The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-06
MRS. BROWN HERE
Delivers Interesting Lecture
Before Club Women.
Talked of the HOOsier Poet,
James Whitcomb Riley.
IN THE NEW HALL.
MasOns rendered the Use to the
Organization.
Authors Club to Give Entertain
ment Under

A Plain Poet for Plain People was the
subject of the lecture read by Mrs. May
Belleville Brown of Salina, president
of the Kansas Federation Of Women's
Clubs before the city fedration in the
Masonic auditorium yesterday after
noon. Mrs. Browns discussion ofJames
Whitcomb Riley, with readings from
his poems has been heard by most Of
the other fcderations. district, county
and city and by a number of individual
clubs in Kansas but his was its first
reading here. although Mrs. Brown has
spoken before Topeka audiences on 9TH
er subjects a number Of times. She is
an exceedingly pleasing speaker with
an easy manner, a good voice and an
agreeable presence n always has
something to say that commands at
tention. Her lecture on the HOosier poet
is especially good and her readings rival
Riley's own. They included a number
of his less familiar poems as well as
the old favorites we ali know and were
given with a sympathetic appreciation
of their rytnmic, melodic and intellect
ual qualities. She held the attention of
hcr audience as no recent lecturer be
fore the federation has done and was
frequently interrupted by applause.
This April meeting Of the federation
win be a memorable one for the reason
that it was held in the new auditorium
of the Masonic Temple. a special priv
ilega granted the club women as a COM
pIiment to Mrs. Clement Smith, the
president. who is a member of the aux
Hilary Masonic orders, the Eastern Star
and Toltec Rites. The Masons have re-
Gently spent about S10,0 900 in remodeling.
improving and decorating the temple
and The money has been expended with
the utmost taste and discretion. There
is no more beautiful suite of rooms,
public or private in Topeka, than those
thrown open to the federation yesterday
and which include reception rooms n
auditorium. The latter is exquls1tely
furnished and decorated and the club
women were highly gratided at the
honor done them through their president
in the privilege of having it for A meet
ing place on this occasion. Mrs H o.
Garvey roposed q rising vote Of thank
to the Masonic bodies for this n
and the motion was enthusiastically
carried.
with the other advantages must be
included the use Of the new pipe organ
recently put in the Masonic auditor
fum. This was heard yesterday in
three solos and in accompaniment to
the vocal solo OF Mrs. Florence Fox
Thacher who sang GolgOtha by
Couchois. and the violin number Of
Miss Lrma Doster who played Adora-
ton by Felix Borowski. The organ
solos were by Mr.. ". F. Roehr who
played q march by John A. West and
some improvisations of his own, and
Miss Katharine Wood. whose number
was an Intermezzo by Bizet. These
were given at the close Of the pro-
granme.
Miss Olive Bray, who has been
prominently identified with the equal
suffrage movement in Kansas. gave an
interesting eulogy on the late Susan B.
Anthony, preceding Mrs. Browns lee
ture. Hiss Bray talked entertainingly
for Is minutes on Miss A~nthony's life
and works.