The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-22
A TALK TO CLUB WOMEN.

A clever article in recent magazine. called
"a Plea for Shiftless Readers" touches
chords in the hearts Of many vagrant book
lovers and much instructed club women. that
like the inimitable MIR. Guppy's better not
be wibrated"
| If there is one word bitter to the taste OF
the reading Cd club woman. It is "commen-
tator"--with his endless interpretings Of
endless interpretations OF endless in
terpreters. He "snuns the immortal spark
out Of genius" dims inspiration into the
commonplace Of his own little rush-light and
calls it explanation. Who wants his poetry
"eXplained?" Is it poetry--'spark OF Prone
thean ire''--after 1t has been explained"
There is story gong the ROUNDS that once
browning was asked the meaning OF certain
passage in "Balanstion.' The modern prophet
Just looked puzzled, then, laughing outright
said: Il must have meant something ut the
time, but ! don't know what 1t was. Yet
Browning critics and Browning clubs are wild
I ly splitting hairs over the meaning OF that
very passage which Browning himself eouldn
explain.
/ is there no right OF individual Judgment?
What pleasure is there in books II, as one
writer says, We must be forever asking our
selves whether we ought 10 Ike this or tnat' .
/ or lis 1t the sort OF thing truly intellectual
intellectual person." become commentator,
| is an unmitigated nuisance.
| Does it alter our opinion OF Scott that En-
erson thought his poems were travellers in
itinerary" Not one whit. TO us they read
| like bugle call, and We are up ana away
with the Douglas or Bruce or nit by moon
light with "Allan-A Dale" as is our humor.
What care We for critics when the ringing
rhyme lifts us into the upper blue?
One writer goes on to say; There arc nj
present multitude Of woman's clubs IN
America, most OF which are studying the
works of some author or authors. For their
use and profit and that OF similar seekers
after truth, Outline Studies have been pro-
vided / have before me- as write, such 4
handbook on Lowell, of which Mr.. Lowell
himself wrote 1--WE are told: The little book
both Interested and astonished me- l choose
some questions from 1t at random, asking tn'
reader to supply the answers which naturally
occur to the mind as he reads;
Ito whom was the Invitation addressed
The objects and requirements OF travel
Could tho small portmanteau hold Lowell
outht?' land if not, why did he not take
bigger oneO Have Americans, especially
Western Americans any genuine love oil
trees? How is it with Lowell? Have you
seen his Genealogical Tree? In what month
is Lowell happiest? And you? In what sea
sons and moods can Lowell 'hear nothin
d closer than the sSy?" what hint does he give
of homo not far from Boston?' and SO on
indefinitely.
have the juice taken out OF 1t more thorough
ly If one went on to inquire: Does Lowell
say anywhere that he had been vaccinated
Which are New EnRlanuerS genfTdlly salu u
prefer, pies or puddings? Compare Barlow
'Hasty Pudding and Whittier's The Pumpkin
with Lowell's reference in The Court 4
Hubby parn' apples Would you gather from
the text that Lowell had an especial preference
for apple pies? And you?'
Please dear club women, OF what use is
mind Il we don't exercise it? Let us do oui
own thinking, in spite OF Commentators ant
"outline studies" at so many shekels
Study"
II IS said that tho American Monthly Mag
azine Is to get out special war edition OF
the late convention of the D. A. H. at Wash
ington. The belligerent reports Of the pro
eeedlngs there may be greatly exaggerated
However, 1t Is true that there was a grea
deal Of wrangling among these Founders
American Families" II is claimed that on
disagreeable descendant was the cause o
! all the trouble. The one discord ruined tn
harmony of the whole, and so the sweet bell
tangled out OF tune"
Mrs Daniel Manning, president general o
tho Daughters of the American Revolution
has been appointed by President Mckinie'
r IN represent the United States at the unvoil
: ing of the Lafayette statue at the Paris expo
sitiop. 1t ia this society OF Sl,OOO women ina
: contributed the bronze tablet when VIII orna
) ment one side Of the monument Ihe lilon ~
v ment itself as We all know, is the sut Q, ~
!, school children of this country Mrs. Man
9 ming will attend not only rs commissions
!, inf will represent the d. a. X. she VIII aus
, preside over the patriotic meetings WhlcI
!. the Daughters will hold In connection WIZ
> the womens congresses at tne eAp .o Wv
4 yyl,,Ie i'm Paris she proposes to organize SO
y c,etv ~ tbe Clinical descendants of the Frenc
SnIS,ars Who fought for American freedom
Dallas.