The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-08
SOROSIS ON SHAKESPEARE.
CLEVER WoMEN,s views OF THE
IMMORTAL BARD.

His writings and the Times In which He Lived
Considered from the standpoint OF Modern
Feuininity-Ths last Meeting OF the So-
ciety Until NEXT Autunn Heid Yesterday.
sorosis held its last meeting OF the season at
the Waldorf yesterday, and a largo number Of
members and guests were present. After the
usual luncheon all repaired to the ballroom Of
the hotel. Tho programme, consisting OF music
and recitations. was unusually elaborate, and
most of the papers read had Shakespeare for
their subject. Mrs. Mary Lyon Dame Hall,
President Of the society. was in the chair. She
announced that the theme for tho day was "a
Midsummer Days Dream" and introduced
Mrs. Jennie do Ia NJ. Lozier. DR.. Loztcr's paper
was entitled "a Day Spent with shakespeare"
81 will ask you to spend q day with our prince
Of poets in a fairyland Of his own creation, " she
began. "Hc shall be our guide and our inter.
prefer, for he speaks In all languages and knows
all lands, and, as much as possible In his match.
less words. we shall tell our little story Of q day
in tho country.
I'VE have often asked ourselves. which do we
most love In tho poet, his thoughts or his Lam
Ruagei His words are undeniably great, but
thcy are shared by poets. philosophers. and
scers, and arc indeed common to humanity.
But Shakcspoarc's thoughts are 30 melted into
passion, so sparkling with wit, 30 iridesccnt
with the play of fancy, and SO mobile beneath
their veil OF language that we scarce know
where one begins or tho other ends. and. there
fore, we call the delicious whole poetry, and un-
dor that magic spell we transplant ourselves
into the Shakespeare country"
Tho speaker then quoted many OF the masters
best tributes to nature, and so wove them to-
gcther that even those with the least imagina-
ton who listened to her forgot their luxuriant
surroundings and for n few minutes found
themselves very near to natures heart.
The Bee In Song and Story ;" was the subject
Of Mrs. Isabella s. Loveland's paper. She was
followed by Miss Mary L. Becker. Before tho
latter came to tho platform Mrs. Margaret
Ravenhil said that she felt that tho members
present would like to know that tho last time
Miss Becker appeared before them she had to DO
placed upon the Presidents table In order to be
ing;looking young woman came Onward. She
read a pleasing paper on the " Songs OF Shakes
peare, saying that q study Of them proved that
music and that the poet himself was familiar
with the folk, songs Of the day.
Miriam, Mason Greeley's subject. She said:
The French Cynies say, whenever anything
siorfoass p SsS . , Of Sist ths T0m sSs sixteenth. In ne
century. on the stage on which Shakespeare
acted his own brilliant part, we find, indeed. the
the bold imaginative spirit Of the England OF
Shakespeare; The age Of Elizabeth is the true
uEHUlhtlC epOCn VI lnO hnBlO-SuNOn race. WIN
ta'r sRHentS as d hss t Gwn' ,,r the .,,rT TSe m wIss
life, houses without chlmnoys or glass, streets
without pavcrnents, and two-tined forks.
ninccnce of fabulous ncw-world tales OF a land
TO be wooed end won across the sea. The dar,
dashing buccaneers. brewing westerly gales to
bring home glistening iiISots from the far sea
sTbo ENGLAND ~ Sh,tosn.or hal o.,h.r.s g.,
the treasures OF the world to aid her own swift
growth. CaNton's printing press, copied from
scope swept the starry skies. The glory Of the
Italian Renaissance came to adorn the court with
Tditian's resplendent palette: The spiritual con:
spenser, exiled in Ireland. sent forth the 'Faeric
ance, Sidney died a hero fighting in her defence.
Drake took wing around the mighty globe to win
Which aSei ma Sisf iife efi sifyian Si:" but m TS@e't tSe eGv all
the subtle genius OF raro Ben Jonson. Marlowe
and Shakespeare wrought Ensland's laughter
masterpieces OF drama that ever blessed an age.
This was the England Of shakespeare-the
an earthly home. That acute critic of our liter
ature, NJ. Taine. said shakespeare is the
e @9ss s s5eSt df the %i asta iha Of e Actual sIp ssis,sI in the 1E
the dazzling caprice of fancy, in the profound
complications OF superhumsn passions. This
This soul. infinitely complex, becomes, by cease
less metamorphosis. a sort of abstract Of the
universe"
Mrs. Agnes w. Mnstick followed Mrs. Creole,
taking THE. Times Of Shakespeare" for her sub
iect. She said that she hated TO cross sword
with Mrs. Greeley. but that cold facts compelled
her. She dwelt at length on the wild life led by
Shakespeare's associates. and the low state OF
civilization existing at that time. In conclusion
she admitted that she was sorry not to be able
to present shakespeare in more attractive sur
roundings. adding that II was all the more won
derful that his plays should be so free from
faint when written in such q debauchcd and
licentious age.
Mrs. Emily Palmer Cape read a paper en-
titled "A Modern Midsummer Days Dream
and Mrs. Alice Fairbrother Weber recited the
closet scene from Hamlet" Among those who
TOOK part in the informal discussion which fol
lowed the reading OF the papers were Mrs. Anna
Randall Delhi. Mrs. Waite OF Jersey City, Mira
NJ. Louise Thomas, Mrs. Ravenhiil, and Mrs
Higgins. Vice.President Of the San Francisco
Sorosis. Kate NJ. Wheelock. known as the Queer
OF Whist, was among the guests present. Soro
sis will now remain In n state Of suspended ami
nation until October, when the members will
come together again on the first Monday Of tn,
month.