Imperial Valley press., 1922-03-27
OPEN MEETING HELD
BY LITERATURE
SECTION

The literature section of the Ten
Thousand Club was entertained Satur-
day afternoon at the Barbara Worth
hotel with the section curator, Mrs.
Leroy Holt as hostess. AS it was an
open meeting Il large number of club
members attended in addition to those
who have met with the class all winter.
due to a sudden illness of her little
daughter, Mrs. r. w. Whitelaw, the
chairman of the section could not be
present, but her place was ably filled
by Mrs. y. ID. Jacobs. All present thor
oughly enjoyed the study of the after
noon which covered the life and works
Of Chekhov, Il Russian writer of note.
The following was the program of the
day: effect of Russian Life and
Geography on Literature Mrs. f. ".
Calvin, class leader; "Chekhov s Bio
graphy,o Mrs. l.. w. Sears; Criticism
OF Chekhov and General Discussion, ;"
Mrs. Cldye Leary; Story, Mrs. +. ID.
Jacobs. "Chekhov as a Democrat and
Humorist," Mrs. Clarence w. Barton;
Drama, "The Cherry Orchard" Mrs
Il. l.. Garthwaite; short story Banka -
Mrs. George j. Phelps.
Tells Impressive Story
All Of the parts were given most
delightfully."-, but the one which will
make the most lasting impression per
haps, was the story told by Mrs. JacObs
with noted completeness as to detail
Chekhov literature, especially in drama
and story, seems to lack plan, being
rather indefinite and confused as to
plot or purpose. Especially was this
Characteristic noted in the "Cherry
Orchard review by Mrs. Garthwaite
If such drama reflects Russian life
to any considerable degree, one can
not wonder at the strange history that
Las marked Russia from it's earliest
days. There is neither beginning or
end to CHERRY Orchard, and it leaves
the reader guessing as to what its pur-
rcse is and trying to find suitable
ending to what might have been an in
teresting romance.
Gives Analysis of Author
Mrs. Barton gave q most delight full
analysis, of the author as Il dramatist,
emphasizing characteristics that appear
in all of his productions. The short
story by Mrs. Phelps was like the
drama; it seems to fulfill the literary
requirements for q short story as to
construction, and in a way, pictures an
abuse arising from the custom in that
country of apprenticing children to
learn trades.
Mrs. Sears told the story of the
:uthOr very well indeed.
''Vanity of Vanities, said the Wise
King Solomon; can is vanity.' And
the king came to that conclusion after
he had tasted life to it's fullest and in
all Of If nhacac Nm l,,%
think of Solomon s summing up in this
short, terse sentence, as Mrs. Jacobs
told the story of the young attorney
who went into voluntary Imprisonment
after an argument with a banker as to
whether life imprisonment or hanging
is the worse punishment for crime. A
bet was made that the young lawyer
would not stand it five years; he agreed
to endure it fifteen years, the stake
being $2,000,OO0. And he endured it
but the terrible effect of it! While in
prison, he went to the limit in study of
music, literature, science religion, he
tried abstemiousness and excesses-he
wrote, he read, he delved deep into va
rious subjects, in the end to say that
he hated life; he hated freedom and
that everything had failed; the money
he did not want and left the prison sur
reptitiOusly a few minutes before the
expiration of his time so that it would
be forfeited, leaving letter to explain
il all and say what King Solomon had
said hundreds of years before in much
briefer way. 1t is a strange story and
q sad one.
Preceding the program, the follow
ing were elected as officers for the
coming year: Chairman, Mrs. f.. L.
Garthwaite; vice chairman, Mrs. Il. y
Calvin; secretary treasurer, Mrs. L. W.
Sears. Refreshing punch was served at
the close of the program.
Qcnfo Pan1o (Sioc<