Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-28
THE WOMEN'S CLUB.
Literature Department Presents
An Unusually Interesting
Program.
Practical Demonstration Of What
the DepartmentHa Learned
1.-The Features.

the Department. has Learned
1.-The Features.
Mrs. Laura T. Marsh, chairman of the
literature department of the Women's
Club. at its meeting yesterday after
noon, quietly said she had decided to
take the. club members and guests into
her confidence ard let them know of the
work of her department this year. And
the program of unusual merit proved
how faithfully the ladies under her
leadership were cultivating the best
fields of literature, making many in the
audience feel as if accomplishing verys
Little in comparison. One was reminded
of a story told by Mrs Julia Ward
Howe of q Boston tea party given Sy i
Very eminent man who said for once h..
was not going to invite the blue stock
| ings. but have those of the more ordi-s
nary minds. When the guests departed
\ one lad was asked how she enjoyed the
lstea party that was not to have liter
airy flavor. Well she said, lit was so
intensely literary, and my mind was so
screwed up realizing how much there is
to know, and how little know. that ii
seemed to be bliss to be ansout and out
fool. And when, as the delightfulgpro-
] gram unfolded che had to acknowled &c.
all too often, never read that, u never.
knew that, 1t began To seem. as the
| Boston woman said, az ii it would be
I bliss to play the fool
Miss sNeya Bentley opened the exer-
cises with a piano solo. selection from
Faust, and was followed by Miss Rachel
I Cannon. who gave an interesting sketch.
/ of the life and writings of George Mac.
/ Donald. whom she ranked as successor
to Wordsworth and peer to Tennyson..
His mission he believes 10 be to do good.
! The World to him is his Fathers house
and he his Fathers child. A noble trib-
ute was paid the devout character OF
greater service for the Master thru his
stories and poems than in following his
calling in the pulpit
A paper on William Dean Howells.
written by Miss Gertrude Tomlinson,
/, was read by Mrs Marsh For tine last
\ twenty five years, said the writer Will
liam Howells has held a unique position
among American men of letters. He
Il leader of the school of realism The alb
sence of idealism in his writings was
Il cited az his gravest defect; but it is by
] no means true that he excludes the ideal
side of life. II is enough. however. for
him to present the lives of men without
4 comment. The life of this author. and
the influences bearing upon his literary
j career We're briefly sketched. and the
words of Charles Dudley Warner were
s quoted In closing: The American world
II of letters owes MIR. Howells lasting
4 debt of gratitude in that he has made
4 his presentations With fidelity to a high
IDEAL of artistic excellence. And t o this
A charm is added the broad outlook, and
The deep ethical interest which are
typical of the man in the ripe maturity
]. of his powers
Il Mrs May r. Montgomery gave a
]. scholarly address on the life and writ
4 ings of Henry James. Jr., telling OF the
u awakening among American writer's
Il during the first quarter of the nine
a teenth century and of a literature re-
!, tlecting orr own life and customs in
place of an imitation of the though. and
s. life of the old world. Among the host
I of American writer's of this period it re-
NAMED for Henry James, Jr., to origin
ate what has been called the interna-
/ tional novel. A fine criticism of the in
ternational novel of this author was
given, and some of his very notable
character sketches brightly pictured.
Perhaps no one. said Mrs. Montgomery
!, could analyze the American character
i az Mr.. James does who is not an Amer
lean by birth; and no American could
write Of Europeans az he does. who had
not spent the greater part of his life
among them.
i, Miss Bentley again gave pleasure tic
her audience, playing a Hungarian
Dream and Mrs. Marsh read review
4 of Cables "C;randissimesv written by
George l.. Marsh of Chicago. Mrs
Amanda b. WATSON read paper on DIR
S. Weir Mitchell. whose books are sc
much read ard enjoyed by club Momer
in general. There is much of interest In
the life of this man who was past 81
when he became man of letters, and
OF whom there are many who believe
!. that he has written both poetry and
J, prose that will stand the test of time.
A paper on Robert Louis Stevenson
written by Miss May Sherman was
j read by Mrs WATSON, and was loving
tribute to the memory of one who's
message was courage and cheer-one
whose pleasure was in the running and
not In reaching the goal. The soul OF
Robert Louis Stevenson shines thru his
works and Jillumines them. A pitifu
sketch was given OF the struggle with
4 death. and of the exile to the South Sea
and the paper closed with the words OF
Mr.. Stevenson in his beautiful prayer
The program of the afternoon closed
with piano duet Palm Branches by
the Misses BENJAMIN and Salisbury.
Mr.. Johnathan Weaver. Of Dillon, was
J In the city On business Wednesday.