The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27
SESSION DRAWS
A LARGE CROWD
Corona Clubs Monthly Meeting
Is Productive of Much That
Is Instructive to ThrOng

The monthly session of the Corona
Literary Club of the Mission in the
Mission Masonic Hall was a most en-
joyable one, and despite the holiday
season there was a large attendance of
interested members.
Mrs. w. D. 'Littleton gave a most in
teresting lecture on the "Cathedrals of
England, Their Historic Associations
and Artistic Beauty" DR.. H. j. Stewart
gave a comprehensive lecture on
American Composers" He said that
the time is not far distant when the
composers of America will take rank
with the best European ones. Some al
ready equal them in certain lines, but
dramatic quality is lacking in this,
that the American opera writer's can
not obtain a hearing. THE great ora
torios we have produced" he said, ARE
Parker's Nora Novissimo,' Bucks
Light of Asia and Chadwick's Judith
Mcdowell and Chadwick are the best
orchestral writer's. Arthur Foote is full
of genius. Arthur Kelly's music in
Ben Hur,' while mutilated, is really
great. Paderewski prizes for best
American composition have so far been
won by H. X. Hawley, with The Four
Seasons and Parker with the cantata
The Star Song John K. Paine's music
for 'Aristophane's Birds is a classic
that ranks with Mendelssohn. One of
the best American composers is Hora-
ito Parker, professor Of music at Yale,
and the most popular is Ethelbert
Nevin. Mrs. Beach wrote a mass in B
fiat and an orchestral overture, both of
which are good" Attention was called
to the fact that there are a number of
earnest workers on the Pacific Coast,
among them being Oscar We'll, H. B.
Passmore, Alloys Lajeal and Luchessi
in this city, ]. w. Metcalf in Oakland
and Fred Stevenson in Los Angeles,
who are equal to many Eastern men.
The next on the programme was
time for vocal selections" Miss Jen-
kins sang "Ecstacy" and THE Black
BIRD by Mrs. Beach; Miss Mabel Hogg
sang a lullaby by Fisher and "Aufs
Wiedersehen," by Cole; Miss Jewell
sang a Folk Song,' by Chadwick; Miss
Frank rendered Land of the Leal," by
Foote, and "The Dancer" by Chad
wick; Miss Florence Derby sang I'm
the Woods" by Mcdowell, and "At
Parting" by ]. H. Rogers; Miss Julia
Groeninger sang "Secreta," beautiful
composition by Professor Stewart, and
"She Wears a Rose in Her HAIR" by
Hawley.
Another part of the session was the
programme provided by the club Dr.
Crockett spoke on current events, the
topic being Science in Medicine" The
doctor stated that in the great mass Of
population in the United States, more
than 7O,OO0,OOO, there are less than $4,000
scientific men. The talk by the doctor
also included an interesting account of
the radium and the Finsen ray. Miss
STANDARD spoke in "The Lighter Vein"
and told of the improvements that San
Francisco hopes to have in its civic life
and government. Mrs. Peltret gave a
biography of Mary E. wilkins, giving
many details of the life and work of
that interesting woman. Mrs. Fairchild
spoke of Mary E. Johnstone as dainty
bit of Southern beauty, and described
the trend of her work. Mrs. Gabb's
paper was on Helen Keller's wonderful
life and experiences in overcoming the
great disability of her physical imper-
fections.
The Corona Club is in a f1ourishing
condition, and is maintaining it's nu-
merical strength, with a large number
of applicants waiting for death or other
causes to reduce the number below 200
so they may be admitted.