The Portland daily press., 1898-11-14
"A. L. U.
Holds Meeting on Art Saturday Afternoon.

An interesting programme, the new
and attractive hail. combined with the
fine weather, made the hrst open NEST
ing of the Woman's Literary Union Sat-
urday afternoon quite a notable one. The
hall in the Young Mems Christian As
sociation building has been engaged for
the meetings this year, and fills long
desired want for women's meetings. The
platform was tastefully decorated with
yellow and white chrysanthemums, and
as 1T is sufficiently large to seat all the
ladies who took part it made as a whole,
very attractive picture, with tables,
chairs, piano. and two pretty glass cabi-
nets.
Mis- blanchard called the meeting to
order promptly. saying that the general
subject was Art, but Embroidery in
particular, the programme being in
charge of Mrs. George Walter Smardon,
chairman, Mrs. Charles Dunn, Jr., and
Miss Carrie Maxwell.
Mrs Smardon welcomed the ladies
very gsaeefuly saying that, although
it has been said that women who do fancy
work, do not always fancy work, she felt
this was hardly true; adding: 'sAt least
ii is interesting to hear OF the history OF
this sort of artistic work.
The first number on the programme,
"a vocal duet, "Hark to the Mandolin, 'h
by Henry Parker, was charmaugly given
iby the Misses Robertson and HaWes Il
Miss Florence M. Best read the first
pap er on Art in Lace. in which she
gave an interesting aocornta OF the origin
Of This exquisite sort OF work, being a
combination, she said. OF netting and ern-
broidery. Lace making was favorite
employment in the sixteenth century, of
the court, the cloister and the cottage.
The various patterns, meshes and so on,
designate the different sorts of lace. Miss
Best explained something Of the patience,
and industry necessary In making 'spt-
low lace. y 1t Is satisfactory, however, to
learn that modern lace y more beautiful
than the medieval, France producing the
best black and Belgium the most beauti
tul white lace.
sPolly Willis by DR.. Arne. which ia
such a charming song, was rendered With
much spirit by Miss Robertson, after
which Mrs Alfred A. Kendall read her
paper on "Iapestry.".. ..,a Mrs; IL Kendall 2. ,l
also descrihed this beautiful sort of work,
as painting in textile fabric" The
different styles Of ancient embroidery
were described, the Egyptian in linen
and cotton, and the Chinese work in
wool and silk. Reubens, Raphael and
LIE Brun were mentioned as the great
artists who had designed patterns fof the
most beautiful tapestries,
Miss Martha Il. b. Hawes gave mnqh
pleasure in Thoughts of Autumn" ny
Massinet, end her rich, -contralto voice
rang out with excellent effect.
The paper on Embroidery" was writ
ten by Mrs. Butler Emerson, but read by
Mrs. Frank Mosher. We We're told that
EN- br oidery originated in the East, and
the fact of the wonderful richness OF
color. which always marked oriental en-
broidery, in contrast 30 the more delicate
combinations among the workers OF
northern countries, was an interesting
point in the essay. There was a word OF
description in regard to Baby lonian and
Turkish em nroideries and various
stitches and fabrics used in this work.
Mention was made OF some Of the speoi-
mems of pictorial embroidery" dene by
our grandmothers,s which, unfortunate
ly, were generally ugly and unsightly.
The programme closed with Duet.
might Hymn at Sea-" by A. Goring
Thomas, which was sung with much ex-
preston by Miss Robertson and Miss
HaWeS. both of whom gave great pleasure.
Miss Blanchard then said, that at the,
June meeting delegates were appointed to
the Denver and Maine Federation, 1t was
the time to hear from them, SO both Mrs..
Frank B. Clark and Mrs. Edward 5. Os-
good were called to the platform.
Mrs. Clark gave some of her impress
sions Of the great Denver biennial, as did
Mrs. Osgood, each from her own poist of
view. Each thought Sit was the best
time of life time." and each testified to
the beautiful club spirit. which is weld
ing together the "Unity in Diversity,
of the ons hundred and sixty thousand
women of the General Fed Grafton of Wo.
mems Clubs Mrs Clark a lso gave short
account of the Maine Federation neetin g
at Brunswick, after which Miss Blan-
chard asked the ladies to remain in order
to come.to the platform and examine the
beautiful pieces of lace and embroidery
which the ladies of the Brush and Thin
BILE CLUB had arranged there. One cabinet
contained many beautiful pieces. OF lace
and en- broidery, entirely the work of the
club, and the other enc, many fine speci-
mems of foreign work. Aae
1.-The ladies ayailed themselves of Miss
Blanohard's 8 invitation, and the meeting
ended in an informal social reception.
WIT AND WISDOM.