Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-31

II
cure place TO hold a reception on the
anniversary OF the organization OF the
! association February I'D They have
ueeh fortunate enough TO secure the
commonwealth Club for this purpose.
| ana the reception will take place on
mat dato from 8 TO II p. NJ. II is ex-
! Pected that Mrs. General George T..
fickett viii be present
invitations VIII be issued upon the
sumo plan as that pursued by the
committee for the Alistletoe Ball The
reception Is one OF the most brilliant
promises for the winter.
"Virginia-Day' at the Woman's Club
/ last Monday will be the focal point In
| recollections Of this-the clubs season
| OK unusual attractions. There lives IN
! virginia no man with soul so dead
mat never 20 himself hath said: This
Is my own, my native land" and let IT
be known that her history, her charac-
ter, her literature are to be discussed.
ana like minute men at the first blast
I OF the bugle. there appears a waiting
| host The announcement that Virginia
/ In Literature would furnish the theme
/ for the literary evening Of last week
was a signal for a gathering limited as
| TO numbers only by the restrictions i'm
/ posed by the club. Halls, parlors, and
| stairways were crowded-a fitting tri-
| butte TO the occasion. and a merited com
/ pliment to the able programme, which
/ had been prepared.
Mrs. j. r. V. Daniels was chairman Of
| the evening. and her discrimination In
selecting her assistants resulted in a
genuine treat TO all lovers or what Is
correct in history, pure In literature,
and beautiful IN rhetoric. Her intro
not ftsIl u q
and included a graceful. unstinted enco-
MUM. taken from northern paper, TO
him where name IS the touchstone OF
southern love and pride-the intrepid
warrior. yet gentlest, most lovable OF
men, Robert Il. Lee.
The first paper was read by Rev. Will
liam Meade Clarke, and while lightened
with the humor which lends so much
TO the charm OF a speaker, was clear
thoughtful. resume of the part taken by
Virginia in the literary productions Of
the Colonial period Controversial in
tendency and convincing in conclusion, it
refuted Mr.. Henry Cabot Lodges claim
that Massachusetts by comparison with
Virginia. stood foremost in literary ac-
complishmcnts dGring the early days OF
their history. Mr. Clarke maintained
that the difference lay in degree, and
not In fact: that IL was better TO have
placed among the classics the Few that
were not born TO die than TO have
written whole Libraries Of words. Viz
giuia. he declared had raised standard
Of quality and not OF quantity" and he
sustained his point 10y reference and
quotation to the entire satisfaction Of
his hearers.
Following Mr.. Clarke, Miss Augusta
Daniel read paper, which, as a scholarly
chronicle of the literary achieve
ments Of the intervening years between
1900 and 1860. could not be excelled, and
as q polished rhetorical production, was
unexccptionable. Edgar Allen Poe Ma
thaniel Beverly Tucker, John X. Tholnp-
son. John Estcn Cooke and all the bright
galaxy of literary lights Of that period
We're treated in a mastery style, ana
with an appreciative intelligence second
not even 10 their own.
Miss Daniel, in reviewing the magazines
which. I'm years past had done
so much toward the advancement or lite
rary work and taste in the South, de-
plored the present want in that great
feld-the want OF a southern magazine,
conservative yet progressive, preservel
Of the characteristics, the intelligence ana
The traditions of a people in some Things
unique, I'm many exceptional, and ~ az
worthy Of a record. She contended ably
ana eloouentl, that such an accomplish
ment was possible, and only wanted q
protector.
The next paper had been prepared by
Miss Mary Weller Lewis, but in her alb
scnce was read most acceptably by Mr..
Eugene Massie. 1T was succinct ana
strong, covering. as II did, period drom
1860 10 1869 little conducive 10 literary
effort or success-a period in which the
srg-t q n
the song Of the poet was drowned in the
anguished moan Of the sufferer But in
All the darkness, Miss Lewis showed that
there were some riffs through which
raw of purest effulgence found Its way
and among the brilliant intellects OF that
time which she presented TO her audience
there were none which afforded more remi-
niscent delight and fascinating charm
than those Of John II. Thompson ana
George W. Bagby, both one-time editors
Of the Southern Literary Messenger. a
beautiful poem. written by Mr.. Gordon
McCabe. and found in the pocket of a
wounded Confederate soldier. was among
the choice extracts which enriched the
address.
Mrs. Daniels paper, virginia Litera-
ture Since the War" was the last on the
programme. From beginning TO conclu-
sion It showed perfectly familiarity with
it's subject. There were no names IA
miliar as Virginia writers OF recent date
omitted She paid to each tribute;
but dwelling upon the general recogni-
ton accorded Commodore Matthew Fon-
taine Maurv. she told of a remarkable
frieze. doubtless unknown TO many, and
certainly worth hearing Of by all. or
this beautiful frieze, which adorns the
walls Or the new Boston library she
savs. This frieze around the walls OF
"a great apartment contains, cut into IT,,
the names Of the greatest and most
famous men Of the entire World-that Is
90 viewed through the eyes Of the peo-
pIe of Massachusetts. From the Bible,
only two are found worthy-Moses ana
81. Paul Washington is there; Lee ana
Jackson are not; but Grant, Sheridan
sherman, Thomas, and Meade are there.
Won find there too, among Nirginians,
Tefferson. Madison. Edgar Allan Poe;
b1t The only Virginian Of our period-a
ettinr recognition-is the name Of Com
modOre Many"
I'm conclusion. she said Two hundred
wears agO the English King was proud
10 write upon his Coionys coat-of-arms
"Tn Dat Virginia Quartram.' 10. OF
NV realm. Virginia gives fourth cen
nrv passed, and Virginia gave TINS
ouOta. and more OF the men VINO became
the lberators of the nation the ere
ators of the great republic Of the Wet.
Now ioin me In this aspiration: May
the day come when Virginia, despite de-
traction and prejudice; despite her re-
serve and solf-restraint. by patient toll.
which brings success in the kingdom of
letters as well. shall inscribe on her
escutcheon the triumphant biazon-"En
Dat Virginia Quartram
The guests OF the chairman were Mrs.
J. p. Mcclure. Mrs. John Dunn, Mrs.
Iandonia Dashieli, Mrs. J. IA. Powell
81 Mics Mnlla