The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-28
THE EMBREAS0 CLUB.



with Mrs. Charles f. Barber. with the
president. Mrs. Charles H. Beach. in the
chair The literary hour was In charge
Of Mrs Valentine Almy, who read paper
on 1.-The Stars I'm Song and Story" The
songs OF the stars were rendered by Mrs.
Mary Merchant Dewolf OF Warren. ac-
companied on the piano by Miss Maybelle
E. Williams Each selection was story
OF the stars. the last being The Star OF
Bethlehem" most fitting finale for the
programme
Miss Virginia Anderson played several
violin solos to further Illustrate the topic
OF the afternoon.
Mrs. Almy I'm opening her paper said:
Now that so many OF the flowers and
things that make the world beautiful are
sleeping. what time more fitting to con
slider the sky flowers. the stars that
Mother Nature I'm her bounty has made
at this season especially bright and clear.
AS II she would compensate for the loss
OF the beauties around US she invites US
to look heavenward where. as Longfellow
says.
Silently, one by one. in the infinite
meadows Of heaven.
Blossom the lovely stars, the forget me
nots OF the angels
at is necessary to be familiar with the
legends OF the sky" she said. "to appre-
ciate the references OF the worlds mas
ters I'm literature whose works abound in
the sky legends" The science OF as
tronomy was next touched upon by Mrs.
Almy and she called attention 10 the
fact that unless someone had scientifically
observed the stars we should have no
time tandard. no calendar no instru
ments OF calculation to make nayiga tion
safe. no map and no railroads.
BY the help OF the stars the shepherd
began 90 count the hours. the traveller 10
find his way through desert wastes and
the husbandman 10 learn the best time
TO plow and SOW. and reap and NOW. The
stars In the Zodiac were studied and the
essayist stated that Imagination was the
most potent factor In giving names to
the consultations, for few OF the groups
resemble the objects for which they are
named"
The stories OF these consultations as
ARA anged by the poetical imagins tions OF
tlnued the speaker Their common
origin dates back thousands OF years. and
legends have been added until they devel-
oped their mythology and We now have
on the arching dome Of the sky old heroes
and giants nightly marching with mon
sters OF every description" Pictures OF
these consultations by Durer were shown
| TO the club and the paper continued.
| Among the sky pictures there is moth
/ ttaI,s If,I anI
terious than the milky way" The Great
Bear and the Little Bear were POLITICALLY
/ alluded to as occupying conspicuous places
Y I'm the sky on clear night The pole
I star I'm the tip OF the Little Bears tail
was most important to early nayigators.
The fancies and superstitions concern
ing the moon were dwelt upon AT times
IL was supposed to exert an evil influence
on mind and body. The IMAM in the
moon" was prominently introduced In the
legends. TO the Greeks and Romans the
moon was feminine. but most OF the
myths make the moon a god. Gould the
old Chaldean shepherds survey the heav-
ems tonight they would find the aspect
practically unchanged from what II was
in their age. although scientists tell us
the Stars have changed their places sew
eral millions of miles" Mrs. Almy closed
her paper with a quotation from Phillips
I Brooks
THE silent stars are full OF speech
For those who hath ears TO hear;
/ The minds are whispering each To each
! And stars their sacred lessons teach
or faith and hope and fear"
| This paper was Illustrated by readings
from Mrs Walter Presbrey. who gave
The Song OF the Stars" Mrs Charles
Barber read The Hymn 10 the North
Star" by Bryant Mrs. George kitton
read THE Galaxy" by Longfellow and
Mrs 8. w. Clark The Relation OF
orion" by Longfellow.
During the social hour that followed
the feast OF song and story Mrs. Barber
served n pretty tea. Green decorations
-f,f-EA44% -tl+---A%A---4-. 4+4-t----r-4--rr---1
carrying out the color scheme. Lemon
ade was served by the young member.
81 the club.
Miss Nesta Almy OF Little Compton
was among the few invited guests.
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