The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-25


.sIdealism in American Literature"
was the subject OF notable address
made by DIR. c. Alphonso Smith. of
the University Of Virginia, before the
members of the Woman's club and
their guests yesterday afternoon in
the club parlors. DR.. J. Allison
Hodges introduced DIR. Smith as a
man of whose attachments and in
f1uence America has reason to be
proud, and expressed the great pleas
ure of the club in having so distin-
guished a speaker as their guest. Mrs.
John Hunter. was chairman of the
afternoon, which was one OF the
most enjoyable Of the winter at the
club.
The importance of a nations iitera-
ture in determining nations fame
in foreign countries and the fact that
a national literature liz doomed with
out lofty ideals were stressed by DR..
Smith in the opening portion of his
address In a striking statement that
'the only antiseptic of nation LIS it's
literature and the only antiseptic OF
nations literature Is it's ideaiism." An
ideal to be great and noble must bes
something you strive toward and at
the same time it must be unattain-
able, said DIR. Smith, who sees I'm an
overtaken ideal one OF the greatest Of
tragedies. He quoted Browning's
mastery conception OF the attributes
Of an ideal.
"a mans reach must exceed his
grasp,
Or what's a heaven for7"
from Andrea del Sarto as the great
est expression of idealism to be
found In all literature.
In the lyric poetry OF q country Is
10 ha fH.xnA no r,ltfrvs rcanA Nf NM,
nations greatness, and from this
standpoint, DR.. Smith limited his
search for American idealisrn to the
works OF our great lyric poets. In
passing he gave the ideal OF Ameri-
can drama which is apparent In s5
per cent of the really successful plays
as the right OF man to rise by in
divfdual effort from the position in
which he was born. The ideal of
American literature as seen in its
poetry. says DIR. Smith. In the express
sion of the ceaseIess effort after per-
sonai perfection During the thirty
seven years between the publication
of Longfeilow's Excelsior" and Sid
ney Lanier's 1.-THE Song OF the Chat
tahoochee." this ideal undergoes a
change, and the new note of social
service Is sounded in the striving of
the little stream to leave the hills of
1iANSiEAdW anu knc VhliSyS ol f1afiS
to gain the plain. He quoted typical
poems from LongfeiIow. Emerson,
Poe. Lowell, Holmes. Whittier and
Lanier as expressive of the fdealism
OF American literature. He paid
glowing tribute to Poe as a master
poet and found In Sidney I4anier's
poem the most adequate and most
characteristic expression of American
idealism. DR.. Smiths fame as
scholar extends through Europe, and
his lecture yesterday afternoon was
as brilliant as II was delightful
The tea and coffee tables were
decorated with vases ~ narcissi. pink
carnations and daffedils, and the
hossesses were. Mrs. Charles r.
Robins Mrs. William Russell Jones,
Mrs. John s. Munce and Mrs. Beverley
Tucker.
Give Dinner I'm New York. aa
Mr.. George w. Stevens and Miss
Helen Stevens have been spending
tel Vanderbilt. They were hosts at
dinner at the Vanderbilt Sunday
evening when their guests were Miss
Mary Moulton. Miss Boyce, Miss Vir-
ginia Waldrop and Mr.. Cecil Stevens.
To Go Abroad.
Mr.. and Mrs William A. Reynolds.
OF Charlotte, N c.. will spend the
sage from New York early in May.
They will visit Spain. Aigiers. Italy.
and other points OF interest. and will
he absent several months. Master
Morgan Reynolds will spend the time
during his parents absence In Rich
Inond. with Colonel and Mrs. s, r.
Morgan.
win Attend Inauguration.
Mr.. and Mrs Cunningham Hall and
little son VIII spend next week In
Washington TO attend the Inaugural
ton. While there they will be guests
of Mrs. Halls brother-in-l and sis
ter. Senator and Mrs. Swanson.
Nuckols--Word.
A very pretty marriage was cele-
brated yesterday evening at o'clock
in the home of Mrs. Ada Stocker
Word at lis North Adams street.
when her daughter. Miss Louise Word.
became the bride OF Mr. Laughton
Watkins Nuckois, son of Mr.. and Mrs
Abner Nuckols. The house decora-
tons We're OF palms, ferns and South-
ern suslax with candelabra- Only the
immediate families were present at
the ceremony which was performed
by DIR. w. J. Young, OF Centenary
Methodist church. The bride wore a
taupe tailored suit with todue to
match. and n corsage bouquet of
orchids. and was given away by her
nrolner. Mr.. InomaS Nelson word
Her sister, Mrs. II. B. Melting, of
Portland. Maine. was matron OF
honor, and little Miss Dorothy Clarke
Melting. niece OF the bride, was ring
bearer. Mrs. Melting wore a gown OF
Nell rose charmeuse with corsage
bouquet OF lilies of the valley. Mr. M.
c. Nuckols acted as best man.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nuckols left soon af-
ter the ceremony FOR d Southern tour
that will include Palm Beach. and
on their return to Richmond. they