The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-15
WITH OUR AUTHORS.
A Literary Evening at the First Christian
Church.

A Literary Evening at the First Christian
Church.
81 just love these evenings with literary
people," said handsomely dressed wo-
man, as the crowd was filing out of the
First Christian church after the enter
tainment last night.
1t was novel entertainment, as we'll
as a very interesting one. All the selec-
tions. except the music, had been written
peka people. The church was filled and
the audience was generous with its ap-
plause.
w. G. Campbell acted as master of
ceremonies and introduced the modest
authors. He was able to do this we'll
because he is something of author
himself.
The Alhambra mandolin club opened
the entertainment and of course were
recalled. Then Miss Roberta Akers re-
cited the poem by Prof Ellsworth of the
Kansas State Normal school, entitled,
PAS Soft Spot" Many of the people
in the audience had heard of the poem,
but few had heard it and the recitation
was greatly enjoyed.
"a Symposium on Spring" was what
the next number was named 1t was a
collection of verses by people who have
the spring poetry habit and they we're
who knows just how spring poetry
should be read
The following is by W. Fl. Bradbury of
Topeka:
Green is the growing grass; but greener still
TIL aspiring poet who would dare
To give expression to the thoughts that thrill
His bosom when spring flowers appear.
Albert Bigelow Paine sent the follow
ing verse when the enterta inment was
first talked of:
Today is the goth day of March.
And snow upon everything,
For winter has put on a spotless robe
10 sit III the lap of spring.
Prof. W. II. Carruth of State Univer-
sity submitted a three stanza poem. The
last stanZa was as follows:
Every year comes the sprlngtime
When winter 5 away.
But man in his Splendor
Has only one May;
The swallows that leave US
Come back as of yore,
And man only departing
Returns never more.
The last on the list was by VIC. Camp
bell which he had named "Vernal
Verse" One stanza was as follows:
Buejays. gay. are loudly singing
Singing songs no lay could sing:
Buds and bulEfrOgs now are springing-
Springing in the gentle spring.
The symposium" put the audience in
good humor to appreciate the next num-
Der, a short story by Mrs. a d. Gray
called 1.-THE Coming Out of Cynthy."
This was an excellent bit of fiction by
a we'll known Topeka writer and was
very we'll read. 1t was love story in
dialect the heroine being pretty girl
who successfully patched up a church
feud at her coming out" by marrying
the son of her fathers deadly enemy.
Mr.. H. L. Shirer was TO have sung his
prize tenor solo but he was not present
and Mr.. Vincent Graham who was to
| have appeared later sang his bass solo,
Lord God of Abraham" He responded
to an encore.
DR.. Roby's poem, s"OnIy Tramp" was
| considered one of the best things in the
entertainment. 1t told pathetic story
! of tramp who was killed by train
while hunting for work.
Mrs. Myra Williams FARRELL then read
her story. ga Twisted Affair."" which is
published in full on another page.
Miss Winifred Wagner's piano solo was
of avery high order, and she was recalled
Harry E. Mills poem, "The Resubmis-
sionist's Story" was read by Prof. A E
Palmer of Washburn college.
Miss Anna Campbell and Mrs. J. w.
Going played their prize piano duet
The programme was closed by the
reading of Rev. G. n. SheIdon's story
ssSix of Him." 1t was the story of an
overworked preacher, and sounded as if
it might have been a chapter from the
writer's life. The minister dreamed
that there had by some means become
six of him, and he told how the work
had been divided and of the complica-
tions which followed. He found out
that the six were no more able to do the
| work than one.