The Portland daily press., 1892-06-27
WoMAN's LITERARY UNION.
The Annual Field Day at the Ottawa was a
Success.

women, members of the various woman
clubs, embarked for the island during
the forenoon, and attended the banquet
and the accompanying literary exercises.
The weather was not at all propitious,
rain falling almost constantly; but the
forenoon was pleasantly spent in a gen.
eral reception by Mrs. Charlotte Elmer
son Brown, the president of the fedora
ton of 10000 American women. During
the time of waiting for dinner selection
was rendered by Miss Carrie Dana
Chase.
The post-prandial exercises were most
appropriate and interesting. Mrs. Geo.
G. Frye, president Of the union, opened
the exercises by a fitting address of
welcome. The order was as follows:
Our Guests. 49,. :. Mrs. Sophie Hart Webster
LAY, bring those chosen few.
The wise, the courtly and the true"
our NaJlon Mrs. Elizabeth w. Varnum
.................M Miss Harriet Belt Stevens
eoenl. ......... .Mrs. Liza s. woodbury.
Song ....... Miss Ruth G. Long
Mrs. Charlotte Emerson Brown.
President of General Federation
Salutation to State Delegates. .........
Mrs. Eta S. Osgood,
State Correspondent of B.
Respogse from State Delegates; :...:.......
closing song. Caroline Dana Howe
The poem by Mrs. Ida S. Woodbury. of
Deering was a poetic Interviewing of the
old pagan myth of Psyche with the mod
ern Christian ideal of the soul. 1t be-
gan with an introductory Summer
Song'' of the butterfly as the emblem of
Psyche, proceeded with a poetical YER
sion of the myth, and concluded with a
"Song of the Soul" which applies the
allegorical truth:
SONG OF THE SOUL.
I've wandered afar over valleys and mountains
In search OF the one whom my longing love
Ive tasted lifes sweets and her clear flowing
fOIlntS
Have looked in dark caverns and wide open
groves.
Pve searched the dim grove and the far reach
Where l@1y light of the sun nor the moon never
The flower laden bank where the rain had just
kissed her,
And roamed through grand palaces and wide
ooApSiJ AAeAAo'
I've scanned the far blue heavens stretching
above me,
quest,
I've cried in the darkness 30 come. come to
bring to my weary heart JOY, peace and
I've sought with hard soul-fretting labors to
find him,
Whom, 1 in nv doubt and distrust, forced
o firm with the letters of love Iwould bind him.
And close in his tender clasp ever would stay.
sought and failed and then joy! on awak-
ing
From dull, death like sleep, he bent low over
my bed,
And soon his dear hands all my letters were
breaking,
Ny spirit was saved from the home of the
dead.
He breathed in my soul and there sprung into
being,
Firm, loyal allegiance, DER mastering love,
My feeling was quickened, my hearing, my see
Each sense owned the power of the hand
from above
Then gladly | owned every man as my brother,
Unclaimed by sweet cords to the poor and OPP
pressed,
And then like a tired child to fond mother
sprung to his arms and found "jOy, peace
and rest;''
And now all my searchings and wanderings
Are fed like the darkness at new dawn of
day,
joy in his love and my soul never weary
Finds sweet peace in Him all along ife's
rough way.
The best gift of all, life immortal, eternal
Is mine, and my glad heart with triumph shall
For the lord of my love, the Father Superior,
Has frightened the grave and has conquered
deaths sting
His great heart !of tenderness yearns for all
seeking
Rest for their souls, and from heaven above
He stoops and he gathers us, all the time speak
Words of sweet welcome and infinite love-
Then binding our hearts unto him and each 9TH
He quiets our longing and ends our sad quest,
Tenderly holds in his arms as mother
Till in His strength he finds rest, perfect rest
Mrs. Charlotte Emerson Brown, in her
response, paid a high tribute to the
earnest and successful labors of Mrs.
Frye in the Portland Union. She then
spoke entertaingly and at length on the
great movement which is now going on
by the organization of the Woman's
Clubs.
The closing song, written by Caroline
Dana Howe, was as follows:
(Air, "Speed Away."J
Love to all! love to all! this our greeting shall
be,
From the far woodland isle, that is washed by
the sea;
There are smiles on young faces, and glad
hearts in tune,
with leaping Of waves and the splendors of
June.
While the. guests that we honor our love shall
foreStdll.
Love to all! love to ALI love to all!
Soul to soul, coming near, in the kingdom of
May deliver its message with tenderness
fraught.
Till the hopes that Ewere dying re-kindle their
fires.
And life takes on beauty from nobler de-
sires;
So with faith as our load star, O let us recall
Love to all! love to all! love to all!
Evermore, restless waves, are our life tides like
thine
Overshadowed by tempests, or sparkling like
wine.
But our gifts let us use, as beneitting the
souls