The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-06
LITERATURE NY
Woman's Club Met att Has
brouek Hal Yesterday and
Listened to Bright
Papers.
SMITH, THAcKERAY AND POPE
All Wittilys Dealt With
Women Who Join Between
January and March Pay
. No Dues.

No Dues.
1t was with joy that the small boy of
No. II grammar department, now quar-
tered in Hasbrouck Institute, hailed the
4 coming Of the Woman's Club. Not that
the small boy has any interest whatever
in that Organization Che did not even
know to what he was indebted for hat
feeling of joy), but because it gave hin
a half holiday from school. The Woman's
Club held its regular meeting in Has
brouck yesterday afternoon, and school
was dismissed at one in order that the
hall might be in readiness for the women
at three.
1t was Literature Day, and the pro-
gramme was in the hands Of the chairman
of that department, Mrs. John A. Walker.
The afternoon was extremely interesting,
and though at a first glance one was apt
to exclaim, .fWhat a lengthy programmed.
not since the closing meeting of the club
in May last, have the ladies had so much
time for refreshments and sociability. All
the papers were bright, witty and brief.
Mrs. Scudder, of course, opened the meet
ing in the usual way, according. to par
liamentary rule, and introduced, or to use
her WI word presented Mrs. Walker,
who made a short explanatory address in
which she spoke of the power of woman
in the home, society and fashion, and
more especially of the drawing room spirit
of the Literature Committee. II think Z
said she in conclusion, woman is more
afraid to express an old-fashioned opinion
than she is to wear an -old-fashioned bon
net"
Miss Elizabeth Austen Duffy rendered a
piano solo, a. Nocturne. Chopin; b, Rhap-
sodie, No. L. List. and the next speaker.
Mrs. NJ. S. Bowen, was introduced. Her
paper was upon Sidney Smith, and she
managed to keep the audience c%onvulsed
with laughter at his clever sayings. 1T
is impossible" said she, $50 learn too
much of Sidney Smith, because there are
no disagreeable things to learn of him.
Mrs. Bowen then went on to give a sketch
of the life of the author, speaking Of mis-
French-English descent, and ! its effects
upon his character; of his ministerial
career, wherein he nearly starved; of his
connection with the Edinburgh Review"
his promotion to canon. and his ambition
to become a bishop, which was never
St1(iiNot LIZ W4ls - Liz 0pCdhtis
was free from c-oarseness. He had an
intellect like an electric coil. His jests
are still repeated. He believed in talking
nonsense Notwithstanding he practiced
sound reason. Several of his jests social
and professional, were here repeated, to
the great amusement of those present,
such as Never. read a book before You
review it. 1t prejudiees you so,' and the
remark hp Ho1cn8 voaIa rs q Il, Jxr ~ r,oJ
not seen for some time, and who had
much Of you when last we met
The next. paper was on T~nackeray, by
Miss Welsh. but as tina lady was unable
TO be present the same was read by Miss
Hewitt. as Mrs. Walker expressed it.
Upon a moments notice. losing none Of
its charm by the change. Here, too. a
biography of the author was given. His
school life was dealt with, and several
letters written at that time 10 his mother
quoted, in enc of which he is recorded
as writing. There are SO boys in the
school 7 wish there were only $50,
Rolling stones " quoted the sneaker,
" gather no moss This one did, The
paper further e.ealt with Thackeray,s
education for the bar, his abandonment Of
Wv VI 1dNW dl lie dHG u lWtult
for a literary career, his marriage at the
age of thirty, the foundation Of his sue
cess as an author when Vanity Fair
was written and the beginning of his lee
turing tour in 1851. On October q, 1882
continued Miss Hewitt, ''hc sailed to Leo
ture in America, and returned the follow 4
ing year, taking with him s12,O 600, which
shows how Americans appreciate an Eng
fish author.'' TT Newcomhs' was mem
toned rs being written after his return
from America and his death on Christ
mas Eve, 1868. A description of his grave
was also given, telling how, as he had
lived with his mother during life. they
were buried in the same grave. sIn 1ife,''
said the speaker, "they were not separ-
ated; ard in death. they are not divided
THE Wasp and His Work, was the sub
jeet of Miss Margaret E.. Lacey's paper.
The Wasp, was no less a person than
Alexander Pope, the poet. Pope, said
she, was not a poet of nature. but as
a translator he was a great success
Homer's works were here mentioned. Miss
Lacey spoke of the poet as a~critic, trans
lator and philosopher. His knowledge
of character and Essay on Man were
especially mentioned. In Speaking Of Pope
as a writer for mere amusement, Miss
Lacey said, "Of course, poetry has a
higher aim than to Just please but
sometime take yourself off in a corner for
awhile and see If you don't like to be
just pleased, -
Mrs. George w. Case was also to have
read a paper, but was too i'll to be Pres
emf. During the afternoon Mrs. Davis
rendered in her usual charming way, the
Shadow Song from Dinorah, and re-
sponded to an encore.
The names of the nominating committee
for. the coming election in March were
read. They comprise Miss A. 3. Myers,
Mrs. George Toffey, Mrs. Harry Day,
Mrs. Willard Fisk and Mrs. Bradley Tan
ner. And notice was also given that, ac-
cording to constitutions those members
joining the club between January and
March would not be charged dues for 49,
$50, the new club year for 'sa-100, beginning
in March.
Those who Joined yesterday were:-Mrs.
Moritz Misunderstanding, Miss Kate NAL
Tory, Mrs. John K. Staaats, Mrs. George