The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-07

tensive collection OF birds, both domes-
tic and foreign.
Mrs. III. l.. Hemenway was most hap
PLY surprised on May morning by the
Gift OF a May Basket" in the form Of
jardiniere containing beautiful
specimen OF the "Begonias Vernon"
The gift was from the Edgewood Chau-
tauqua circle in token OF the apprecia-
tion in which she is held both by that
organization and by the FOCAL Mothers
club.
Apropos of the study OF birds and
their habits. which just now occupies
the attention OF so many OF our wom-
ems clubs. IL is certainly fact that
could the little feathered songsters
speak, they would voice their gratitude
in songs OF praise TO the women's clubs
who are striving. in so many ways, TO
avert their destruction. At an open
meeting OF the Pawtucket Woman's
club. held in Music hall i'm that city on
Monday last. Mrs. Kate Tyron of At
tleboro delivered a most instructive
lecture on Days with the Birds" Mrs.
Tyron has wide reputation as a con-
noisseur Of bird life, and her talks and
lectures on this subject have attracted
widespread attention. At the meeting
on Monday there was a large attend
ance OF Pawtucket club women, and
were also present. The lecture was adj
mirably illustrated by large number
or colored pictures. which, Of course.
rendered the description infinitely more
interesting Mrs. Tyron called atten-
ton to the season Of the year in which
the different varieties of birds are
seen. and then gave lucid descrip-
ton OF their peculiar life and habits.
Every bird. she said, that she had
spoken OF in the lecture she had seen
In the vicinity NJ the Dunnel residence
on Prospect street. Her vivid descrip-
tions were made the more complete by
the accompanied initiative mote or
chord OF the particular bird under dis
cussion.
The Coventry Woman's club met at
the club rooms in Anthony on Wednes-
day afternoon. May 2, with the presi-
dent, Mrs. George III. Carey. in the
chair. The interesting miscellan-
eous program included several special
topics, the first of which was a bio
graphical sketch of John Ruskin, read
by Mrs. III. w. Potter, chairman OF the
special committee in charge OF this
meeting. This was followed by short
selections from Ruskin, read by several
members. A well written paper giving
i'm brief the outlines of English litera-
ture was next presented by Mrs Myra
Anthony. In introduction the writer
said:
The England OF today. standing as
1t does. model for all that is highest
and best in modern civilization, has
advanced, as we all know, from out
the dark ages into the light and learn
ing Of today, and we know not the still
higher advance in store for the COM
ing centuries"
Miss Anthony then briefly touched
upon the period before the Christian
Era, when Julius Caesar first invaded
Britain, and found a barbarous people
possessing a language, some rude forms
of government and even the beginnings
OF a literature.
From this point the paper led up step
by step to the heights IL English litera-
ture as we know il today. In this con-
nection Miss Anthony enlarged upon
the familiar names of English litera-
ture, viz: Caldmon. Chaucer. Ridley.
Latimer, Spenser. Shakespeare, Dryden,
Goldsmith Cowper. Wordsworth,
Burns, Byron. Moore, Dickens, Thac-
keray, Scott, Bulwer Oord Lytton).
the Brownings, Tennyson. Ruskin and
others.
The last paper OF the afternoon was
contributed by Mrs. Clarence Spencer.
the subject being American Poetry"
A brief abstract Of this admirable paper
"'Who reads an American book?'
scornfulIy asked an English critic three
quarters OF a century ago. The ques-
ton was not then inapt, nor was the
sneer IL conveyed altogether unreason-
able, for at that period readable Amer
lean books were rare indeed, II any
really existed. The people engaged here
in building a new nation Ca work. by
the way, in which they proved eminent
ly successfully had but little time to
devote 10 the cultivation or production
of literature. Forests had to be leveled,
prairies tanned, savages subdued, rivers
and lakes explored homes created. and
cities founded before the rifle, axe and
hoe could be exchanged for the pen.
1t Is proud thought for us that $ nee
the Puritans landed at Plymouth the
American people have taken no back
ward step. physically, mentally or NOR
ally On the contrary their progress in
many ways has been more rapid than
that OF any people recorded in history.
and some of them soon found time TO