The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-28
In Art and Literary Circles.

In Art and Literary Circles.
Sappho's undying fame received a grace
ful acknowledgment at the hands OF Miss
Blanche De Mers and Miss Hattie Bray
before the Seattle Art League and School
OF Design or Tuesday evening last in the
form of a lecture delivered By Miss Bray
who had been collaboration with Miss De
Mers in preparing the review of the i'm
mortal Grecian and her verse Woman's
claim 10 be az least mans literary peer
was implied. thus contradictins the as
sumption or the sterner sex 20 a monopoly
of superIatiye genius In that as Ia the
other arts and sciences. Sappho was pro-
nounced 'incomparably the greatest poet
the world has ever seen. No Greek woman
or the loD4an race is known 20 have ex-
eelled in poetry and no Ae0lian or Dorian
woman. except Sappho. is known 10 have
made poetry the personal expression OF an
intense life. She was aided therein not
only by the glow of the Aeolian blood
which fired her genius, but also by the
large and rich life with which Aeolian So
ciety surrounded women OF the higher
rank This IL is which imparts the unique
interest 20 the few fragments remaining
Of Sapphos work. fragments OF incona-
parable melody. whose musical words
glow with a lambert fame. Endowed with
a SURPRISING artistic genius, exquisitely
sensitive 10 the harmonies OF form and
natural expression in verse. she uttered
therein her worship of the beautiful. Her
own personal charms, numerous and OF
highest order, were the inspiration then,
as they would be now. of slanderous
tongues. but Alcarus testifles that the at
fractions and loveliness OF Sappho did not
derogate from her moral worth" Byrons
ailuslon in 'Childe Harold" 10 her tragic
fate was quoted. but the young ladies gave
no cTedence TO the tale. which was re-
garded as mere poetic imagery. The
Iseucadian leap was a religious rite. be-
longing 10 the expiatory festivals or
Apollo celebrated throughout Greece AT
appointed times criminals. selected as ex-
piatory victims, were thrown from the
high oyerhanging rock into the sea. Poets
applied the custom in various ways de-
scriptive OF lovers desperation. Sappho's
passionate and eScitahle nature found ex-
preston in a direct frankness foreign 10
modern manners, but which possessed re-
deeming traits Of simple grace and
naivete. Thus she says: I request that
the charming Manon be invited. If the
feast is to bring enjoyment to me. and she
addresses a distinguished youth in these
words: Come opposite me, oh friend. and
let the sweetness which dwells la thine
eyes beam upon me- Yet we can nowhere
find grounds for reproaching her with hav-
ing tried TO please men. or meet their adj
vances when past the season OF youth. On
the contrary she says: Thou art my
friend: / therefore advise thee 20 seek
younger wife: I cannot bring myself TO
share thy house as an elder Not only did
Sappho's fame spread throughout all
Greece; the whole voice of antiquity pro-
nounced her poetry as unrivaled in grace
and sweetness"
The subjoined programme bespeaks the
superior character OF the entertainment
with which the league anniversary is TO be
celebrated on Saturday afternoon next.
The studio and art gallery will be thrown
open to visitors from O'Clock in the after
noon tiii o clock at night. The reception
committee will be Mrs. II. c. Struve. Mrs.
H c. Henry. Mrs. Erastus Brainerd. Mrs.
A. NJ Brookes. Mrs. John Leary, Mrs. +.
A. Wing. Mrs. A. B. Stewart and Mrs. W.
r. Forrest:
Piano solo--a- 'Mazurka Caprice.
, Ara beso,,e Erik Never Helmund
Miss Mabel Gin.
Opening remarks Mr. !" = u eaI 80,
Miss Myra Dean.
'oc 49, a1sFeSWsg illlsTns Genae, conaat
and Lindsay.
Vocal solo-''fhe Garden or steep
''-'-''' Ms: Bessie In lri''s
Duo mandolin and guitar-''Vienna'
Misses wishaar.
Mss sadie 2. Martin. p.-,.,.
VIVA Miss olive Miller.
Yea Xosa IS solo-''sones We Used % sing
............A. Mascheroui
Mrs. Jessie Hilton Farrell; violin
oollgato D-. Lessey.
Vocal Awake, -. Lyons
Vocal soloI'Sro savnia.' :. Jas. Dessalner
Mrs c. A. &. Rochester.
IN sfNasEe. 4snrEfTna tEQIer
........... ......................B. GODDARD
Nine. IBERIA cIivelll. -.
Vocal solo ....s Mr. Herbert Williams
vocal soso"Lcve Is Spring. - if.;-.
Mrs r. r. Townnsley;; 80.
T ,,el Is SOLO a. II but knew
................ ........ Wilson -. smith
D From a chnd's Garden OF vg-ses.
Mis- Marguerite ~ kinney. Nine
Crtvelli. Miss Rockwell and Ar
r. BOYD Wells acco-npanssls'
The ladies' OF the P. z. o. Club gave a.
inforrnaf afternoon IN honor OF their re-
.t-s,,- ,,~sssa.at Mrs. Edward 3 Fowler.
a. tha elegant home % Mrs. Rolhn Denny
FRIDAY afternoon. The ladies present
v.era- Mrs r 3. Fowler. Mrs. George r.
Napyfands. Mrs. a. r. Perry, Mrs. II >.
Treurer. Mrs. r. A. Macdonald, airs.
George @. Guy Mrs, ". II Waite. MFs-
q MaEl1E- ATS. ~ "a a 1880 49, -
: f-ar.er Mrs s p. Weston. Mrs. Fred
- p,.tersor Mrs d J. Curtis. Mrs Fred
a-t~se L Fearen. Mrs. Il l. Stoe1arz1s
Mrs. bailey. Mrs T. A. Steele. Ars. J, T.
ponsfs Mrs Lula Patrick. Mrs William
Frenklsr Edwards. Mrs. J. y. Fr.nk. Mrs.
I 4. Turner. Mrs George A. Virtue, Mss
s,s~la Miss Maynard. Miss kellogg and
TIE Misses Denny
TIE wonan's Century Club met az ne
-co-.s n me Seattle National hank build
~ FRIDAY afternoon 30 listen 70 a paper
1s,, sf-= F~ane l. Lee or Hygiene ln EstEl-
~stge- (" TIE excellent paper was gwen
.-s-uasr ertentson. because g US Ssr92
r,,snss ans because she club knew ~4la
-sv~ss nat &. must coon ho=e Mrs. Lee. one
~ IS most snttIifgeui ard sffleient work
s~s. After discussing current stenis re
club &C Bs1rzel2
re Nineteenth Century Literary Al9o
,-iu mes, next Thursday afternoon u ne
settle National Bank building a. usual
Tee er0grarunse InclGGes two sSsteisfs-
concord as Literary Center. - afss
Carrie SUBWAY. and Women @os-
.eses in Ssw Eagl4a2." ~ Miss AAA-@E-