New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-16
WONEN To WORK ~ LITERfTrRE.
INTERESTING PLAN OF THE PROFESSIONAL
LEAGUE-THEIR LECTURES To he PRINTED
ny 4 wEfI-KNowN PUBLISHER

INTERESTING PLAN OF THE PROFESSIONAL
LEAGUE-TIEIR LECTURES To re PRINTED
ny 4 wEfI-KNowN PUBLISHER
Il was announced by Miss Bertha Weby. chair
man of the Professional Womnn's League. AZ the
Literary" yesterday afternoon. that during the
next year series u papers would be read by
members ~ the league. the subject to be The
History II English and American Literature" II
was also announced tina, a well-known publisher
had requested that he be allowed 70 publish the
series nj end ~ the year and present the book
70 the league library. During Miss Welbys term
or Office II has been her earnest and successful
endeavnr 20 provide interesting and instructive
a course Of entertainments as possible. and this
las, result ~ her Efforts for the good OF the league
is considered by the members 10 be a fitting finish
OF her years work. and to promise lasting
benefit 10 them.
The Introduction OF the book was written by and
read Yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Ida Jeffreys
tioodfrlend. She first expressed her gratitude at
having been selected the who should begin
n work that would place the league point
rearcr the goal Of their ambition" and that was
said % be- TO make the league the foremost
wornans club I'm America" This statement
was loudly appauded. and the entire paper was
received with much enthusiasm. The periods from
the early Saxon era to the present day were briefly
mentioned. English literature was said practically
10 have begun with Chaucer. and the writings OF
that period 10 have built up a distlnctvely ma
tlonal character. The change from Anglo-Saxon
10 English said to have been at some period
between 1850 and 1880 and Chaucer. the product
OF that age was credited with being OF inestimable
service 10 his country. Spenser ana Sidney were
named as the greatest English poets before that
age which produced the prince OF poets and the
prince Of philosophers Shakespeare and Bacon"
Nearly all Of the dramatic authors OF that day
were also actors and dramatic writings were con-
sldered Of too little merit to warrant honest
criticism. y tribute was paid to Christopher Mar
lowe. and the speaker said:
'TIad he lived he might even have rlva.led
Shakespeare. lie was the morning star that
herd.dei the brilliant sun which follower
referring Shakespeare Ben Jonson, Beau
galnxy Of brilliant writers OF that day were
alluded -. Among the writer's OF the seventeenth
century. John Milton said 10 tower In solitary
grandeur, and Dryden was called the connecting
link between the seventeenth century and the period
OF the Restoration. The writings fohoWlng the
seventeenth century We're termed varied. brilliant
and masterfu," and many Of the writer's were
enumerated Between 1880 and 1860. intellect ana
fancy Played greater part In the writings or the
time than sentiment and passion. but religious
The writings OF the eighteenth century were al
luded TO- and then reference was made TO American
literature which was termed "a literature not by
Itself. but "A Classification Of the English literature
and brief summary OF the works or American
authors was given.
An unusually large number OF the members were
present, among them being Mrs. Charles barnard.
Miss Grace Addison. Miss Heline Lowell. Miss
bell Mrs Emma Sheridan Frye, Miss Mary Pan
field, Miss Katharine Stage. Mrs James falr-
man Mrs NetiiIn Miss Pauline Willard. Mrs
Norton. Mrs. starkey and Miss Isabelle Evesson