The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-05

The attendance at the Woman's club
of Butte on Wednesday was especially
good considering the Indictment wealth.
err. In the absence OF the president, the
vice president, Mrs. Holbrook, presid-
ed. Current events followed the usual
order of business. Mrs. Colyar read
an amusing article on Montana which
recently appeared in the Atlantic
Monthly. Mrs. Knox gave statistics
relating to the exports and imports of
the United States for $685. showing the
former far exceeded the latter. She
also spoke of the heavy contracts plac-
ed in this country by foreign capitalists
and governments for steel rails and the
products of our factories The members
of the club then discussed the business
prospects for the year.
The regular programme was in charge
of the literature department. THE Els
sayist-Old and New School" was the
subject of an entertaining paper writ
ten by Mrs. e. G. Kern. Ralph Waldo
Emerson, who was born at the begin
ming of the nineteenth century and
whose writings show the influence Of
the eighteenth century, represents the
old school, and William Dean Howells,
the new. During the eighteenth cen
fury there was a tendency toward deep,
earnest questionings on the principles
of government, science, religion, art, So
ciety and philosophy. Warmth of feel
ing, sympathy, deep friendship had no
place in any phase of thought. HUI
manity was looked at through princi-
Piles. Although we must acknowledge
a modification due to the nineteenth
century, the subject matter of Emer-
sons essays furnishes one Illustration
of the influence of the previous CEN
tury. He wrote on such subjects as
nature, manners, self-reliance, COM
pensation. prudence, intellect, history
and the oversoul, all of which he treat
ed in a philosophical way. 1t is the
spiritual life that concerns him most,
and in his contempla lions he overlOoks
the qualities that make man of the
earth earthly. Although he wrote on
love and friendship. he put no warmth,
no sympathy, no real love, as love
means to us. in them. He openly af-
firms his dislike to sentiment and up
roots all human sympathies and pref
erences. In his religion we see his dis
like for form. As a disregard for ele-
gance of expression was noticed in the
eighteenth century, so may it be no.
ticed in Emerson's writings. He abb
solutely pays no attention to the en-
bodiment of his thoughts. Like the
was the principle thing. This renders
the style of Emerson rather unat-
tractive and by great many
who dc not enter the portals of his
great mind is much criticised and his
place in he WORLD of literature some
what questioned. His style is often
clear and brilliant his words have the
shine of diamonds and they cut their
meaning on the readers mind as the
diamonds edge leaves its trace deep
and sharp on the surface of glass. He
is especially known for his quaintness
and mannerisms. These qualities of
Emerson were common to his contem-
poraries. though perhaps in a less
marked degree, and gave rise to the old
school of essayists. In William Dean
Howell's writings we find the charac-
teristics of the new school of essayists.
His subject matter IS lfe-human life
in all conditions He is Motive are not
concerned SO much with what a man
believes as how he lives.
Every sentence of Howells portrays
his sympathy with mankind How sim
ply and honestly he describes the
squalor and misery of the overcrowded
east side of New York! How each Of
his characters becomes a living being
to us. His style is easy, graceful, pol
ished, the finish is complete, originality
marks every page and charity is the
mesh of the whole. Where sentiment in
the old school was entirely left out our
modern essayists make it the wool of
LIFE"
In conclusion. Mrs. Kern said: "The
only question now is, shall we soar with
Emerson or walk humbly, with hooe,
faith and charity in our hearts among
our fellow beings?'
Not long since the club had the pleas
listening
presented by the two writer's brought
forth an animated discussion.
Miss Jean Horne read a well-writtan
is the originator of the International
Novel. He received almost his entire
education abroad, in London, Paris and
Geneva. In 1862 he entered the Harvard
law school, but more to attend the lee
lures of James Russell Lowell than to
study law. 1t may be said of all his
works that they tend to show, first, the
contrast between the American and
European, and secondly, the contrast
between the artistic nature and that of
the everyday Philistine. Although hav-
ing attempted both the short story ind
the essay, he is best known in fiction
His style is not. pithy enough for the
short story and his finish too perfect"
Next week the social and domestic
science department has arranged for a
paper on practical Education for Wo-
men," by Mrs Buzzo. Mrs. Wright of
Minneapolis has kindly consented 10
present some phases of practical educa-