New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-05
/" REALISM AND IDEALISM -
SEVERAL PHASES OF THE SUBJECT DIS
CUSSED AT THE P. ". L.
LITERARY DAY

Realism and Idealisn" was the subject Of dis
cusson yesterday afternoon at the Professional
Womans League. II literary day Mrs.
Mary c Bancker was the chairman
Several soprano songs, rendered BY Mrs Edwin
Arden, made pleasing interludes between the
talks. the first paper being read by Dr. Kate Bur
rette on Realism in Fiction" Dr. Burnerte
claimed that realism was too often confused with
natIral-snl- our everyday lives are real" she
said We live them without question. but when
we come ID reading and seeing the same thing
many OF US with the Scotchman Haze our ain
doots'
The grsat difficulty is that few Discriminate
anc. yet II IS always easy tell where realism
leaves or and naturalsr begins ReaIisrs say
that nature IS The province Of art There is no
selection IN nature. and therefore should be none
II ar But there is great selective power in
nature which preserves the best invariably and
Darwin calls II the survival OF the 41ttest'
No greater work OF realism has been produced
n the memory Of the Oldest before me than Uncle
Toms Cabin and who deny the power FOR
good which i became?
Realism s based on observation and fac-z f.,
opposition 70 dessm which Is founded on i'm
pressions and aftrmations. It is not so crude as
naturalsm. and renders nature II IS, but with
out either siavtsh fidelity or illusion
cur grandmothers in general regarded ,e-
no1ance as innocence and absence OF temptation
as virtue. No greater mistake vas ever made
Ignorance IS far from innocence, and virtue IS
knowledge and strength What we heed is l.uovyI-
mean alone Latin constructions and angles OF
deviation. one must know life and il one must
wait 10 learn II all from actual experience Of liv-
ING, one mas long and difficult task master and
He IS short
Americans are naturally so conservative that
they can bear some broadening OF the vision WI
oUL harm. and the taste for the true and real art
which has written that masterpiece OF realism
The Had and created the Venus de Milo. and
which mas realized N them The high water mark
q creative power FOR centuries. viii surely sweep
away w1ar has become the degeneration OF real
ism and bring Us to q recognition OF the in
FORM and expression"
Mss Mar T Stone gave an Informal talk on
E@rnard shaw as Rea.ist-'' He interests ne
personally said Miss Stone, more than anybody
else or the time. He takes a stand in regard 70
women, ana despises those conditions which forbid
people 70 be what they really and make them
pretend 70 Dc what they
Most icealists infer that wouanIy woman
ever forms attachment even knows what i
means until she IS requested 10 do by a man
Ills statement created quite q iuC-er OF disap-
prevail among the audience. and each harbored
the inward consciousness that the ideaIisIs knew
not whereof they spoke and each felt herself a
-wonaanly woman ar thar. In conclusion Miss
Stone SAID so few dare I've their lives
Icey ought 70, I wonder that ever
amount 70 anything"
Mss MAZDA Cratgen recited couple Of original
poems, and then The women adjourned 10 the par
lor below for tea and conversation. with coagracu-
lartons 70 Mrs Bancker for Of the n
rerest-ng afternoons Of the season