The Portland daily press., 1896-10-16
educated

trusted to the intelligent, educated
women of each community.
l neleve there should be beautiful
Madonna IN every room. The mother
love and tenderness Is something that
should ne constantly radiatlng influ-
enoe over the lives of our uhildrsn The
little people in our primary school at
Brookline love the singing and dancing
children or Luca della Robbia, and the
dear Bambino from the ohildren's hos
pital in Florence. Children are always
fond OF the birds and flowers and ami
mails. an the grammar grades tfe field
is so wide and the interests so many
that l Will not weary you with enume-
rating.
Mrs. Hunts song cleverly said that
Miss Sibley would give us some word
pictures of "The Browning under the
italian skies,' as beautiful as the pho
tographs shown by Miss McSkimmon, af-
ter the singing of the quartette. The
same quartette gave with must thrill
ing and exquisite effect, the ever beauti-
full "Lost Chord" by Sullivan. Miss
Sibley said that Italy was the land of
poeus and heggars, and she gave an at
traotiye picture of those clear. delightful
little beggars. Another picture of
the clear land of Dante and Petrach
saw fit level for this lovely couple.
There was charming picture of the
childhood of those two wonderful people.
She told of the wonderful childhood of
them,. both of their wonderful precooity.
Robert Browning, she said, called Italy
his university, and Usola. his favorite
place there. is older even than Rome.
The first winter they spent in Italy, in
Pisa, in Florence the first summer. She
dwelt forcibly upon the effect of the
change in Elizabeth Barrett Browning's
life, from the quiet invalid room, to the
happy, welded life in Italy,which domi-
mated and developed her own practical
genius. Miss Siblsy spoke of their dear
love for Venice, and the dramatic poem,
"In Gondola.' Here is Venice, in
the Palozza Reziniro, Robert Browning
died. Their methods of work were
quite different; he studied quiet, and
she could write with the baby in her
room. Miss Sibley spoke next of Brown
lng's obscurity, laid il largely to uareless-
ness. Mrs. Browning herself is some-
times obscure, as we'll as her husband.
She spoke of Browning's love for art
and music, and that he loved to prowl
about the old shops, and in Florence.
At an old bookstore he found the little
book upon which wa taken his greatest
poem, 1.-THE Ring and the Book" They
were also fond Of pets Of all kinds, and
stories were told of how he took snakes
around in bis breast pocket for the
amusement of the boys. Miss Libby told
funny story of how Browning shaved
his beard, much to his wife's disgust,
and when 1t did grow out it was white.
They .. loved Italy but they hated her
oppressers. After Mrs. Browning's q death,
he could not stay in Italy, and for years
he could not return to that land, which
was so linked with what was best and
dearest in his life. The Last of his life
and work Is found in ''Berum,' the
| truest sunshine in his heart and the
ever youthful spirit. All is we'll that
ends we'll, and Miss Sibley's address on
this most interesting couple was indie
scribable In it's charm; something of al
most infinite grace in her manner of
description, and power OF throwing
herself into her subject which carries
her audience along with her and holds
them In rapt attention. Although the
time was late. few left the hall while
she was giving this most fascinating
picture of these wonderful people.
A nominating committee, consisting
of one member from each club was
chosen to select officers for the club and
report this morning.
The programme today will be as fol.
lows.
Ga. m.-Ciey Hall.
Unfinished Business. Report of Com
mittee on Neurology, Mrs. S. D. Wiggin
Chairman. Nineteenth Century Club,
Ell lsworth.
Quartette- the Bar, Macy
Mrs. White, Miss Rice, Mr.. Day, ME-
| Pierce.
Question Box;.- Election Of Officers
kSinging of Ode. Quartette and Audience
Veteran Firemen.