The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-11
w. L. U.
Holds Meeting on Saturday-Papers Read
on Art and Tapestries.

Womans Literary Union was held Sattlr-
day in the Advent church The exercises
were in charge of the committee on art'
Miss Luetta King of the Art History
Club, Miss Kensell of the Westbrook
Seminary Club and Mrs. +. NJ. Ray OF
the Ceramic Club. The platform was
beautifully decorated with green foliage
and red berries and bouquet of red
carnations on the desk. 1t was the first
general meeting of the year and the at
tendance was large and enthusiastic.
After the distribution of the yearbook,
the meeting was called to order by Mrs.
John B. Coyle, president of the union.
Mrs. Coyle said that all were eagerly an
tieipating the delightful programme
which had been prepared, she would not
detain them, but give the afternoon to
the committee in charge.
Miss King, as chairman of the commit
tee, spoke briefly, introducing the speak
ers. This was the programme:
Piano Solo-Pasquin Gottschaek
Miss McGregor.
| Paper-Art of Social Life in Renais-
| sance Italy,
Mrs. j. A. King.
Vocal Solo-selection from II Trovatore
Mrs. Evelyn White.
Paper-Tapestries,
Miss Margaret Elwell.
Piano Duet Grieg
Mrs. DIR. Way and Miss Harding.
Miss MoGregor played brilliantly and
was followed by Mrs. King, who prefaeed
her paper by saying that although sho
agreed with Juliet when she said to
Romeo, "What's in a Name" yet she
did prefer the original title to her pa
per, Art of Social Life in Renaissance
Italy, to the one which was published
in the papers. A most scholarly and in
teresting address followed, dealing with
social life, customs and manners of the
life of Italy during that period-not stat
ues but life, not castles but dwellings,
not Madonnas but women.
Europe is come to her majority
And enters on the vast inheritance
| Non from the tombs of mighty ancestors;
The seeds, the gems, the gold, the Silent
harps
That lay, deep buried with the memories
| OF old renown.
was quoted from the Spanish Gypsy by
George Elliot.
Florence, said Mrs. King, was foremost
in the establishment of seats of learn
! ing, while such names as Savanarola and
the Medici appeared in art and literature.
1t was the age OF splendid ceremonies.
Many of the artists kept open shops where
products of their own skill could be
| bought. No labor was too minute.
Miss King spoke OF the private life OF
the people beginning with Taptism,
which was much the same then as
now. Children were sent to school and
at this time there were from 5000 to 10000
l ~irI- al did
from. society. The custom of the mar
riage dowry was established, the poor
| girls doWry being supplied by a charity
founded for the purpose by the Florentlne
women, who were noted for their charl-
ty. The dOwry was extensive. 20 dozen
of each piece of linen, carried to the
groom's house in large chests, beautifully
ornamented and painted. The Florentine
| housewife was thrifty and elennly, and
introduced the system of bookkeeping
| into private life. Moving day was the
/ first of November. Servants were much
the same as now, satisfactory and I'M
satisfactory. Hospitality was free and
easy, wine and ohestnuts being always
offered. Artists and scholars were often
entertained.
Woman was of little Importance and
not mentioned in affairs of state. There
| was a great deal of dress although
Dante speaks of the sobriety of manners
and dress
| Learning and art increased in the 18th
| century Greek was the popular study
and woman took an Important part in
the study, occupying the position OF pro-
| Mrs. Kings address, abounded in quota
| lions from George EllioU's beautiful
| Romola.
| Mrs. White was then heard in beau
tifully rendered selection from II TroYa-
| tore.
Mrs. Margaret sElwell was introduced,
| and the audience listened with Tapt at
| tention to an interesting paper On Tapes
trie. Miss Elwell spoke OF the first tap
istries, representing the great display and
doings of the middle ages. Chairs, couch
es, etc., were covered with these cloths,
representing public ceremonies, fields of
| battle, victories and hunts. besides scenes
from the lives of kings, poets. warriors
and artists. Tapestries were known be-
fore this in Central Asia, and in Egypt
| 5000 years before the Christian era.
Homer speaks of Penelope weaving tapes
| tries.
| % Tapestries were also woven in China
and Japan and in China were beautiful
ly wrought of silk. The weavers were ar
| lists and each piece was picture. The
process of weaving was described and
the famous historical tapestries were
mentioned. Those that have been pre-
served are still very beautiful, though
some are grotesque, with red horses and
| warriors faceS, OF all cOiOfS. In bn0 I0un
century the Flemish tapestries were
brought to Paris, and the famous Gobe-
lin tapestries were woven. In the time
of Louis XIV, these tapestries We're
largely used in the palaces of France. At
the present time the government OF
France prides itself on the tapestries in
it's possession.
At the close of the address Miss Elwell
spoke of the three tapestries which were
in front of the organ. The largest,
called 1.-THE Wreath, is a figure piece
of Gobelin, and was imported by Sloane
of New York, hoping it would be bought
for the Vanderbilt wedding. 1t was
valued at $500, and was loaned to the
Union by Hooper, Son & leighton, where
: Miss King thanked the ladies for the
pleasure they had given the. NOM
bers of the Union, and the exercises end
cd with a fascinating duet by Grieg,
PLAYED by Mrs DR.. Way and Miss Harding
| ! r