Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-06
ga'lg Ssnaetee goaraal
Gifg ano @ountp.
Unity Club.

unity, the committee has decided to hold
the meetings for the present in the parlo,.
OF the Unitarian church, State stroa.. on
alternate Monday evenings at 80 o'.iock
The meeting, last evening, was well
attended. Several new members wera
received. The essay was by Miss Florence
Il. Leonard. Subjects, George ws.hipg.
ton Cable" Thomas Nelson Psge,. and
''F. Hopkinson Smith The paper was
interspersed with selections from the most
characteristic writing of each author. The
quotations and sketches by the seyera,
members we're so interesting that this v i'll
be made feature of each evening of the
club.
Following we give brief syuopsis of
Miss Leonard's paper:
Among the later dialect writer's, George
Washing ton Cable. F. Hopkinson Smith
and Thomas Nelson Page hold a promine Mt
place. Each employs a Southern negro
dialect; Cable the Creole French, and
Smith and Page the Virginian. In the
writings OF each the characters are permit
ted to think, act, talk and live as nature
designed them.
Mr.. Cable was born in New Orleans in
"A, and has lived there until recently. VIII n
ne went to North Hampton. He travels
much in the South. From bis Thorough
acquaintance with the history of the Gre
Dies, their character and life, he has be-
ONE authority 10 matters pertaining to
them. In 'Creoles of louisiana" he has
given Us their history.
Mr.. Cable often told stories to his chill
iren. He was advised by friend to have
come of them published and, in Tales of
Old Creole Days" we have collection of
them. The success of the book was great
and he continued to write.
In his books, the characters are taken
from those whom he knew. He has a strong
sense of the humorous. His literary,
artistic ability is especially shown in the
"Grandissimes. cover the action and
characters of the story hangs the pail of
slavery, and the picturesqueness at once,
and the impcs sibility of a society, founded
upon absurd but beroc devotion i An ex-
iggerated notion of the wisdom AMI neces-
sity of caste, form the theme of the book
The effect of slavery upon Creole society
IT the individual Creole is painted sd,.ir-
ably and is shown by the writer in true
dramatic style"
"Bonaventure" is perhaps his best work.
1t is in three parts all of Which give the life
If the exiled Arcadiins in Louisiana. In
III of his writings we see how careful
writer he is. He realizes the value of an
tim in writing and of good workman ship to
lhst end. He is a keen observer and what
anita rorn q "a rla Iyr;tor JIa
f what he sees as he sees it, not fearing
he 3iapleasure of those of whrm he
writes.
A critic writes: Few American writer's
have so inform an average os attainm mt
ia thought and art, or have thrown upon
the qusidtly real such new tints of ideal
light"
While Cabls is writing in New Orleans,
there is in Maryland another dialect writer,
Francis Hopkinson Smith. What genius
ne is-a business man, an artist and an
author BY trade he is q civil engineer.
A an artist he holds high rank, but ia best
known as an author. In Well Worn
Roais" the diiferen objects appear with
mnu 'cness and accuracy of description H..
iicaing the true artists eye. They ar
charming short stories, with delicate char
+cteriXltOn ana tOuCHes OF UuliOr. 'bOi
Carter of Cartersviile," gives the life of
Southern gentleman and the customs of the
people.
Brander- Mathews says: "Perhsps the
obvious thing to say is that Mr.. Smith
prints with The trained Intelligence of an
Engineer and that he writes with the pic
torial touch of the painter snl he tells
stories with the skill Of an author"
Thomas Nelson Page wrote stories for
ns own amusement, inheriting his taste
fir M his father. One of the most exquisite
Of his stories is "Marse Chan which is
found in ain Ole Virginia." Under the
Camps" is a book OF war stories, designed
Tor young peopie. A vein of mingled
pathos and humor runs through them. "The
r~o Confederates' and "Meh Lady" are
pathetic war stories. The narratives are
.inply told, but are characteristic in point
Of story tel ing and drawing of character.
Mr.. Page has been editor of Harper's Mag
azine, and number of his stories have
ape AIRED in the Editors Drawer" Jsmes
Il lev saws of Page, Ellis work is pure,
-aii,hIa strnpo and sweet"