The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-27
SOCIAL AND OTHERWISE.
ONE DIf'S NEWS ~ THE FASHION
dBLE WORLD.
Virginia Day at the Womsn's Cuban
Interesting Programme-Ihe Papers
Eead-Those Who Read Them.

j
ference TO the day a decorative touch
was given to the parlors and hall by the
State colors. rational flag. and the por-
traits Of noted Virginians. including
those Of Generals Robert l.. Lee and
/ Stcnewan Jackson. As has beer the
uniform result of the new rule regarding
escorts, there were many prominent men
in the audience The guests Of the chair
man were Mr.. John Z. Mcclure, Mr.. John
/ III. Powell. Mss Viola Minor Miss Mollie
I Jenress. Mrs. Landonia Dashell. Miss
/ Mary Lyons Mayo and Mrs. Pleasanton
I Conquest Mr.. j. Aston Cabell and Mrs.
James Lyons were also invited 10 be pres
ent but were preventative latter recciv-
ing at the Westmoreland Club. ard Mr.
Cabell being out OF the city. Others
present who are not members OF the
club were Mr.. and Mrs. Saunders. (whO
are al the Jefforson). Mrs. Tyler. Miss
Sallie Williams. OF Orange; Miss Gen
evieve Hall. Mrs Marshall and Judge
Keith. What may be called the opening
Introductory was made, OF course, by
Mrs. J. K. Y. Daniel. as chairman. She
! had risen from "A sick bed 10 perform her
duties Tor the evening. Her Introductory
was as follows: This being the second
/ Virginia Day in the history OF this club.
the subject assigned 10 us u.s. Virginia i'm
Literature. But before We go into the
field ! wish 10 allude 20 One-our great
martial hero-whose birthday has recent
j. passed. and Oh whose birthday 10 was
az first intended that Virginia Day should
always be observed Through some mis-
take this could rot be done this year but
II is not too late 10 notice the fact. and 10
call attention 10 the birthday OF Robe. g
Edward Lee who was not only our gre =
military leader. bu. our chieftain in al
that is best and highest In man. a pat
tern TO an I'm his nobility of character his
self-sacrIhce. and his ready response TO
the call Of duly. A most beautiful trb-
Ute 10 him has recently been brought TO
my attention. 1t is from a Northern
iournal-tEe Washington Post" OF the
18th. ann well worth repeating. From the
beginning 10 the end Of the war he was
the ideal captain-pure as Galahad, gal
liant and strenuous as LauncclOt His
admirers knew no limitations OF con-
tincnt or country. Tie was admired by
the North as sincerely as by the South.
lie took into the first battle 'scutcheon
stainless as the midday sun. lie sheath
ed At AppOmattoN sword as bright as
Arthurs There is no spot upon his
noble memory lie left behind him no
cause OF bitterness. sorrow or resentment.
All of us-North. South East or West
can be proud OF Robert T. Lee. Than
he there has been no finer product OF
America. Gentle as he was brave. chiv-
alrous. as he was intrepid. unsullled OF
thought or deed as he was indomitable OF
spirit. Robert T. Lee combined in him
self every quality that appeals TO the
love- the reverence and the admiration o-
mankind. Steadfastly Loyalty, thorough
iy. he did his duty as he saw 10. What
could man do mOre3
"I now return 10 the subject assigned
as for this evening. When first am
uounced. many persons said. What
dull subject There's nothing Zoo Do. But
We find that there is "a good deal TO say
and more ground 20 cover than it is pos
slble 10 do in the short time allowed US.
IL will have 10 be merely birds eye
view of "a subject which might well bear
closer inspection and analysis, perhaps
that may be given by others at some
future day. I'm this cursOry glance.
which all of us take tonight / beg your
indulgence and kindly forbearance, we
are so limited bv time that We only skim
the surface of the field. III amy writer's.
dead or living should not be- mentioned
whom you think ought TO be noticed. W.
crave pardon without criticism, especially
does this apply 10 the living writer's. ol
whom there are $50 many Zoo these latter
days IN was simply impossible TO no.
tice an. however worthy.
81 have 10 announce that our subject if
divided into four periods. first THE CO.
lonial period. dating from the settlement
up TO 1900. second, The ante-bellum period
1850 10 lsGW. third. The bellum or war
period CISCO 90 1860. fourth. The past bel-
lum period OSGj TO the present timel.
"Of the literary thought and expression
OF these early days I'm Virginia you are
now to near from one who is himself a
devoted SON of his Sta.e. aud loving
student Of her history"
Here Rev. William Meade Clarke took
his place upon the platform. As a prom
incut clergyman OF the city and diocese
that gentemans pleasant characteristics
as am orator are familiar 10 the pubic.
In an able paper containing bright hl-
mOr0us touches throughout. Mr.. Clarke.
beside discussion of the subject proper
paid his respects TO Mr.. Henry Cabot
Lodge. senator from Massachusetts,. who.
i'm "a recently published book draws some
very unfivorable comparisons between
Colonial literature in Virginia ana in
New England. Mr.. Lodge It seems, has
settled the question somewhat more thor
oughly 20 his own satisfaction than 10
that Of intelligent and thinking Nirgi1lans
including Mr. Clarke. The latter pre-
scented Nirginia's side of the question with
spirited loyalty. and I'm clear piquanr Eng
lish Said he: "ls IL greater 10 have fill
ed the pages Of local papers and ephemer-
al magazines with the screeds of penny
a-liners. or TO have placed among the inn
mortal classics tho few that were not
born 10 die2' In "a word. shall We erect
as our standard OF judgment Quantity
or Quality" Shall We measure the liter
allure of n people by bushel-measure
and a tape-line. or shall We measure il
by greatness Of thought power. and mag
nation? Altogether Mr.. Lodge received
as much attention as his dement's de-
serve, for Miss Augusta y. Daniel was
the next upon the programme, and did
not allow comment upon Virginia Literal
ture from 1850 10 lNGO' 10 exclude Mr..
Lodge. Although mentioning him only
once by name, Miss Daniel bore him de-
cidedly in mind Her paper was really
charming one full Of interesting facts,
which were made TO succeed each other
gracefully one detail, I'm connection
with Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, was
Of special interest II concerned his story
"'rhe Partisan Leader which In the
light Of subsequent events. has been
spolton OF as - prophecy of the war be-
tween the states
.Iiteuatura Ir Virginia During the
War" was the subject or paper writ
ten bv Miss Mary Weller Lewis. but
read by Mr.. Eugene MassIe, owing to
her indlsposition. Miss Lewis prepared