The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-14
BROWNING DASHES PUZZLE EN-
WHILE WORDS AND TITLE LEAD
INTO CLASHES OF IDEAS.

Spends an Afternoon on "a FOrglve-
neSs'-The nO@ Rlank spaces Alone
Provoked a Unanlmlty OG Opinion
The regular meeting OF the Nav York
Browning Society was held yesterday after
noOn at the Woldorf-Astoria.
immediately after the reading of the
minutes Mrs. Geoi ge Gordon. chairman ~
comNitteo on current events, announced
thas In lien of the discussion Of n hetsrO-
g-ueous collection OF bappcninss. which
was doubtless expected of her. she would
simply read n poem about Mr.. Roosevelt.
who WIS undoubtedly "the greatest per-
pctrator OF current events that ever lived. .
The poem was applsuded tumultuously.
and then somebody sang two Browning
songs.
The reading CT IN elegy ON Richard Mans
feld by Mrs. McBurnsy inspired the presi-
cent II read one on Edwin Booth. which abe
aid was very beautiful. there was another
Browning song aud then ore OF the members
asked IL IL was in order to make an appeal
- the other members for home made cakes
for a tea room over which she was TO IRE
side at she forthcoming fair.
"Npst sssursdly H. u.s. replied the presi-
dent ~gFaciously. Nothing human IL alien
Gus"
well, if that is the Cnse." announced an
other member, rising hastily. II wcuLi like
70 make a request for donations for the Wy"
and Ear fair. " hich comrs OF In December"
The presidents smile did not come on,
but she mildly suggested that it might be
we'll 20 proceed TO the discussion Of "A
Forgiveness" the subject Of the day, and
asked the vice-president to take the chair.
Now continued the president as soon
~ she and the other officer had shifted.
will some ons tell me why it was called
A FOrgiveness?''
A deathlike stiffness prevailed in the
room.
Il see several Browning scholars here"
pleaded the president, a a lady from Mount
Vernon in particular, who l know has
ideas"
Thus adjured the lady from Mount Vernon
remarked that she thought the poem was
30 called because the only evidence OF
fCrgivsne IS was That evinced by the wife
before her death.
heI woman. whose place Of residence
was not mentioned, said that her view was
altogether different.
= II think it's because the husband would
, only forgive his wife after her death, You
know he said, l pardon you dead in my
| chamber"
A third woman volunteered the informa-
o 1850 EA@N NV bNN o"@A ItNAhAA vi WV
title lay in the fact that the huh
contempt finally resolved itself into hatred.
But you don think that hatred con-
stitutes f~orgiveness2" gasped the president.
"Of course / do" responded number three
vivaciOusly. I'D much rather have n man
hate me h despise me. Wouldn't your"
There we're vigorous mods Of assent all
over the room and the president tackled a
new topic.
Il wonder" she asked sweetly, how
many OF you counted the dashes in this
poem. There are los of them and wher-
ever Browning puts a dash he means you
to use u brains, IL is really a great
compliment on his part
There was no audible sign of mental
activity.
The next point" proceeded the presi-
dent, lis did or did not the monk ask about
the wife when the husband came in? By
the way. | Nish Browning had given a
name to the husband. I don't like to call
him Mr.. Jones, but | want to call him some
thing.
Now as so many Of you nave admitted
that you haven't read the poem, I will
simply state that the husband is relating
in the confessional a series Of events which
had taken place several years before.
The husband Vas a man OF some position.
In what country?"
"Spain!" chorused several of the more
ambitious Browningites. who were at once
rewarded by a smile of presidential ap-
pToval.
Ono day" she went on. she came early
from the Senate chamber. or whatever
they call ID there, and as he entered his
grounds saw a man trying TO steal out OF
one OF the gates a man who held q priests
cloak in front Of his face. He wondered
idly which one of the maids had a lover.
and was about to enter the house when
he saw his wife rush out OF the door.
"SoTne OF you must remember how she
told him that she hated him and loved
the other, and how the maj In the cloak
got away.
Now, the question IL. Was the wife
guiIty?"
Here the president fixed her glance upon
q dreamy eyed. picture hated. princess
HrOcked ntenlber in the front row. who
started, blushed. gazed kelplsssly about
the room, and finally stammered: Guilty
of what?"
There was a long pause.
Let us say Of intrigue" said the presi-
dent gently.
blame" snapped a severe looking woman
band neglected her shamefully and she
thought she'd just show him"
Ought she to have told her husband
the mans name when he asked herP'
No"
"Yesl"
"An the men that I've asked about il
think she ought TO have told. said one.
We'll. my husband didn't" said the
lady from lou Vernon.
Good for him!" cried the president,
"but do you think many men would have
been satisfied with silence on such q point"
This one wasn't because he killed both
OF them answered the severe looking
member.
After more ak several out Of town MEM
bers found they really had 10 go and the
meating broke up.
Our subjects for the December meeting"
the president announced. will be taken
from 'Asolando,' two shOr poems, IAN
Epilogue' and The Lady and the Painter
The latter is an excellent exposition Of
Brownings idea on the nude in art, and
the programme will be in charge OF the
art committee"