Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-16
First Meeting of Season Held Wednes-
day Evening Last.


day Evening Last.
The first meeting of this season Of Unity
Club Qs74 was held last Wednesday even
ing in the sun parior of the Hotel Stratford
The entertainment opened with a well-ren-
dered selection from Der Freischutz by
Miss Louise Farrow.
The minutes of the Joint meeting held by
the Unitey and Short Story Clubs at Metz
croft Hall, in memory of the late Mrs Emily
Frances Hort, were read by the recording
secretary of Unity Club. Mr.. H: P. Hol-
den who gave also an account Of the spe-
cial entertainment given to the members
by Dr. L. r. Klemm at his residence, 919
street northeast, October last.
The president DR.. VIM. A. Jack. intro
duced the lecturer of the evening. Charles
Newburgh, Phi. D.. who discussed the "Eyo-
luton of the Alphabet He traced the ru-
iimentary elements to their source among
the Phoenicians, who, he claimed, made
possible. even If they did not actually orig
mate the alphabet. He denied the asser-
ton made by some ph1lologlsts that the
Phoenicians obtained their knowledge of the
alphabet from the Egyptians, holding that,
as there never was any commercial reia-
lions between these two peoples. 1t was i'm
possible for the Phoenicians to have known
Of the Egyptian language or alphabet. The
lecturer illustrated his eXDoSitionS by
chart on which We're depicted the rude be-
ginnings of primitive language, the pic
;ured signs of the Indians, whereby. for in
stance, the CnlppeWdS COnNerSeQ, so 10
speak, with the far-away Ojibways. The
next step was to the hieroglyphics and
symbolic language. and gradually the be-
ginnngs Of the alphabet were discerned
DR. Newburgh explained, In detail how
each letter Of the alphabet originated and
how some letters were added to and some
substracted from before they assumed their
present we'll known forms. The letter ''I
once had two sounds but later on the -
was added; and the alphabetical letters now
used were really of Italian origin, although
it is universally termed the English alpha
bet.
Mr.. S. H. Agnew, the vice president, an
nounced that at the next regular meeting
of the club he should propose an amend
ment to the clubs constitution.
After a recess of ten minutes, Miss Lie
herman and Miss Middaugh gave as piano
duet the Overture to Tampa" their rendi-
ton being very heartily applauded. Miss
Halle Herriott depicted how Nanny s
Boy" went Marching With the Regiment
Band" following this with the "Wynkin
Blyakin and Nod
Mr. McAvoy, accompanied by Miss Albert,
sang tenor SOLO Mary Of Argyle" which
was very cordially received. One OF the
best features of the evening was bit of
Word Painting" by Miss Johnson de-
scribing the Battle of Marengo." where
| naught. but followed by a victory due to
the little gamin Of the Paris cutters. who,
when ordered by NAPOLEON to beat a re-
| treat, said he didn't know how; and instead
! beat call to arms. Miss Johnson respond
| ed to the encore by giving humorous
sketch relating to a little Japanese and her
Turkish beau. Miss Lieberman's "Hunga-
rian Rhapsody Number 81. by Liszt. elicit
| ed an encore, and she gave Gottschalk's
| Last Hope" prefacing this with the his
| tory of the origin of the composition.
| DR.. Jack announced that the clubs next
meeting would be held November %, when
| he would deliver the presidents lecture for
| the year; his subject to be "Chivalry, q
| Study of Medieval Times" After the sing
| ing of America by the audience. and
| adopting resolutions of thanks to Mr.
| Seely, the Stratford's host, for his courtesy
| to the club. adjournment was ordered.