Connecticut western news., 1911-05-18
HAWTHORNE'S FEAST
TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY \ OF POPULAR CLUB
BurIesque Opera Written and Played by Members s-DeIightful Celebration at Miss Fannie Whittlssey's Cottage al Twin Lakes.

The ladies of the Hawthorne Club celebrated the 20th anniversary of the organization, last Thursday at Miss Whittleseyas cottage, Twin Lakes, where a one o'clock luncheon in six courses was served by Habenstein, the Hartford caterer. Twenty members and ex-mem- bers were present. as follows: Mrs. K D. Peirce. Mrs. Marcus Barnes, Mrs W. O. Bullock, Mrs. H. B. Ives, Mrs. George O. Peet, Miss Minnie Peirce, Mrs. A. F. Freeman, Mrs. E. V. Nestell, Miss Louise Bragg, Mrs John G. Adam, Mrs. H. E. Lyles, Mrs. E. O. Gillette. Mrs F. R. Collin, Miss Merwin, Miss Katherine Rorabaok, Miss Carre Fuller, Miss Oliver, Miss Alice Peirce, Miss Fannie Whittlesey, Mrs. Bartram, or >Lakeville. Of these, six were among the charter members of the Club-Mrs Lyles (who was really the foundtr0 Mrs. R. D. Peirce, Miss Whittlesey, Miss Alice Peirce, Miss Bragg and Mrs. Peet.
 The luncheon was 8 splendid repast, fully up to the Habenstein standard. The place cards were in cardboard designs, cleverly executed, and repre- sented various musical instruments, hand painted in water colors, and on the back of each was printed a verse of poetry, which the respective guests read aloud in turn. The table was lavishly decorated with flowers, which, with the bon-bons, were contributed by friends of the Club.
 Each guest responded to toast, some humorous, some serious, and a tribute, In Memoriam, was read in honor of the memory of Mrs. O. H. Briggs, the only member of the Club who has died since it's formation 90 years ago.
 After the luncheon the guests repaired to a pleasant sitting room. overlooking the lake, where burlesque opera, exceedingly clever, was presented i'll artistic style, by the writers and composers, members of the Club. It bristled with witty references to practically all the club members, and was deliciously funny, from beginning to end. .
 Letters of regret were read, from these ladies, who were unable to ke present: Mrs. Samuel A. Eddy. Misses Grace and Louise Roraback, Catherine Adam Moore and Miss Utterwick.
 The celebration, which was the fourth of it's kind. held at fve-year intervals, was unanimously pronounced the most notable and memorable of the series 7
 The Hawthorne Club was the out come of conversation between Mrs Lyles and Mrs. Peirce, while the latter was making on informal call at the formers home, one afternoon Ill May, 1891, when the need of social and literary organization for ladies of their mutual acquaintance was discussed. The idea appealed so strongly to Mrs. Lyles that she at once prepared a membership form and circulated it among the ladies selected, with the result that the Club was formed at once, with membership limited to IS, and took up as it's first subject the reading of Hawthorne, for which author the Club was named. Its existence has been distinguished for harmony and the creation of an enthusiastic interest in the best literature of the two hemispheres, in music, art, history, etc. As one member has said, Despite the diversity and variety of individualities of which the Club is composed, there has never been the faintest suggestion of discord in its ranks, nor any approach to gossip"