St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-08-03
The Woman's Club.

The regular meeting of the Woman's
Club was held in Pythian Hall, August
1, at the usual hour. Mrs. Florence
Stafford, first vice president, in the chair.
The programme for the afternoon was
under the auspices of the literature COM
mittee and Mrs. Mary Hatch, chairman,
presided.
The address of the afternoon was given
by Miss Blanche A. Wright of Livermore
Falls, Me-, on "The Beginnings Of Liter.
ature," The picture language, found in
the hieroglyphics Of the old Egyptian
obelisks, was first spoken of as bearing
witness to the earliest expressions Of
thought. The Greeks and the Chinese
had their literature as had the Persians
whose carved tablets bespeak the early
literature of that people. India had its
early epic poems, charming stories Of
their deities and the creation, in which
the formation of the Ganges and the Nile
played an important part. The strange
old tales of Arabian adventure are ia
miiar to us all as is, also, the literature
of the Hebrews which has come to us
through the Psalms OF David and the
prophets. No present works of fiction
can compare with these interesting sto.
ries. If, when all the world was
young" men could produce so much
what ought the present generation to
accomplish? America has no Shakes
peare, no Homer, no David. The old
themes have been sung over and over,
and perhaps, it may be given to us to
find some new theme, possibly through
some psychic phenomena, that our poets
may sing with hearts on fire, songs
which, too, shall endure.
Miss Wright spoke with an ease which
showed that she was on familiar and
favorite ground and she was listened to
by a large and appreciative audience.
Following the address was the reading
oftwo unpublished manuscript poems
"a Ballard OF Hallowmass," by Clinton
Scolard; "The Defense of the Bride" by
Anna Katherine Green, read by Miss Elsie
Ranney.
In accordance with the plan arranged
for this year by the current events com.
mittee, the current events were in the line
OF the topic for the afternoon. An in
structive paper entitled "Recent Book:
and their Authors" prepared by Miss
Lucy Sinclair, was read by Mrs. Martha
lyric. 1t reviewed some of the newest
books which have taken foremost place
in the files of recent literature.
The completion of the club year book
for 1S9S-1S99 was announced. This is a
most carefully arranged prospectus
printed in clear type upon hand-6nished
paper and cannot but reflect credit upon
the compiers, Mrs. Ellen Brooks and
Mrs. Alice. Rtchie as well as the pub
Usher, c. T. Ranlet. A novel feature of
the calendar is the union Of the flags of
the United States and Cuba surmounting
the seal OF Vermont found on the page
following the cover.
| The sum of $25 was appropriated to
the use oil the village improvement COM
mittee.
Mrs. Helen Ross, director of the State
Federation, announced that within the
next month petition would be circu.
lated which will come before the next
session Of our state legislature asking the
governor to consider the appointment OF
women on the state board of charities.
This is in accordance with the action
taken at the annual meeting of the State
Federation Of Womans Clubs held at
Brandon last October.