Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-10-08
WOMAN'S CLUB

The October meeting of the Wom-
ans club was held in Pythian Hall,
Monday afternoon. The Secretary's
report was read and Il balance of
SITS. 10 reported in the treasury.
Five new members were admitted
to membership: Mrs. W. +. Richard
on, Mrs. Stuart Cheney, Mrs. Ida
Peabody, Mrs. w. a. lde, Mrs. H. A.
Smith.
The president reported that SIS
had been appropriated to the History
and Literature Committee and $50
to the Art committee. The State
Federation urges that all club men,
bers sign the thrift pledge card sent
out this week by which women agree
to be economical and thrifty. One
practical suggestion was for junk
dealers to carry thrift stamps to pay
housekecpers instead of money, thus
encouraging the saving OF thrift
stamps.
The announcement was also made
that Miss Annie Lyford has been en-
gagged as District nurse.
September Club picnic and Miss
Bingham, chairman of the Art conf
mittec announced an evening meeting
Nov. 3 when Prof. lug of Dartmouth
will give his address on "War Post
ers."
Miss Bertha Silsby, accompanied
by Miss Warden sang very sweetly
two solos: "a Perfect Prayer" and
"Violets".
The afternoons program was in
charge of the History and Literature
committee, Mrs. w. H. Young, chair
man, and the club enjoyed a rare
treat when Miss Eta Newell of Han
over, formerly Of st. Johnsbury, gave
a scholarly address upon "Poett" and
it, Relation to Life"
In her paper she treated the two
aspects of poetry, one as it appca.'i
in literature, the other as it exists
in embryo in life about and within
us. The contrast between the prac-
teal nature and the poetic or mag
/ NATIVE type was well brought out
and the thought that poetry, using
words at is does for medium, max IS
much more universal appeal than
other arts which employ more dit
ficult medium. The imagination OF
the child and of the less civilized rae
cs shows that it is a natural gift, too
often lost in the rush of modern life.
The origins of poetry are hard to
trace but scholars agree that a crude
form of poetry is the earliest form
OF literature and was closely connect
ed with music and by groups of peo-
pie il celebration of some common
experience OF event. Later in form is
the Greek drama and later still the
modern individual poet, who to make
an appeal must speak universal
language, voicing Il universal expert
ence
The small number of really great
religious poems is curious fact
hard to account for. Possibly it is b.
cause religion in these days is s1e!1
a personal thing that it is hard %
express to alien ears the intimate
experiences of the soul. The won
derful poetry of the English Bible 4
religious poetry at its best-simple
sincere. lofty and picturesque.
For some reason the recent world
war has produced higher form OF
poetry than did the Civil war. Three
of the best war poems, "The Spires
Of Oxford" ain Flanders Fields" anc
81 have a Rendezvous with Death
were read and gave great pleasure te
the audience.
1t matters not whether verse is
"free" as so much modern poetry is
or bound to fixed forms, if the artist
has breathed into its body the breath
of life, imagination, inspiration, pas
sion and emotion. But questionable
subjects treated in questionable
way can never be part of the bes
life of any age.
Miss Newcll's delightful literar!
style and the many poems quotee
added much to the value and charm
of her paper, and a rising vote O.
thanks by the club expressed the ap
probation of her hearers.