Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-10
IBy Ora Williams.l

10y via w
Des Moines, Oct. 10.-When the
ladies Of the Press Authors Club gave
a reception to the visitors gathered
for the authors home coming the
other day it was at the home of the
Des Moines women's club This is the
old Sherman place. the long time home
of Major Hoyt Sherman. One of the
guests of honor was Helen Sherman
Griffith daughter of Major Sherman
now resident of Philadelphia. The
party dedicated and named the room
which Mrs. Griffith occupied when she
was a girl in the home and it is to
bear her name and be the home of
the Press and Authors Club from TINS
time on. The club has had no head
quarters. 1t has been a wanderer. 1t
has not had what appeared to be any
very definite purpose. Originally II
was a press club of women writer's. 1t
has been somewhat broadened. But
now, very likely, having found some
thing definite to do and worthy it Will
have new life and become a larger
factor in the affairs of Des Moines and
Of Iowa. For one reason it has had
success, oyershadowing the Press CLUB
of Des Moines and that is because the
latter organization has been in the
hands of a few young fellows VINO have
no other idea than to find place
where they can play pool and indulge
their appeeteS. But in turn this
narrowness of the mems press CLUB
has been due largely to the fact that
the men who really ought TO have
taken an interest in it have turned
up their noses at it and left it to these
who were not ripe for anything of real
value. So the mems club is disin-
tegrating and the women,s club is find
ing something to do worth While.
That which seemed TO be in the
minds of those responsible for the
homecoming event of the past week, or
which at least developed in due time,
was to give a new impetus to literary
effort for and by Iowans. 1t is a task
that is SO large that more rugged
organization ought to be formed TO
help carry on the work. not to take
it out of the hands of this club. but
to do some helpful work. 1t was
great surprise to all. when the story
of the achievement of Iowa writer's was
told. to find out how much has been
done. Still more was it surprise to
many to canvass the company that met
at the banquet Wednesday night and
TO find out what g really cultured and
literary group is possible at the cap
ital city of Iowa No one undertook
to list them, but if they had done so
the list would have proved surprise
The fact is that there has been gath
cred here at the capital city con-
siderable company of men and women
having more or less of literary ability,
having had some experience in one
line orH another. loyal 10 Iowa and
loyal to high ideals. They do not know
each other. There is lack of leader
ship TO bring them together. The
commercial spirit has led to the domi-
nation of the purely business clubs.
If anything is done it is by an organi-
zation or group given over to money
making! There is a great deal of
worship of mammon. with the result
that whereas in Des Moines years ago
there were many societies of much
prominence where intellectual attain
ments alone counted, the ones you read
about now are bottomed on pocket
book greatness. But now it seems as
if there was to be some reversion and
a turning toward the development of
that culture which ought to be con-
spicuous at the capital city.
There was a great deal of genuine
inspiration in the events of the home
coming week The last event was the
best. The banquet was a brilliant
affair. It was dressy affair But far
more than that, it was an intellectual
~
the address by Randall Parrish 1t was
PERSONAL and egotistical. of course, and
that gave it charm that would have
been lacking in an attempt to deal
in genefalities. The writer of many
books gave the banqueters a glimpse
of the life and work. the hopes. the
worries, the trials of story twriter.
And he analyzed the literary situation
of the times by contrasting the old
fashioned reader with the new kind.