The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-22
SOCIETY AND HOME TOPICS FOR WOMEN
Purpose of The Howard Weeden EUenine As Seen
 By Mrs Porter Weakley An Old Friend ot the Author
By DOLLY DALHYMPIE

With the light of inspiration in her
 lovely face, the gentleness of the old fashioned mother in her manner, the charm of womanhood in her kindliness, and an integrity never ending in it's pur- pose) Mrs. Porter Weakley talked with me yesterday about Alabamas famous poet and artist, Howard Weeden, who will be honored on next Friday evening with an hour of song and verse, the ben eficiaries of which will be the city mission board.
 Also it is hoped that the result will be an effort to perpetuate the memory of one of the most talented in the south's many talented daughters.
 Mrs Weakley knew Howard Weeden well, knew her splendid character and appreciated her tremendous genius, and her enthusiasm knows no bounds when it comes to singing the praises of this Ngon- derful woman, who lived and died in Huntsville and whose fame spread from ocean to ocean. more appreciated perhaps abroad than at home
 Tennessee has Howard Weeden day" set apart to honor the memory of Ala bama's fair daughter, and why should not Alabama do the same?
 It seems incredible that Alabama has not already taken the step, since 1t is hers-hers by divine right of possession and pride.
 In arranging Howard Weeden' even ing, the good women connected with the missionary work of the South Highlands Methodist church have launched an idea which if taken up will no doubt prove most popular one for Birmingham.
 Some of the wonderful sketches for which Miss Weeden was famous will be shown at this exhibtion. and her books, "Bandanna Ballads. "old Voices"
 Shadows on the Wall' and Songs of the Old South. many of them autographed copies, will be on view.
 Howard Weedens verses occupy the same position in Alabama that James Riley's occupies in Indiana, Joel Chandler Harris in Georgia, for none knew so well as she how to write of the old fashioned darkey, for she was. as they used to say, raised up with 'em," living among the slaves and receiving their tender minis trations and manifestations of kindness, knowing them as perhaps few poets or artists ever knew them.
 In speaking of the Howard Weeden'' evening which has been launched for next Friday, Mrs Weakley said
 Miss Weeden was poet and an ar tist of rare personality and her work Is coming into large favor A sense of humor in her poems, together with the negro dialect, is very takin. There has arisen no successor to her work of pen or brush. Sydney Homer has given her poems a musical setting which has elicited much praise. His wife, Louise Homer in- | cludes many of them on her concert pro- grammes
 MT. Charles c. Washburn, the dean ! of the voice department of Belmont semi ! nary. Nashville" continued Mrs. Weak i ley, and one of the most popular ar lists in the south, quite as we'll beloved 1 in Birmingham he is in Nashville, has | also included her songs In his pro- grammes, often giving whole Howard Weeden' evening. Mir. Washburn has written thus In connection with our pro- posed evening that he is delighted to know that other communities other than | Nashville are taking up the Idea, and he also says that he feels a great personal | pride in the success of our undertaking, ] since he is a pioneer in the work we are | now attempting. Few will ever forget | old Rome and De Banjo, as sung by | Mir. Washburn here in his artistic. sym inimitable manner"
 "Tel1 me something of Miss Weedens ife,'' l asked as Mrs. WealSley showed me some of the wonderful sketches and poems written by this talented woman.
 ''I cannot answer you better" said Mrs. "on that subject than did Miss Weeden herself Upon receiving 8 rel