Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-19
OUT AND ABOUT.
q PORTRAITS OF LITERARY WO-
MEN, AT THE HOME CLUB.

" PORTRAITS OF LITERARY WO-
MEN" AT THE HOME CLUB.
Home Clubs Fifth Anniversary-Brtl-
liant Paper by Mr.. Champlin-For
Girls Club-Union Church Music.
The Home Club celebrated it's fifth an
niversary with a highly successful tea
talk Friday afternoon at the home OF
Mrs William Woodward Each Of the
thirty members was at liberty to invite
friend, and there were between go and
20 ladies present The chronicles of the
club during its life had been written in
a bright manner by Mrs. Horace Ken
dali, for several years president of the
club, and were read by her after the
literary program. The members and
guests were received by Mrs. w. H.
Hobbs, president of the club, and Miss
Hattie Cushman, vice president, and
Russian tea, college ices and fancy
cakes were served by Mrs. Woodward,
assisted by Mrs. Mason Boyden, Mrs.
John j. Whittier, Mrs. G. A. Messenger,
Mrs. William B. Harding and Mrs. II. L.
Miller
The chief feature Of the afternoon was
delightful and suggestive paper en-
titled PORTRAITS of literary women" by
Mr.. Edwin r. Champlin of Fall River,
and consisted Of short critiques of some
well known American and English
women writer's, interpreted with per-
sonal "reminiscences. In his introduce
ton, the speaker considered the unfit
ness Of the title blue stocking" as ap-
piled to women who write, after quot
ing Thackeray's remark that "the la
dies were very blue and well Informed,
as showing an instance of the partial
use of the title. He then maintained the
honorableness of the individual lives of
female writer's and the equal elevation
of their influence with the influence OF
men who write, also the equality or
women's contribution with that of men
to the causes Of truth, justice, reform
and art. He spoke briefly or the
meagerness of their material reward as
well as that Of men who Write, ana
noting that the ranks Of women in lit
erature have grown from company OF
fifty in the forties to a battalion OF
thousands in the nineties, said: Our
female writers are giving us, II not phi
losophy, not poetry, not theology, not
science. in any vital and enduring form,
yet-bright and elevated fiction, realism
and romance, humor, wit and travesty,
and the best diadactio and educational
writing. For two or three poets we
must thank women; since the songs OF
these few still llnger, and must long pc
sung: for one or two analysts OF chaF-
acter; for one or two archaeologlsts'
for few biographers; for few essay
lists; for one or two critics; and for
scores of charming and ennoollng
writer's of stories, long and short, del
lightful picture makers in letter ana III
volume. "Reminiscences writers and IN
structiye and entertaining pen-women
in a variety Of other lines"
The speaker then referred to several
of the principal classes in which women
have appeared in literature in this coun-
try. those who were forced into literary
work. like Fanny Fern" H. H.. ana
Mrs. Amelia E. Barr, yet who MADE ~
very profitable. Those who, like Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnett and Maria
T,oIIise Pool failed, for many years, to
make prominent the strong merits or
their writings, yet who at last became
very successful; others, possessing
marked merit, which was illustrated Dy
an original poem by one, but VINO never,
however hard they tried, succeeded IN
making a favorable impression; others,
who have been suddenly Unexpectedly
called out, as were Grace King, Amele
Riyes and Miss Murfree, in this country,
or Miss Proctor in England; and those
domestic women who make literary
work their avocation, not their calling,
like Susan Mari Spalding, the author OF
the poem Fate" and another group OF
the same general class, TO Which be.
longed Mary Moody Emerson, aunt OF
Ralph Waldo and Emily Dickinson, and
L f1ooyion Vqlp
of Deerfield and Henrietta r. Eliot of
Portland, Ore, whose writings were
commended, some specimens being
given.
Then were presented three pen-port-
rats; those Of Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
Mary Hartwell Catherwood, and Louise
Chandler Moulton; the first a native of
Wisconsin, the second of Ohio, the third
of Connecticut. These women were des-
cribed in personal appearance, and per-
sonal characteristics, and quotations
were made from their writings and in
teresting incidents Of their lives were re
lated. The sketch of Mrs. Wilcox en-
braced opinions of her work and quota
tons from letters written by her in re
gard to certain OF her poems, and in
answer to adverse criticism of them by
those who did not understand the
authors purpose in writing them. The
sketch of Mrs Catherwood included per-
sonal impressions, as did the other two
sketches, the lecturer having been per-
sonalIy acquainted with all his subjects.
Some emphasis was given in the sketch
of Mrs Moulton, to her social side, and
both her prose and verse were sampled.
The portrait of Mrs. Catherwood en-
braced much matter wholly new to the
public
The paper occupied about 40 minutes.
At the close, photographs of some of the
subjects and large number of auto
graphs and autograph letters Of women
named during the reading and others,
were shown.
Mr. A. S. Lowell is i'll at his home in
North Worcester.
At the meeting of the executive
board of the Y. w. c. A. this week. the
annual meeting was appointed for
April %, and a committee to arrange for
it was elected as follows; Mrs W. A.
Bailey, Mrs. j. B. Colvin, Mrs. Henry
S. Knight, Mrs John Legg, Miss E. l..
Barnard. The new members admitted
were: Mrs. Frank F. Billiard, Mrs. L. F.
Herrick and Mrs. w. II. Mcclure, ac-
tive; Mrs. Frank S. Fisher, Mrs f. A.
Stenberg, Mrs. Mary Rice and Miss NJ.
Louise Easton, sustaining.
The fact that Mr.. Truette is so soon to
leave his position at Union Church for
one in Newton is so sincerely regretted
by all that a large attendance is ex-
pected tomorrow evening. when Stain
ers Daughter of Jairus" will be rem
dered under his direction. The music
throughout is beautiful, in many places
impressive, while it presents a pleasing
variety OF chorus quartet and solo Sc