The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-20


fields.
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited
air
Hides hills and woods the river and
the heaven
And wells the farmhouse at the gar
dens end.
The sled and traveller stopped, the
couriers feet
Delayed,all friends shut out, the house,
mates
Around the radiant fireplace. enclosed
In tumultuous privacy OF storm"
Emerson's lines most flttlngly de-
scribe the condition OF things as they
have existed-far and wlde-in the ma
gerial world during the past week. In
consequence OF these very tangible re-
alties, many interesting programs
which had been prepared among our
women's clubs, in town and country
were necessarily postponed.
The club column therefore which
otherwise would have contained most
interesting matter from number OF
our Rhode Island clubs, must necessa-
rlly defer the same until another week,
The clubs whose regular meetings
were postponed because of the storm
were the following-"The Mothers
Club" Read. Mark and Learn Club
"Sorea Club" Travellers Study Club"
and the Paradise Club" OF Middle
town. II. l.
one important event, however, among
club circles was the open meeting OF
the Embreso club held at the home OF
Mrs Henry &. Ballou on Princeton
avenue. Here, despite the fact that the
rayages of the storm were yet most
disagreeably apparent, a large COM
pany OF ladies assembled 10 listen to
Mrs. Walter Stokes Irons in her charm
ing recital OF the literary characters
tics Of the two Scotch writer's John
Watson Qan Maclaren) and James Nj.
Barrie. Mrs. Irons touched briefly upoQ
the individual characteristics of the
two men, and then proceeded 10 de-
tailed study of their creations. Mr.Wat-
sons first book she considered his best
saying that il his name should De set
down on the rolls OF fame II would be
as the author of "A Doctor of the Ola
School" Mrs. Irons dwelt at length up
on Watson's delightful Scottish sketch
es i'm Beside The Bonnie Brier Bush"
and also upon his only real novel kate
Carnegie.
The quaint scenes in Drumtochty.
with their humorous and pathetic as
poets, the characters one meets IN
Drumtochty, Domsie, the schoolmaster,
Drumsheugh Marget, Lashlan, DR..
Maclure and the rest We're all introduce
ed as Mrs Irons unfolded her story,
reading here and there by way or IL
Iustration. many beautiful passages in
which these characters live and move.
Passing from Watson's work to
considerations of Barrie's, Mrs. Irons
expressed the opinion that the creations
OF Barrie showed "A steady progress
from good to better. Choosing "Senti-
mental Tommy" to illustrate particu-
lar points OF Barrie's style. the story
was carefully analyZed TO bring out the
intense seriousness which underlies the
flashes OF wit Mrs. Irons provoked
much merriment and Applause, from
her audience, as she so clearly and ar
tistically interpreted those delightfully."-
humorous passages from Sentimental
Tommy, which relate TO his expert
ences with Shovel" and his successes
as a writer of sentimental love letters.
Mrs. Irons also dwelt briefly upon
"The Little Minister" closing with
thoughts concerning Margaret Ogi-
vie" incidentally referring to some OF
the criticisms which have been made
by men Of letters concerning this story
OF the life OF his mother.
The Coventry woman's Club is max
ing arrangements for an elaborate
Washington Tea" to be given at the
club rooms at Anthony. on Wednesday,
February 22d. At this meeting the reg
ular fortnightly report of the club has
not been received and the same will
therefore appear in next weeks club
column.
The Bristol Chapter. Daughters of
the Revolution are haviv c,series of
excellent papers two each month up
on Rhode Island History The Regent
of the chapter Mrs. {. J. Hasbrouck,
is "enroute" for Washington. ID. G.. Ia
attend the Contlnantal Congress which
begins there on February 22d.
During the past week the triennial OF
The National Council OF Women, i'm
session at the Church of Our Father.
Washington, -. c.. has attracted wide
spread attention among women.
rhe National Council of Women.
which embraces mOny of the prominent
Women's organizations or the country.
met to discuss and attempt TO influence
public opinion on many of the most om-
portant public questions of the day,
especially as they relate TO women.
one OF the strong supporters OF the
convention (whose voice was frequent
" heard as one question after another
arose for discussion) was Anna Garlin
Spencer. the delegate from Rhode Is
land. At the opening meeting OF the
convention on sunday, February -.
Mrs. Spencer delivered a strong sermon
on "Woman's Opportunity i'm the
church" Mrs spencer said that the
central points OF modern religious
thought were unity and growth" Men
can take "a hand i'm humanity's eVolu-
ton" said she. by improving the out
ward conditions OF life. the social con-
seriousness which presents every life as
related to all lives, and the whole as
related to each. Is the most important
fact in modernlifc. The minister Is
now less of "a priest and more OF a
teacher. and here is whore woman's op-
portunity comes in. The church's one
great specially will always be that of
revealing the goal OF human effort II
is unnecessary, perhaps, go add. that
Mrs. Spenccrs words at this time. and.
indeed. throughout the convention
commanded the profound attention and
unqualified approval of her listeners.