St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-01-06
READ THE NOVEL
Rev. Paul ID. Moody Tells WOman's
Club of the Influence of
Fiction on Life.


The January meeting of the St.
Johnsbury Woman's Club was very
we'll attended and an enthusiastic au-
dience listened to some splendid vio-
lin music by Mrs. H. H. MiltimoPe and
a paper on "The Influence of the Nov
eI'' by Rev. Paul Dwight Moody. Mr..
Moody showed the fallacy of saying
that the novel is not worth reading
because it is untrue" and explained
the difference between truth and We
racity. He made his hearers under
stand how difficult it is to really es-
innate the influence of the novel,
using as examples 1.-THE Inside of the
Cup which had and still has enorm-
Gus sales, and 1.-THE Jungle which
was not so widely read but was i'm
mediately followed by an investiga-
ton of foods and meats, and resulted
in the pure food laws, indirectly if
not directly. A book which he con-
sidered at some length was the ia
miliar "Uncle Toms Cabin" which
played SO important a part in the
Civil War. The oft expressed opin-
ion that it is better to read history
or biography because it is true was
shown to be unsound for biographies
often omit SO much as to be untrue
and even history does not come up
to the true meaning of the word. He
said that the writings of Sir Walter
Scott would be infinitely greater had
he had some small knowledge of psy-
chology. Another book the influence
of which cannot be measured is Don
Quixote and the speaker devoted con-
siderable time to study of it and
it's author. Other novels of influence
considered were the works of Dick
ems, Charles Reade. Charles Kingsley
and Walter Besant. He showed that
the historical novel has it's place and
influence and often does more good
than a dozen histories. We shall
probably never again see the novel
exerting the influence If has in the
past. In closing he said we must
not despise the novel because it is
fiction for the power of the novel is
beyond our reckoning. The program
was arranged by the history and Ii
terature committee.
Mrs. Miltimore played before and
after the paper and was accompanied
by Miss Eugenia Scott at the piano.
At the business meeting the report
of the secretary was followed by the
report of the executive board meet
ing at which $50 was voted to the
WOIh VI Inc CluU ana % TO
the civicS committee. Mrs. Hovey
asked all club members to be pre-
pared to show their membership tick
cts at the door as SO many new mem
bers have come into the club it is i'm
possible for the committee to recog-
nize everybody. The secretary read
a letter from San Francisco asking
all eastern girls to be on their guard
against accepting positions in con-
nectiOn with the exposition as all
such were filled long ago and the Of
fers may come through the white
slavers. After the program Mrs. Ell
sic Harvey, the district nurse, gave
a very interesting report of her work
She made so visits during the past
month and related some of the pa
thetic cases which come into her work
and which show how very necessary it
is that some one keep up the dis
trict nurse work in st. Johnsbury.
On motion of Miss Marjorie ROBBIE,
it was voted to suspend section two
of article one of the bylaws in or
der to hold the February meeting in
the evening.
One of the most helpful depart
ments of the club work within the
last three years has been the eve
ming classes at the club house, con-
Quoted by the industrial committee.
On Friday, Jan. 8, at 1880, this COM
mittee will meet the young ladies
who desire to avail themselves of
the opportunity of continuing this
work. 1t is hoped that each one who
has previously attended will bring a
friend with her, thereby doubling
the interest heretofore taken.