The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-25
HIGHLAND BOOK CLUB.

The open meeting of the Highland Book club on Wednesday morning at the resi- denee of Mrs Frank Holland Lathrop was one of the most delightful in the history of the club. Two open meetings are held annually and the programme Is
 decided upon by the hostess. As might
 have been expected with so brilliant a young hostess. the programme for We'd nesday was one to inspire the members
 of the club and was replete with interest ing subjects.
 Mrs. Lathrop selected heroism as the theme the club women being permitted to select their favorite heroes and hero ines of history. Short sketches were given with incidents Illustrative of cour- age, moral, physical spiritual, the long list of men and women making q wonder ful galaxy when grouped in the morn ings symposium Following the sketches given by the club women was a brilliant and stirring address by Dr. J. E. Stagg, who spoke on the Spirit of Heroism."
 Among the incidents recalled In the lives of these great men and women was the story of Queen Esther, sympathetical- lv told by Mrs William D. Smith. The character of Judith was unfolded by Mrs. William Mudd Martin. Mrs. B. B. Conner told of the dramatic Jepthas daughter Mrs. Frederick Jackson spoke of David's battle with Goliath. These Biblical char acters, grouped with the incidents that stand out in the history of the world,
 were made a background for still more stirring events, these suggestive of the clash of arms and modern warfare. Mrs. w P. Pinekard recalled one of the most heroic acts of the Spanish-American war In her sketch of Hobson. Sketches of Lee
 and of Andrew Jackson were omitted ow l z AvV#a fEaV-E.r aa11la- l bers who were on the programme.
 "Charge of the Light Brigade" which l was to have been the subject of Mrs. R. H. Pearson, was omitted by reason of her absence
 But among other heroic figures who
 were made the subjects for intensely in- teresting subjects, was Mrs. T. H. Mol i toms story of savonarola; Mrs L. G. i Woodson's sketch of Columbus; Mrs. C. P Orrs Calico, Mrs. Hugh Morrows 1 spetch of Florence Nightingale; Mrs. Sessions story of John Paul Jones' Mrs T. O. Smith recalled Sydney Car l ton in "The Tale of Two Gities.' Mrs. D. K Campbell spoke of the courage of the late William R. Harper, as illustrated l in the closing years of his life when he 1 was no longer in ignorance of the fatal
 malady which ended his days Miss Ella Hubbert recalled the heroism of the wo- | men of the Confederacy. Mrs. John w. l Tomlinson told of the bravery of the l pioneers west of the Mississippi
 l Most touching was Mrs Henry l.. Bad 1 hams recitation of the "Cassabianca. V 1 The numerous parodies on this poem, she l said, could not dim it's undying glory. No | less beautiful was the story told by l Mrs James Bowron, who recalled the heroic act of Thomas Whitwel, the mas ] ter worker Tn one of the mines, who
 when in one of the mine disasters, was
 facing the after damp deliberately went
 to his death in order to save a man who
 had wife and children to be cared for,
 Illustrative of that sublime spirit where
 A man lays down his life for a friend,
 was the story told by Mrs. John Cart
 wright. The wreck of the Birlxenhead,
 the army transport when the men re- ] fused to take the life boats until the
 women and children were cared for, was
 a deeply heroic incident. for in the end
 these men went to their death, singing
 "God Save the Queen
 The heroic priest Father Damian,
 whose work among the lepers, Is well
 known. was made the subject for Mrs. l George MeCormaeks sketch. Mrs. Alger- | non Nelson told of the self-forgetfnlness
 of Ruskn as illustrated in the marriage of Mrs RuslSn to Millais. Illustrative
 of tremendous courage was the story told
 of the soldier In Napoleons army at the
 battle of Rittisbon. You are wounded" said Napoleon. Nay l am killed, sire,' and smiling, the boy fell dead.
 Mrs. R. D. Johnston, the president of
 the club made a brilliant address on | Jeanne D'Arc