St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-04-06
The Woman's Club.

luC vVOhhdu StuDs
The literature committee Of the
Woman's Club furnished rare treat at
the April meeting on Monday by bring
ing to the club Miss Katherine Lee Bates
Of Wellesley College. She was intro
duced by Miss Mabel Carpenter, chair
man ol the literature committee, and
spoke upon "The Use Of Books"
Among other good things Miss Bates
said that one should choose the best OF
books. Those which have stood the test
Of time ought to be good enough. Having
chosen the best books, search Tor the
truth in them. Books may be read first
as means Of rest. We tire of every
thing, most OF all Of ourselves. A good
book serves as a relief from ones own
personality. Hazltt says. Life has no
greater pleasure than reading what one
likes"
Books may be used as means Of Joy.
Joy in itself is good and wholesome and
one cannot have too much Of it. We
have too many dark stories, too many
problem stories without the solution.
We need even lighter novels than we now
have. We should read restful books that
we may get some of the old heroic i'm
pulse which comes with joy.
Books may be used as means of wis
dom. Wisdom transcends knowledge.
Today's knowledge may be false tomor-
row. Wisdom is eternal and abides in
the heart of all things. "The doors Of
wisdom are never shut" said Franklin.
We may find wise truths in the stories of
folklore and in the ancient myths. The
familiar sun myth is only the real story
OF mans lie.
Books may be used as means Of in
spiration. We all have hours of inspira-
tion when our thoughts rise to level
with those of Shakespeare or Wagner,
but unlike them. our language is made
quate. Love like that of Romeo and
Juliet, and grief like that of Othello is not
beyond our experience, but it is beyond
the limit of our human utterance.
Shakespeare's plays are our own lives
writ large" Let us turn to the poets
who write with colossal Thoughts.
Books may be used as a means Of
power. We turn to great books as a
source Of strength, that we may refill
what we lose. Let us transmute our
reading into power.
The speaker made a strong plea for
| poetry. Homer stands for the poetry
Of the classic world. Dante for the
medieval and Shakespeare for the mod
ern world. These poets should not be
crowded aside even if Kiplng must be.
The lecture was interpersed with read
ings of choice bits OF poetry. Miss Bates
is an easy speaker and her personality
made an impress upon her hearers as
well as her words OF earnest thought.
The education committee presented
report to the club through it's chairman,
Miss Louise Bartlett. This report en-
bodied three recommendations. First,
the investigation of the educational con-
dition Of some one county in the state,
Essex suggested; second. the appoint
ment of an Audubon or BIRD Day" for
the furtherance Of nature study and the
protection OF birds; third, The establish
ment OF travelling libraries. to be sent to
remote towns not having access to free
libraries; $50 covers the cost of one such
library. The club voted to consider
these reco concentrations and also voted
$50 Tor travelling library, to be sent to
some small village in this vicinity.
The current events were presented by
Miss Emma Rogers.
! Three new members were received.
A committee oil three was appointed
by the chair to receive nominations Tor
officers Tor the coming year. The COM
mlttee are Mrs. c. H. Merrill, Mrs. F. A..
Pierce, Mrs. w. c. Tyler.