New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-28
CIVITAS'S LAST MEETING.
CUPID AT FORTY" AND MORE SOBER
QUESTIONS DISCUSSED
MISS VAN ANDEN MADE AN EARNEST APPEAL
FOR THE RITTER STUDY OF THE
OF sOCTALrs

TENETs OF SOCIALISM
The Civi,as Club Of Brooklyn held It's last public
meeting OF the season yesterday afternoon. The
announcement Of the reading OF the prize story and
essay called forth full attendance. and the meet
ing. It generally agreed. one OF the most
interesting Of the year.
While Mrs Florence Guertin futile read her
story. cupid Forty" she frequently
greeted with signs OF unmstakable approval II
was said 10 he the most successful OF any OF her
literary attempts As the title hints. II tells OF
the love affair OF bright old maid In the open
ing OF the story she is discovered on Christmas
Eve decorating a Christmas tree for her brothers.
children. who 10 visit her the next day. As
she IL about 10 suspend fine wax cupid above the
tree her Old unmarried friend. Mr.. Leicester, ar
rves most opportunity to hang the messenger OF
love for her HIS attempt is in sense n fall
ure. for he falls from the stepladder and receives
a badly sprained ankle. This unhappy event leads
TO the most happy OF all Issues for Mr.. Leicester.
staying 20 receive the kind nursing OF his friend.
Is led 10 ask for her more tender care as wife.
After slight Misunderstanding over the form OF
proposal. they all live happy ever after
The charm OF the story is added TO by the fact
that It is largely carried by vivacious dla-
logue. OF which the following quotations from the
interesting old maid are fair examples:
"A nrt." she replied. is a with small
capacity for loving every woman and large in
capacity for loving one"
Again Christmas Is a time when you receive n
lot OF things you don't want and give away every
thing that you do"
Miss Van Anden read her essay Socialism:
Dlsregarded Proposition" After defining So
calism she reviewed It's present status in Europe
and the United States. giving its particular
characteristics in England and France. and
referring TO the Social Democracy Of Germany.
She then cited the estimated number OF Euro
pean Socialists. founded their polled
vote. which accredits them with th!rty-One
million men. women and children IN Europe In
considering Socialism in the United States. men
uon was made Of their prominent place on tho
official ballot and IL said that a hint Of their
vitality WAS TO be In the number OF nourishing
Socialist publications. list OF these was given.
showing their existence IN eight cities and in eight
different languages.
The youth Of scientific Socialism" was next
alluded TO. and It's rapid spread was compared
with that OF early Christianity. In making
urgent appeal for an impartial study Of the sub
Ject, Miss Van Anden continued. We need not. OF
course accept the teneis Of Socialism. but place
ourselves with the Prosecutors Of Jesus Socrates,
Briggs and Darwin II we judge Socialism on
hand. An understanding OF the subject Is not.
however. to b" cleaned from novel Ike Looking
backward which is 10 Socialism only what 'kenil-
worth Is TO English history.
Present quasi SOcalisfir conditions in
stanccd in state ownership in the AdirOndacks.
and even In that growing form OF centralized adj
mn!siraton. the trust In conclusion. the speaker
said. "our Industrial conditions. acknowledge.
izaiion are In themselves rcirogrcssion. We can
not Therefore. refuse 70 consider remedies among
Others this Socialist proposition We must
specially Investigate this cOnstructiv" system 81
among US. and whose form ls cry-ialliziuC before
our eye-. Socialism IS not going 90 Doe this that
mans plan. but just what W. ourselves make IT,.
and herein lies our great responsibility