Evening star., 1922-11-19
greatest body of organized women.

greatest body Of organized women.
while doing this broader work for
the advancement Of women in general,
and through them for the spread Of
knowledge everywhere the Woman's
National Press Association did not
forget it's prime object-to further
the interest of its members. To this
end publication bureau was or
ganized for the revision and sale OF
manuscripts submitted by members OF
the Woman's National Press Associa-
tion.
Unique as an Organization, faithful
IN Its purpose, and ambitious for
American writer's, especially women.
the association prepared q memorial
book which was exhibited. and won
first prize-a gold medal-at the
worlds Columbian exposition at
Chicago. in 18s2-1se3. 1t also par
ticipated in the jamestown exposition
by invitation of the president and
board of directors. by holding a con-
vention on the exposition grounds.
June ard 8. 1907. when men and
women Of achievement appeared on
the program.
"The League of American Pen
Women. with its many ramifcations
of work and broad membership. and
now the International Association Of
Art and Letters. are among the chill
dren whom the parent delights to
honor and wish Godspeed in every
effort to high-minded enlightenment
of the world and the fostering of the
interests OF literary folk resident at
the nations capital"
X + X X
OF all these organizations the
League of American Pen Women
has grown to greatest dimensions in
membership, both nationally and
locally, as it now numbers above
1900 members, with branches IN
eighteen states. With Americaniza-
tion and the advancement of American
art, music, letters and drama as its
main purpose at the present time, 1t
is putting forth a powerful influence
to raise the standard Of American
literature and then to protect it.
Mrs. Louis n. Geldert, more widely
tional president Of the League Of
American Pen Women, who is the au-
thor Of thirty books, finds much in
Washington to commend to the crea-
tors of literature as we'll as to the
readers.
IT would like to speak Of the city
itself as a background, a national
tapestry into which these artisans,
who are the writer's and artists, have
woven, are yet to weave, the history
Of America upon the very scene OF
the nations childhood.
TN this historic square, cut from
the lovely land of Maryland, and faced
by the silver reaches of the Potomac
river. has been found material to
stimulate the highest literary en-
deavcr. The Libraries furnish proof
Of what has been done in Washington.
IT am more familiar with the works
than the writers: while 1 may have
forgotten the singers, I shall not for
get the songs. The city, the houses.
the traditions of Washington turn
into facts under the Transforming
pencils Of the writer's. From Mount
Vernon to the Capitol on its high hill.
triangle of American history. The
people from every state and every
country, Of every type and station are
the characters who act their part
upon a stage unparalleled in this new
world.
Looking through the eyes of a
stranger. I see literary Washington
of every assembly will come, in the
midst Of conversations, a man or q
woman of genius. a boy or a girl of
talent, expressing in many ways their
gifts and their message. 1t means a
thrill to the explorer seldom found
in other cities, where the writing
fraternity usually unites as a body,
presenting to the visitor a solid front
of the talent of that city: you know
within few weeks all of it's book
and magazine producers. In Wash
ington you never know; the surprise
never ends. 1t is constant discovery.
The story teller must tell what he
thinks and feels about it; the novel
ist must dramatize 1t: the historian
must preserve 1t.
Lately even greater fervor has
been shown among the members of
the League Of American Pen Women.
about whom I am, Of course, most IA
miliar. We flnd among our fiction
writers novels just begun. novels half
done. novels just completed. An
nouncement from the publishers of
books to appear in the autumn carry
the names of many Of our Washing
ton members; the spring will carry
more"
From the National Press Club. the
Washington Literary Association. the
International Association of Arts and
Letters, the Readers Club. the
Writer'S Club and the Overseas
Writers much more might be CLEANED
to embellish Washington's brilliant
display Of literary adornment, but no
prolific Southworth, with the energy
and courage to produce a book year.
nor q modern Bard Of Avon. with a
pen dipped in the poesy Of the ages
and the wit Of the world, can devise
q tale or a theme that can surpass the
romantic story which the city OF