Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-16
ABOUT BALLADS.
THE FRIDAY MORNING WOMEN
DISCUSS THAT SUBJECT.
The Meeting of the Club Yesterday-A
Quotation From Richard Henry Stod-
dard-V,sitors to the Club.

The ladies of the Friday Morning
club were in attendance yesterday in
greater numbers than last week to en-
joy the very pleasing programme pre-
paredfor their entertainment. The SUBJ
ject of the morning was The Ballad.
Mrs. Mitchell read brief paper pre-
pared by nm absent member, which be-
gan by stating that a ballad is poem
that tells a story, in which the music is
only means of intensifying and render
ing more pleasing the verse. Music in
the earlier days was only the handmsid
of poesy. That though simple in struct-
ure, the ballad was difficult to sing,
and to be called fine singer of ballads
was the highest praise.
Mrs. Tolhurst followed with reading
from Richard Henry Stoddard, who
says: The history of balladry would
supply missing chapter in the history
OF English verse. Its origin was vocal :,
not literary. 1t was of ancient parent
age, going back to that period of an
tIquity when man discovered in him
self the power of metrical composition
and devoted it to the service of the
gods he worshiped. The first poems
were hymns and ballads Children Of
the hymns were the bibles OF the early
races, and children of the ballads were
their epics.
The first thing we notice in the hal
lad is its strict dramatic form. The
| action commences at tonce and continues
| without asides or explanations to the
end. The thought of the ballad never
| goes beyond the ballad itself. The
| spirit annimating the old ballads is
pagan; it is without morals or con-
science. 1t is the business of the bal
ladist to narr ate-not to Judge or ex-
p ain.
At the time of Shakespeare it is re-
corded that there existed twenty bal
lads to one look. TIE people believed
in their heroes and never tired of sing
ing of them. But with the growth Of
literature and the making of many
books, the old ballad fell into deca-
dence, though many of them are i'm
mortal, and modern music still dis
dains not to lend expression to the
thing beloved Of all-the simple ballad.
Mrs. Small followed by an instrument
tai arrangement of Schubert's Serenade
and one of Rubenstein's songs.
| Mrs. Mitchell sang Within a Mile of
Edinboro' Town, and in response to an
encore, The Land Of the Leal.
Mrs. Schallert ahd Mrs. Tolhurst gave
duet by Rubenstein; Miss Burnett
rendered an American ballad, followed
by Mrs. Shallert in modern ballad.
By special request Mrs. Mitchell sang a
negro song.
At the close of the programme Mrs.
DIR. Lummis mentioned the visit of the
Press club, among whom will be three
eminent literary women, Kate Field,
Mrs. Frank Leslie and Nelly Bly,. and it
was decided that the committee of en-
tertalnment should invite these ladies'
to the club next Friday morning.
The guest book shows in its register
for the day the following names: Mrs.
w. w. Schultz, Chicago; Mrs. G. R.
Thurston, st. Paul; Miss Maude B. Fos-
ter, Pittsburgh; Lillis G.. Goodhue. Oak
land; Mrs. NJ. M. Bowman, Santa
Paula; Cora A. Somerby. Boston Clara
L. Cross, Fairbury, Neb; Fannie L.
Harris, Denver; Mrs. s. d. Bangs.
Omaha; Mrs. L. L. Parker, Los Angeles.