The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-17

the hostess, called at the residences to
carry them to the meeting place.
After roll call it was decided to post
pone the regular business OF the ses-
! sion. The first paper was on the
Merchant CT Venice" and was read by
Mrs. Hurst. She first mentioned some
! OF the many interesting points OF view
from which the play might be studied
and the many interesting phases that
! could only be touched upon in a paper
SO brief. In a few terse sentences at
tention was called to the high moral
tone of the play; the classic subjects
adroitly interviewer in the plot; the
exquisite description OF scenery, of
moonlight and its effect; the legal
Quibble on which the plot turns and on
which the magnificent climax is based.
In order of composition the Merchant
of Venice was put as among the great
| dramatist's earlier works. It came
just after the passionate love comedies
| composed in the poets youth and yet
prior to the great tragedies composed
after the poet had got experiences
which had Saddened him. Mrs. Hurst
analysed the play, calling attention to
various elements of strength, among
them being the way in which the
anxiety over Antonio'S ships was kept
alive, without it's being thrust forward;
the ingenuity by which Nerissa was
made foil for bringing out in clear
outlines the character of Portia; the
effective way in which the character
Launcelot Gobbo was introduced to
give a restful comedy element 10 the
more intense tragic parts and TO put
glimpses of Shylock's home life before
the reader. Antonio was the central
figure of the play. Other characters
might be more intense and more pic
turesque but about Antonio the action
of the play revolved and interest cen
tered. Antonio was generous even to a
fault and by his generosity really
encouraged the selfish demands of i'm
petuous Bassannio. The redeeming
features in Bassannio's character, how
ever, were pointed out as shown by his
grief and his actions when he learned
of the peril in which Antonio stood
for him. Gratiano was jovial. talka-
tive, good fellow who served an excel
lent dramatic purpose. Portia was
learned, daring. brilliant, but withal
womanly. Considerable attention was
paid TO the analysis of the character
Of Shylock, who was painted not so
black as some nor so white as others
have made him out. He was what he
was because his enemies were what
they We're. He loved his country and
his race traditions
He hated Antonio for that he was a
Christian and lent out money gratis.
But Antonio opposed Shylock because
Shylock was a Jew with a Jews nat
ural thrift. Mrs. Hurst very effective
ly quoted the words of Shylock in his
own defense The sources of the plot
were next mentioned, showing that the
richest fields of history and literature
had been cleaned. In the lore of many
nations was the story of him that
for his friend did pawn his heart
The story of the caskets was taken
anti
scholarly, comprehensive treatment Of
the theme and made a vivid, lasting
impression on the hearers.
Mrs. Lily NJ Richie of Salt Lake
read a paper entitled Cuttings from
the Pages Of Shakespeare. The Gull
ings were. she said. from the pages
of an old diary of the poet, recently
brought to light and never before
given general publicity. 1t was writ
ten in the quaint, expressive language
of the poets time and recited events
that had strongly impressed him.
Among them were the first visit of
some strolling players to Stratford: his
betrothal ceremony to Ann Hathaway:
memories of his sister; the deer steal
ing episode and its consequences, and
his departure for London. So cleverly
was the literary ruse carried out that
few realized that the diary was an in
geniOus invention of the author The
paper was much enhanced by the clear,
well modulated voice Of its reader.
The musical part of the meeting was
opened by vocal number given by
Mrs. Kate 3. Anderson, who sang the
pages song from Les Hugenots."
This same aria has been made famous
by Scalchi's rendition of it. After
hearing Mrs. Anderson, several who
had also heard Scalchi remarked that
the former had tones resembling those
the medium register. Mrs. Anderson
sang only in Dreams" when an en-
core was demanded.
Simple but tasteful refreshments
were served and some time spent in
general sociability. Mrs Mona c. Nc
Cartney played as a solo the rondo
from Schubert's sonata ga Her play-
ing was most musical. evincing poetic |
feeling and thoughtful Interpretation. |
She was enthusiastically applauded. |
but modestly declined an encore.
Mrs. Clara Briggs paper on Mary. |
Queen of Scots" was scholarly and
very interesting. She took sides with |
the martyred queen, giving her the |
benefit of historical doubts and before
she had finished her listeners were |
willing to do likewise. She sketched /
briefly the life of the unhappy queen |
from infancy to the final sad, dramatic /
death at the gloomy old Fotheringay |
castle. Mrs. Briggs passed rapidly |
over the eventful years, touching on /
the most important events, the corona /
ion, convent life, marriage to the |
crown prince of France before she was /
I6, widowhood. Various events of those |
troublous times of which the queen |
vas the helpless plaything were re- |
counted and with a simplicity of style |
hat added force to a subject so dra-
matte the final climax was reached.
Meanwhile the dusk of a winter even
ng was approaching. and so vivid was
he description of the execution that
Ter hearers seemed to be back in that
gloomy old castle witnessing the his
oric scene in the dusk of that Feb
'uary morning when the headsman
struck and the old earl in the employ
If Queen Elizabeth shouted. so perish
LII her enemies"
Mrs William c. Jennings of Salt
lake spoke for the General Fedora
ion of Women's Clubs of Utah" She
opened with pleasing reference to
ogden, where she first became inter
sted in federation work. The organ
cation had passed the experimental
tage and had proved its right to be-
The time. she said, had come when the
york should be broadened and deep
ned. That this might be accomplished
women should make a scientific study
f the subject of education. She was
lot one who believed that ell the re-
orms of the world must of necessity
e made By women, but women must
10 their equal share. Small clubs and