The Portland daily press., 1898-12-12
W. L. U.
Hold An Interesting Meeting satur-
day.

/
day.
A Memorial Services HeId-Bright Papers
Read by Several Members
AS the exercises for Saturday afternoon
of the second open meeting of the Literary
Union, were in charge of the Pine Tree
club, the decorations on the platform
were of the good old trees of Maine, APP
propriate both for the club and the Christi
mas season. In front of the desk was
copy of the arms of the state, with the
familiar motto, "Dirigo," and along
the edge Of the platform mass of pine
mixed with the yellow and white bunt-
ing. representing the Unions colors.
| Promptly at three o'clock, Miss Blanch-
ard dropped the gayel, and before the ex
exercises began, the president gave notice
| of a Browning lecture, a future exhibit
ton by the Brush and Thimble club, also
notice in regard to the work of the
| Travelling Libraries, to which, the
"Uniou," as an integral part of the
Maine Federation is committed
The subject for the afternoon, Litter
ature'' was under the supervision of Mrs.
Grin LeGrow, Mrs. Harlan P. Ingalls,,
and Mrs. James e. Pickett, and related
especially to the state, which "Our
fathers built, where rocks abounded
rather than sod. -
The special programme opened with a
musical selection by the Philharmonic
club, consisting of Mrs Helen Wilcox
Bickford, Miss Ella Waters Thurston,
Mrs. Eta Sterling Sparrow and Miss
Evangeline Aella Ballard, who gave
much pleasure with their music. The first
selection was from Donizettis Lucia. .
In the introduction to ''Our State,
Mrs. LeGrow began by quoting from the
popular lecturer Stoddard, who once
saidss THAT one ought first TO know his
and her friends had studied with
mingled pleasure and PRIDE the interest
ing history, as we'll as the natural ad-
vantages, the products and the industries
of our state. Mrs. LeGrow also mentioned
our institutions of learning which have
sent forth many able men and women,
who have SO often made themselves con-
spicuous in the home of their adoption.
Miss Ellen Eavis's paper on the "Pine
Trees of Maine, was read by Mrs.
Frederick l.. Jones. The su bject was
treated in a truly original way, using the
tree as means for telling in an uncom-
monty attractive way, something of the
.f
made of the testimony given by the earli-
est discoverers of the vast and wonderful
forests which had not been despoiled by
the Indians. An excellent description
was given of each of the three pine trees
of our state-the white, the pitch and the
red. Even Samuel Pepys in his famous
diary mentions the arrival in England
of mastS from Maine; for in those days
the best of them were retained for the
Kings use, which even in the beginning
of our history caused some protest An
interesting account WAS given of one OF
the old ship yards, where the gas works
how are, and of which Col. 0estbrook
was then the surveyor. One of the first
| suggested flags had pine tree On it, and
| WAS regarded as .san appeal to heaven"
An account was also given OF some OF the
| troubles among the luInbermen. of Maine
and New Brunswick, and very excel
i
4 care should be taken of our trees, as is
now given to our fish and game; there is
no reason why Woodlands should not
be considered as a matter OF revenue as
well as matter of decoration.
MIR. 6. w. Marston's arrangement of
much spirit by Mrs. Eta Sterling Spar
| row.
Miss A. Louise McDonald's paper ON
i sIhe Gems of Maine.' Was full of inter-
esting and surprising information in re-
gard TO The rich mineral wealth of our
| state. Miss Mcdonald said the love of
precious gems had been ever character
lstic Of human nature, connected also
with various supersritiont. The story of
Mt. Mica in Main was told very perth
| nsntly, which, with its wonderful stock
| Of tourmalines and other beautiful
crystals, seems like tale tfroms the
| Arabian Nights.
| Furthermore, Miss Mcdonald told OF
| the choice specimens of topaz, beryl, aqua
marine, various specimens of garnets,
amethysts, quartz in different colors,
| jasper, aud even pearls In concluding
Miss Mcdonald spoke OF the gold fields of
| Byron, which though not as rich perhaps
as those OF the Klondike surely afforded a
better climate.
At the close of her paper, which was
given entirely without notes, Miss Nc
Donald was accorded hearty round of
applause for the interesting manner in
which she had told the story of the hidden
treasure of our dear old state.
The Philharmonic club followed, with
another selection.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
1t will be many a year before the mem
bers of the Women's Literary Union will
forget the sad memorial exercises which
followed their programme of Maine"
day.
Miss Blanchard was much moved, as
she expressed the deepest regret for the
loss of the valued members of the Union,
who were on board the steamer Portland,
and she suggested, that the women of the
clubs should make a special offering for
the benefit of the sufferers.
Mrs Hiram Il. Jones put the sugges-
ton into a formal motion, THAT each
club should send it's contributions by its
delegate to the next directors meeting,"
q motion which was promptly carried.
The Philharmonic club then played the
Largo" of Handel, after which five
short testimonials were read by ii MEM
bers of the club. who had SO recently lost