The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-22
AN AUTHORS DAY.
The Convention Devoted
to Literature.
POEMS AND PAPERS READ.
The Women's Press Association Has
Crowded House in Union Square
HaII-Interesting Programme.

Whispers had gone abroad yesterday
that the afternoons session of the Pacific
Coast Women's Press Association would
be unusually interesting. In consequence
so many people attended that it was al
most impossible to seat them.
Four papers and a number of poems
were on the programme. journalism did
not crop up at all. for 1t was authors day,
and literature, pure and simple, was the
only subject discussed.
Miss Virna Wood, who was stated to be
fhe leading woman classical scholar of
this coast, was the author of the first
paper, read by Mrs. Lillian H. Shuey. The
subject was Swinburne, and Miss Wood
described his talent in a scholarly manner,
with many illusions to other poets, con-
GLIDING by applying to him the quotation:
F'My star; Gods glowworm."
''In Ramona Land " was the title OF a
charming paper by Mrs. Evelyn NJ. Lud-
1um, which the authoress read herself
very effectively. There is scarcely any
shadow of doubt" she said, "that Southern
California is not properly grateful to Mrs.
Jackson for having written Ramona and
this in the face of the apprecla Bile market
value Of her work to the real estate dealer
and to the Photographic trade.
He secretly resentS having his section
of the country reviewed through specta-
Giles of preference for desperate Mexicans
and untamed Indians. In the idom of the
sSierras he thinks 1t pretty steep that be
should be expected 10 pay the whole de ot
of national remorse Oh his side Of the
continent"
The story of the paper was tho descrip-
4ion OF visit to the original Ramona, and
s1ts novelty consisted in the glowing de-
,scriptiOns of scenery in Ramona land and
the disllusion of the party on being in tro-
duced to "a girl with rich clear color-a
slender Indian girl, with the sparkle of an
immortal youth in her shy eyes," who was
accompanied by an old squaw; TO be told
by the guide, Lord, but you're barkin up
Yfhe wrong tree. Amt the girl. but this here
old woman that's Ramona"
"The Literary Outlook for the Pacific
Coast" written and read by Mrs. Sarah
Pratt Carr, aWoke a good deal of enthusi-
asm and at its conclusion the society unan-
imOusly decided to print it. After describ
ing the country between Alaska and Mex
leo, as an epltOme Of all the lands of the
earth, from the ice of the Arctic regions to
the sands of Egypt, the paper went on to
speak Of "our glorious freedom" as the most
precious of our gifts Not only political
freedom, but freedom from the power of
gold.
slavery to the money god is less bind
ing in California than elsewhere. The
who will may defy the tyrane Here. more
than in any other State or nation. vii!
congregate poets, writer's and philosO-
piers"
Abiding to the foreign people who mi
CRATE to California Mrs. Carr said: "All
amalgamate and become one with us, but
the Chinese. he remains Chinese STILL 1t
is our duty to proclaim American indus
tries. build up American patriotism.
Freely give the hand of a brother, but
claim the hand of brother in return"
Abiding TO the duties of Pacific Coast
writer's Mrs. Pratt said: IF this is to re-
main land of freedom it can do so only
through the pens of the writers. IL an
abuse cries for reform we must rally 10
the call. Humanity must be cur theme"
The paper concluded with the prediction
that California will in the future build up
"a literature that shall live until books
shall be no more"
Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Stetson read the
last paper, which was entitled. The
Worlds Voices" 1t was an interesting
plea for unity-the doctrine that we are
all one in soul. Speaking of the brutes.
she said: with all our language we are
more dumb than they. Man above all
other creatures suffers dumbly. When the
poet writes what all men feel, the poet is
great. We have not yet learned the
simple truth OF our oneness. What we
too often hear are the mere sQueakS of in
dividual men, who tell the world what
they have felt, instead of letting US hear
the grand singing voice of man"
Speaking of poets and writers, Mrs.
Stetson said it was their misslonsto hold
the heart of all mankind in one body, and
she added: 1--WE are the voices of the
world"
There was quite an excitement when the
president, Mrs. Emily Brown Powell, who
was IN the char. announced that Mrs.
Madge Morris Wagner, The well-knOwn
authoress of Liberty Bell" VINO is the
guest OF the association, would recite a
poem in place of Mrs. Rose Hartwick
Thorpe. who was unable to be present
Il cannot recte, | cannot make a
speech" said Mrs. Wagner modestly, in
response to The ovation that greeted her
appearance. at is impossible TO give you
Liberty Bell because that requires some
one who understands elocution. but will
repeat a little poem l once composed. 1t is
called Christmas Lilies
The poetess really did herself an in
justice when she disclaimed the power of
recitipg, for although her voice is low, and
she uses no gesture, her tones are SYM
pathetic and possess the carrying quality.
Indeed christmas Lilies" was said with
SO much taste and real feeling that every
one enjoyed the reading, even apart from
the simple charm of the poem.
Mrs. Emily Brown Powell also read a
poem that was much applauded, and Mrs
NJ L. w. Towle's The Cities of Today
pleased the hearers.
Miss Marion Powell young elocution-
ist recited THE Gift of the Sea-" and as
ali encore gave ''The Secret of the Heart
Miss Lydia Bell recited two poems in a
species Of monotone, with a piano accom-
paniment by Miss Falie Bell.
At the conclusion of the afternoon ses-
sion a warm vote of thanks to the ladies
who had assisted, and to Miss Adelaide Z.
Knapp, who had drawn up che programme,
was proposed and carried by standing
vote.
The report of the committee on the re-
vision of the constitution had entirely oc-
cupied the morning session, which began
at 10 A. NJ.