The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-17

luc <iuiTUtDldn 1lup OF inlc CITY HtAh
their last meeting at the home OF Mrs.
William o. Cornell 25s wayland avenue.
There was a large attendance and the
meeting was one OF universal interest.
the subject being continuation OF the
study of South Sea Islands.
The particular islands considered at
this meeting were the Friendly Islands.
or the Kingdom of Tongas. as 1t is
called.
- Mrs Mary f. knight presented an ex-
haustive. yet most interesting paper up
on this subject
A most complete geographical descrip-
tion of Tonga was made including a de-
tailed account of the subterranean cav
erns or caves OF the country.
The unique architectural forms OF the
dwellings, churches and public buildings
together with tho palace OF the king
were dwelt upon at length. Following.
came a description OF the religion of the
natives, together with some account Of
their habits, character. etc.
Concluding the paper dwelt upon the
high estate OF the women OF Tonga and
called attention TO the fact that in that
half civilized country women are held
in the highest esteem and In some cases
reverenced In ancient times the women
were required to do no work. beyond the
light occupations or fishing and cloth
beating. The men planted the food. car
ried In the wood and water and did the
cooking. The missionaries, however,
have now so cultivated the idea of fam
lily life that In most Tongan households
the women, after marriage. do the same
work as the wives of the peasantry in
Europe
Mrs. Emma Shaw Colcleugh Of this
CITY, supplemented Mrs. knights paper
by relating interesting personal axperi-
ences as she saw them when travelling
In Tonga.
Previous to the formal program OF the
afternoon Mrs. Nicholas Berry OF the
club, gave a review of the following re-
cent novels: ''The Touchstone" ''The
Gentleman from Indiana" and Mon
sieur Beaucaire.
The following new members were
unanimously voted into the membership
OF the club: Mrs. James NJ Scott. Mrs.
Francello Jillscn, and Mrs. Robert Root.
The Fortnishtly club Of this city met on
Tuesday at the residence OF Mrs William
lonial history In this connection a paper
was given eH 1.-The Introduction OF Ne
gro Slavery and Its Subsequent History In
the Colonies"
Mrs. Kelsey Dow followed with paper
entitled "fndented Servants and the Poor
Whites of the South"
There were also two papers on the In
dian question. as follows: Rights OF In
dams" by Mrs. Harriet Hilton: "Tha
Mound Builders" by Mrs. TourteIlott.
A general discussion on the rights OF
the Indians followed the reading OF these
papers
The Embreaso club OF this city met on
Wednesday afternoon OF this week at the
home of Mrs. William c. Almy I'm Edge
wood.
Mrss Charles H. Beach. the president
was in the chair. and after few graceful
words Of greeting. announced the subject
OF the hour viz, Antique Embroidery i'm
the Sixteenth Century" Previous TO taxi
ing up the scheduled subject OF the after
noon Mrs. James NJ. Scott OF the club,
gave a talk upon Francis Hopkinson
turcr and engineer. and sometimes called
Many sided Hopkinson Smith" Mr..
Scott called attention TO the fact that "as
n painter N Venetian scenes. Smith has
Few peer- In the country. lie IL fond OF
Venice and year after year spends his va
cation there painting from a .1dola"
Ca his novels. Mrs. Scott cht<s Caleb
West" and "Mr. Carter or Cartersvilie. :"
both OF which she reviewed in distinct
~ pleasing manner.
Following this part of the programme
Mrs w. G 1angford read a delightful
PAPER on Antique Embroidery" begin
ming as follows: "1f there be one me-
chanical art OF more universal applics-
tion than all others OF universal interest
II IL that which is practiced with the
needle
''The ancient Greeks were famed for
the beauty of their embroideries. legend
relating that they We're taught bx Miner
va herself The people of England had
obtained their reputation for stitching
long before the existence or steel nee.
Ole. which was not made at all in England
unit, I5sJ. Before that time they came
from far or india
From this point the paper details the
history and development % needlework
snd embroidery. referring to the art a.
described Nv the Bihlc and a. hndinr iis
lest With a payer on Embroidery from