned her. She had numerous guests,
who had come from the east and west to
do her honor, and she was happy.
Preceded by one of Delmonico's lunch
cons, the programme was opened with a
contralto solo by Miss Roselle, of Wash
ingtOn. which was followed by EASTER
Song" a recitation by Miss Anna F.
Shields.
"a Boys Composition on Necks," hui
mOrously rendered by Mrs. Lydia Wood,
preceded 1.-THE Departure of Maria Nit
chell," poem, read and written by Mrs
Clymer, the beautiful president of the
society, who afterward presented a gold
pen to Mrs. Clarke, one of the retiring
officers.
Every one had been, of course, delight
ed with what they had heard, but the
song and Rotations were merely the
prelude to the great question of the day:
care the women given us by women
novelists more true to life than the wo-
men drawn by menu"
Mrs. Mary E. Bryan presented the sub
ject For a successful novelist, Mrs.
Bryan said, the essentials were SYM
pathy, self knowledge and comprehen-
sion. Self knowledge was rarest of all in
women. Courage was also lacking, for
women would rather portray sins than
weakness. Her good characters, on the
other hand, were too good-not live, no
BILE women. Thackeray, Dickens and
Hawthorne had given them well rounded
women.
Mrs. Croly was on the affirmative, and
protested that Dickens characters were
not all around men and women. Thack-
cray was more human, and his women
not so disagreeable as those of Dickens.
George Eliot was the greatest novelist,
although her characters lacked sunshine.
Mrs. Evelyn Harvier said, on the other
hand, that Bret Harte's, Reade's and
Bescnt's women were such as were found
in daily life. Women set up high stan
dards in their characters, but the woman
does lot reach it.
ITO man woman is a mystery" said
Mrs Poole. ''She has faculties that
transcend man. By no means can he
drop a plummet into her nature and
sound its depths" She compared Scott,
Dickens and Thackeray with George
Eliot, Mrs. OIphant, Miss Mulock and
others, always to the disadvantage of the
men.
Mrs. Emma w. Higley closed the de-
bate on the negative side, and she was
severe on her sex. Nothing, she said,
that had been learned about woman was
true. She was not even created last as
the best, and the Bible story was all a
mistake.
She was the stone the builder rejected.
She was lifted up high, then suddenly
came disclosure which made her fall
down, never to rise again.
In response toa call Mrs. Kate Tannett
Woods, of Boston, told an anecdote. She
was once at gathering of literary peo-
pie with Mrs. Stowe. The author of
''Uncle Toms Cabin" was called upon
for some remarks. When she hesitated,
Mr.. Howells, who sat beside her, said:
''Get up; say what comes first"
She arose and said:
Ladies and gentlemen, am afraid to
speak, but Mr. Howells tells me to say
what comes first. 1 would like to ask
Mr.. Howells where he gets the model
for the atrocious women in his novels"
New York Press.