The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-27

Mrs. Rich: piano solo. Russian Dance"
| Denner, Mrs. Robert Jenckes.
THE FoRTNIGHTLY CLUB.
The Providence Fortnightly club was
entertained by Mrs. William +. Phillips,
| Ia Knight street. on Tuesday afternoon.
with the president, Mrs. Louis l.. Angel,
again in the chair after a long absence.
| Mrs. Angel received "A warm welcome
| from her constituents before the formal
| opening OF the meeting.
The topics and papers of the afternoon
were all in connection with the general
study OF the club. Tho British Colonies -
The frst paper. Indian Literature OF
British India was read by Mrs. Edwin
! 3. Jackson. After fitting introduction
TO her subject Mrs. Jackson took up In
a most interesting way the four periods
of Indian literature:
First. Nedic literature, consisting OF
the Vedic hymns and also the Brahmans,
Upanishads and Sutras
Second The sectarian literature OF
Buddhism and other sects.
Third. Sanscrit literature, consisting of
the Epics and Puranas fables ana the
drama and lyric poetry
Fourth. Modern literature of India.
Mrs. Jackson's paper was mainly de-
scriptive OF these four periods of Indian
literature. with well-chosen selections in
riod.
The second paper was an extremely well
written description of Folk Lore Stories
Of the American Indians" and was pre-
sented by Mrs. George Il. Baldwin. A
brief abstract Of the paper is as follows:
The mark of our contact with the red
man lis with us indeibly and forever. His
myths are Incorporated into our itera-
ture. our language is largely endowed
with his smooth and liquid csdences, our
geography will never lose the grandeur
OF his romantic and graceful nomencIa-
ture. George Bancroft IL not right when
he says: The memorials OF their former
Tusrs snd ans on These
have permeated not only our poetry and
literature generally, but they are per-
petuat ted I'm our daily food and every men
ton OF 'succotash, Of 'mush. of 'choco-
late is a tribute to their existence. while
the fragrance of tobacco Is incense 10
their memory.
"As the Indians had no books. their
literature was entirely traditional. IL
consisted of the history of the tribes,
legends of their gods, superstitious tales
and marvels. fables and fragments or
lyrical poetry. The traditional tales oc-
cupy the place OF books. 1t was both
the duty and pleasure OF the aged men
of the tribes TO recount 10 the younger the
legends and traditions which had been
In his turn given to him by his ancestors.
Thus were these preserved orally from
one generation to another.
Gone are the soft moccasined feet
which once trod our hills and wales; pass
ed away forever The light canoes which
covered our beautiful bay, but never will
the rema inders Of the myths and legends
OF the race pass from us while daily per-
petuated by the names they have left US
saltwater, Conimicut, Canonchet. Chepi-
wanoxet, Woonasuuetucket Neutaconka-
nut and ever our own Narraganstt'
The third paper by Mrs. A, ?. Monroe
was IN entertaining review of Sarah Orne
Jewett's book. THE Tory Lover"
The next meeting Of the club, on March
II. will be an open meeting at the home
OF Mrs. Lewis Woodward ass Pawtucket
avenue, when Mrs. Upton, wife OF Prof.
Upton, OF Brown. will describe her trip
TO South America and experiences there
when making astronomical observations
with her husband.