The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-16

Waldo.
The second annual field day of the Wom-
| ems Literary Union of Portland is to be held
on Saturday, the 9th Of this month, INSTEAD
| OF the 18th as announced yesterday. In addi-
ton to the list of guests mentioned yesterday
there will be Olive Dana of Augusta, Sarah
Orne Jewett will not be able to attend on the
9th. as she will be busy with the centennial
of Berwick academy. But Mrs, Abba Goold
Woolson, Mrs. Merrill, Jean Kincaid) of the
Boston Globe, and Mrs. Buttes, an honorary
member of the Beecher Club of this city,
will be present as announced.
The field day this year will undoubtedly be
much more interesting event than was that
of last year. This may be said without any
detraction of last years event. Since then
the union has increased from little over 100
to 2l7 members, and the number of clubs
represented In the union, from IL to II.
There have been women's literary clubs in
Portland for many ears,-probably there
were some longer ago than the oldest inhabi-
tant can remember. But one at least of the
clubs of the present union is eleven years
old. But 1t is only recently that in obedience
to the spirit of organization and association
that is impelling so many societies to COM
bine, these clubs have Joined 10 central
association. The seventeen clubs that form
the Portland union afford some interesting
examples of literary work.
There is the Monday Club" composed of
eighteen members, who chose one of their
number historian to lay out the work for the
club. Last winter. previous to the coming
OF Stanley they read up all they could find
about his explorations In Africa.
There Is the XI Club, of fifteen members,
who are at present travelling in Italy" as
they call 1t, or reading all they can fini
about that country.
A similar club Is the Travellers Club
which selects some country and reads ,eT;eeffy-,
lining its members can fnd about It. They,
too. have been reading of Italy recently.
The sc. L. c." has eight members.
The CLEANERS Club" has six members.
The "Cosy Classics Club" has eight men,
beers. who may be presumed to devote them
selves to classical studies by fresides on
winter evenings.
The Omitted States History Club" has
about seven members, who have undoubt-
edly read Bancroft.
The most exclusive club is undoubtedly
the History Club" composed of two very
scholarly ladies.
The Prescott Club" has six members, and
it would not be a very rash thing to guess that
the members are pretty we'll informed about
the conquest of Mexico and the reign Of
Ferdinand and Isabella.
The "Shailer Club" Is composed entirely
of school teachers. Miss Adams of the
Smaller school being president. They read
and discuss interesting topics pertaining to
methods of teaching, etc.
One Of the most fourishing Is the "Ann
Hathaway Shakespeare Club" the members
OF which have made careful and enthusiast
tic study Of the works of the Bard of Avon.
1t numbe rs fifteen members.
The "Owl Club" has four members, who
have no particular line of work, but main
tain dignifed observation of such worthy
topics as come along.
The club with the most original name, a
name which is undoubtedly truthful as well,
is the IS. U. b." (seven unappropriated
blessings). This club numbers seven, as its
name indicates.
The Current Events Club" very able
club by the way. numbering fifteen scholarly
women, devotes itself to the science, art,
drama. music and politics Of today.
The"Wednesday Club" numbers nine mem
bers. who meet on Wednesdays. of course.
The "Book-Lovers" number twelve men,
bers. 1t has just been formed.
The "Beecher Club" has twenty four
members, who devote themselves to the
study of evolution.
Finally there is the parliamentary Club"
which devotes itself to the study of parlia-
mentary law. 1t numbers twelve members.
1t was two years ago that one of the
brightest members of of the Portland
clubs conceived the idea of symposium Of
| all the clubs. They were all invited to meet
and the event was so interesting that from it
came the formation Of the Women's Literary
Union of Portland. Last summer
the union had a field day, and
last winter three entertainments devoted to
Chaucer, Women of France and Women Of
| England.
This summer for the first time the union
| sent delegates to the meeting Of the Fe dera.
| tlon of Women's Clubs of.which the Sorosis
Club of New YORK. is the originator. At that
meeting held at Orange, N. j.. 10S clubs from
various parts Of the United States were re-
| presented. and one club in Bombay, India,
an off-shoot of the New York Sorosis. The
meeting at Orange, N. j., has given a great
impetus to the organization of these clubs,
and 1t would NOT be surprising If at the next
general convention 1t should be found that
the movement had become very powerful.
The Portland union are proposing this fall
to form State organization. There are ex
cellent w0men's literary clubs scattered
throughout the whole State. at Lewiston
Auburn, Augusta. Bath, Fryeburg, Bangor,
Skowhegan. etc. The Skowhegan club Is
named Sorosis, probably after the New York
club. Each year 1t gives public dinner tc
husbands and other gentlemen friends. This
supper Is an important social event in Show.
hogan. Gorham has an excellent club, also
At Fryeburg the club has sustained library
for some years.
The object of the Portland clubs and OF
most of the other clubs as we'll, Is purely
literary. The idea is that by association
and organization women who have many So
cial or household obligations, may be led to
give more time to reading and study of use
full subjects.
At the field day on the 9th there will be q
series of toasts, Mrs. Augustus Stevens being