The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-13
SUNFLOWER GENIUSES
Gather at Washburn College for
Literary Festival
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING

Or the Kansas Academa OF Ian $ua$s
and observation-disclosures, Music and
Poetry
"What's goin' on out to Washburn,"
said the conductor as the car became
more crowded at each stop.
Language and Literature" said the
colonel "Do you know what them big
words meansY"
ssGuess it's talk, amt it," answered the
street car man. And with certain allow
ance for grammatical construction the
man was about right.
II. G. Larimer of Topeka called to or
der the eleventh annual meeting of the
Kansas Academy of Language and Lit
uruture at $3.50 last night In Wash burn
college chapel
Misses Stitch, Pierce and Bishop rend-
cred a vocal trio when l am Gone"
The young ladies were visibly nervous,
but it interfered in no way with their
singing which was prettily done. After
Dr. McVicar had invoked the divine
blessing on the world in general and the
Kansas Academy of Language and Lit
urature in particular Miss Helen Ruth
ingalls, gave a short analysis of Chopin's
ballad, OPP A.. 1t represented, she said,
friends meeting after a long separation,
perfect friendship. There is complete
sympathy, then long struggles, finally
victory and happiness like the sparkling
laughter of children.
Miss ingalls, played the piece with
fine execution and Interpretation while
the audience let their Imagination loose
TO try to see the meaning. Some little
folks on the front seat had heard what
was said about the children and became
a little uneasy when they thought it
their place TO come in, but finally were
persuaded that the effect was to be only
psychological
Miss Ingalls, said bal-lahde and Chopon
which affected her hearers not lit
tie.
L. d. Whittemore Of Washburn col
lege, was introduced and de Iivered the
presidents annual address, his subject
being Interpreters and Prophets" Ear
ly in the address Mr. Whittemore threw
out in a careless off hand way a heavy
Latin quotation which so took the audi
ence by surprise, the speaker being a
small man, that it was thereafter very
docile and easily swayed-
Mr. Whittemore proposed to show first
why this ought to be an age of great lit
erary production and second why it isn't.
1t ought because life is more intensified
and knowledge has accumulated. 1t
wasn't because there is great army of
writer's, and individuals not armies
create. Besides" he said, s'the charact-
er of the age is receptive not creative"
The reason there are no great poets,"
said Mr.. Whittemore. ''is much the same
as that given by Life for the fact that so
many have only written one good poem
they take all the rest of their life to talk
about it
Washburn College Glee Club sang Il
Know Maiden" Four boys sitting on
the back seat tried to get up an encore
but seemed to be out of touch with the
rest of the gathering.
THE Revolt of Natives story, by
Mrs. A ID Gray, was well read and well
written but little long in reaching the
melting moment Lille Maria, an old
slave ''auntie," is the heroine. Abram
Seaton and Judge Penfield own neigh
boring plantations. A bitter en- nifty has
existed between their families for years.
Lille Maria whose mother worked for
the .Seatons is now in the employ of
Judge Penfield and wishes the men to
be friends. The judge is to give big
dinner party. Lille Maria gets hold Of
an extra invitation and sends it to the
Seatons. Seaton comes and is so glad
that Penfeld has ended a quarrel that
he never desired to perpetuate. Penfield
is awestruck but dare not tell of the mis-
take, so reconciliation takes place and
all goes merry as marriage bell. Lille
Maria has heard the whole conversation
through the keyhole and is overjoved
saying, sit do appear dat Providence
work in a mysterious way"
The only things to mar the general eff
feet OF the story, were that the tables
groaned- and Judge Penfeld was three
score years old and had a fine head of
hair without single gray one.
Miss Florence l. Snow, of Neosho Falls, |
her hearers. She read in a |
clear voice, with an animated manner. |
closest attention. Her poem, THE Lamp |
Of Gold" was composed of seven com
plete sonnets of the Shaksperean struc- |
ture. 1t had for its text the story of the |
golden candlestick lost in the 1iber. as |
expressed in the extract from the Mar
BILE Faun; Il fancy you are mistaken" |
said Hilda smiling, There was a mean |
ing and purpose in each of its seven |
branches, and such candlestick cannot |
be lost forever"
The rythm of the sonnets was smooth |
and the author succeeded particularly 4
we'll In imparting the spirit of her work /
TO those who listened.
The cOuplet which closed the last SON
net was:
And whes fS rightly hearsth SHAH behold
"Gone to Be Mennonite" was sung
oy the Washburn Glee Club led by a |
young man who accented every word /
With shake of his head, and the exer-
.ises closed.
The members of the association were
'emlnded OF the annual dues of one dol
ar that the treasurer was willing to re-
,eive, and a short business meeting was
held at the close of the programme.
The OLD soldiers Plat.
The Improvement of the soldiers plat |
n the Topeka cemetery is nearly com
oleted- The twenty foot spaces between
he former rows, allowed for pathway,
ire being graded and sodded and will
add more than twice the original space
'or burying purposes The improvement
will cost about $500 and when COM
1leted will make the most beautiful
plat in the cemetery. Everyone is asked
% contribute to this plan to help defray
Il RXpansa