The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-05
CLUB TALK.

Well, we began the new contest this
week, II is. who was the greatest woman
born in the Nineteenth century, Now look
around you we'll and carefully before you
vote. You will have three months to vote
In.
81 The true greatness Of woman, In my
opinion, is home duty well done In the
home Is the woman's kingdom and she is
truly great who governs that kingdom well
But | believe We are to End out who is
the greatest in the worlds opinion Who
is the woman who has done the world the
most good? Find her and | believe you wilt
ind the greatest woman.
sa notice two of the noms-de, plume used
this week little Nell" and David Cop
perheld,' are taken from characters IN
Charles Dickens books. Little Nell Is
beautiful character in "Thc Old Curiosity
Shop" and David Coppcrfcd' is the name
of one OF the best Of Dickens novels.
great deal is said in our letters about nov
sels. and ! believe there Is still existing a
prejudice against them here and there, but
the people of education look upon novels
very differently now from what they used
to. The secret Of this Is the change m
the character of the novels made during the
Nineteenth century. Before thrt few nov
els were fit, in my opinion, for hoy or
girl to read, nut the DOCKS written ny MISS
Austin and Sir Walter Scott began the
change which has taken place in the books
we call novels Now there are many OF
them that are sermons and beautiful ones,
too, If we would only read them with open
minds.
Take Charles Dickens, for instynce. ne
did more, by his novels TO benefit the poor
OF England than any one preacher of his
day. He called attention to the evil prac-
ices in the poorhouses, places where those
who were unahle TO work and without
mo NJ uinppl and those
evils were remedied by the English parlia,
ment. He called attention to the cruel
tiers, and all England was up in arms
about the matter And In many other
lines he worked good for his country and
the practices were stopped. Then he has
written of Christmas Of its holy infu-
ences and sweet customs, until his stories
have aroused in his renders n higher and
better idea Of what Christmas IS to the
world than those Of any other wrltcr. Now
You can see that his hooks must be good
that
Then take Charles Kingsley's noyels.
They tench the highest lessons Miss Mu
locks too and Edna Lyalrs they are as
pure and good as any teaching can be All
OF them make us reverence true courage
and sef-denlal Conan poyle's historical
novels, ''The White Company," Micah
Clnrke," etc, and stanley Weyman's The
Robe" and "The House Of the wolf' are
al fine, as well MS some of the stories or
the American revolution. Among these !
believe The Soldier OF Virginia" and
.Janlce Meredith are the hest. Any Of
these hooks are good, and II IS very foolish
Tor people to hold M. their hands In horrVr
81 the word novel" when II they would
only read some 81 these novels they might
learn a great deal from them
Remember the story az the Pharlsec and
fhe Publican. and he slow 10 say 81 don't
do this" or ~ don't do that" as II II were
sin to do this or that. We mAv nc mis-
taken in our ideas Of right and wrong.
Study well before you decide whirh IS right
nnd which rs wrong. End even then don
judGe Of others II is al you can do 10
decide for your own sclf
H To Earl n. Gibbons You gave n nom
he plume and vet YOU asked some Of the
others IN correspond with YOU, giving your
name and address II / lot the nom lie
plume 90 In what was the use of the
address? II ! put the address in what was
he use 81 the nom DC plumo2 Nou SEQ you
put me I'm n corner. so ! pui your reAl
name IN and ms tho name Of your town was
m the hoad NJ vour letter, any one could
know where 10 write 10 Won,
MARGARET HRdlPy Foster