OUB WOMAN'S TDUCCMT, I2TV 14,-193.
14
CECOKATION DAY IN OLD DOMDOOli
'A few years ago It wu our good for
tune to spend the thirtieth of May to
Petersburg. Vs.. the guests of a delight
ful Southern family. It had not oc
curred tojis that It was Decoration
Day until our host Invited us to drive
out to the cemetery In the afternoon,
adding: "I think you will be Interested
In the old church which is quit fam
ous because of its age. having been built
arly In seventeen hundred."
It was an ideal day for the purpose,
the air soft and balmy, the sun veiled
by light clouds toning the brilliancy of
the landscape, which with Its rich ver
dure was like the latter part of June
In the North; flowers In variety were in
full bloom giving a wealth to lay above
the dead. Many beside ourselves were
wending their way to the silent city,
much more Interest being manifested
by people of every class than with us.
After driving almut a mile Blandford
church arose before us. a beautiful,
Gothic ruin, one gable entirely covered
with English Ivy, through which the
arched windows looked out upon the
pravea of two centuries. The church
and surrounding yard were enclosed by
a high wall, the brick for both having
been brought from England. The wall
had partly fallen in places, but the Ir
regularity only lent an added charm,
nature having covered every gaping
wound with glossy Ivy and sweet tlow
ring honey-suckles, filling the eye with
beauty, and the air with fragrance.
The dates of some stones proved the
graveyard half a century older than the
church. Some of the stones were brok
en and bent, some graves unmarked,
while others had been most carefully
surrounded by a wall of brick on which
tba large, heavy stones, graven with
OLD CHURCH AT
quaint and curious, many with elabor
ate epitaphs, were horizontally laid.
One marked the resting place of some
scion of a noble race, for the arms of
the Gordons was beautifully cut upon
the stone, the last tribute from the old
borne across the sea.
Through a wide gap in the wall we
stepped out Into the modern cemetery
which stretches away through vale and
hill, a scene of sylvan beauty. On a
little knoll across the small ravin the
service was Just closing with the firing
of a volley across the confederate
grave by the Petersburg Oreys who
came marching up the path shortly af
ter headed by their captain who, we
were told, was a "New York man,
elected to the position after a tew
years residence In Petersburg. Surely
old feuds wero done away."
Standing there in the waning light
of the late afternoon, the ivy-mantled
church in the foreground with its pic
turesque environment of gray stones,
flowered wall, deep dales and swelling
hills covered with grand old trees, a
more beautiful scene could hardly be
Imagined.
Retracing our steps wo entered the
church which had become simply an en
closure. Not a vestige of the furnish
ing remained save a few fallen tim
bers that had supported the old gallery,
floor and all had disappeared, leaving
only the earth beneath our feet.
The walls were smooth and bare save
at one and where hung a black wooden
tablet on which was engraved the fol
lowing verses which were found pen
ciled on a paper left in the church by
a visitor in 1841, who wm supposed to
be an English actor.
Thou art crumbling to the dust old-Vila,
Thou art hastening to thy fall,
And 'round thee In thy loneliness
Clings the Ivy to thy wall.
The worshipers are scattered now.
Who knelt before ttiy shrine;
And silence reigns where anthems res
In days of "Auld Lang Syne,"
And sadly sighs the wandering wind,
When oft. In years gone by,
Prayers roie from many hearts to Blab
The Highest of the High.
The tramp of many a busy foot
That sought thy aisles is o'er,
lAnd many a weary heart areuad
la still ferevermere.
How doth ambitions hop take wana
How droop the spirit now;
W hear the distant city's din.
To dead are mute below.
Th sun that ahene upon their path
rtww bikw uir unwiy avavea
Km sepbyr which oao rasas
row,
tft graa abeve them wmvea.
ttasir
leould w call th many hack
a'v Bather here la val-.
bv careless roved where we as maw.
m au u navar Mmn.
Hw would our very haarts ha Pjt
To meet th earnest gas
Oftae lovely and th beautttsJ,
Th light of other days.
lUQQXMa L. laATTCTW.
G5N UMB UU'MCt.
This little library la tbie outcome of
ana "ureea mag Book club." which
oam into aalatano In U'lB with thirty
flva member and about y forty books.
Tha membership, book? and Interest
increased until In UX), th olub felt
warranted in boomlrr a library:
object It had In view from th beain-
nlng. Accordingly, afl.er the neceeaary
preliminaries (a chapter, and a very
successful fair, the tooceeds of which
xormed a nucleus fur a building fund)
an attractlv and im rvioeabl building
was erected on a site given by th
sanoerson estate corner of Ureea
auoge street and Vr; -omlng avenue.
Although opened as a subscription
library In June, 181 , it has not attained
a growth or been I helpful as antici
pated, because of U ,ie munificent gift to
th etty at about t his Urn of the "Al
bright Memorial II ulldlng," for the pur
poo, of a library. But it has struggled
along endeavor)! g to do some good,
an not allowtiif local pride to b
wounded by Its rt agniflcent rival. In the
antral city, siriw we believe In "th
greatest good to th greatest number,"
and we never otald have done as grand
a work aa thei "Soranton Publlo Li
brary'' I doing.
ITS PAR 1 I ESACHINO VALUB.
To keep abrM M with the true library
spirit th Qir on Ridge Library was
mala a fre library November, 1892. It
la now supported by subscriptions from
tto gensrou fMenda and by entertain
ments of vaiious kinds, a course of
Illustrated lerjturea thla winter being
more Instructive and svoeassful than
any previously given,
Thla library does pioneer work In
irettlng the. youth of the enlghborhood
Interested 'at reading and studying, and
when tber exhaust our resource they
go to the 'larger library- It also does
good work In supplying books to peo
ple ouiaVdis of th city limit (yet In
Gr Ridlge), who, for that reason, are
debarred, from th privileges of th
Scran tori Publlo Library.
Brno tie ooanlnr of the Green Rldm
Library 'nearly a thousand people have
registewd; over fly hundred are at
out hooka No doubt
i ba griitar, but. un
fortunately, with our limited means at
command we cannot afford to open the
library other than in the evening, and
that, of course, does restrict the read
ing attendance, But, notwithstanding
Uie many drawbacks this suburb would
greatly misa the little library on the
hill. EMMA A THOMPSON.
FRIVOLITIES.
Let us call things by their proper
names; this is the frivolous column,
wherein no burning Issues, no deep
questions, no controverted points will
be discussed. Serious minded persons
are warned off by the title, which will
also keep the men from reading it.
Only a feur careless ones may sandwich
It between the courses of solid pabulum
offered elsewhere. Its erratic Jottings
will be like thistle-down on the wanton
breeze, or the aimless (linings of the
butterfly in the summer sun.
There was once a small scion of roy
alty who would some day be king when
his years should permit his mother's
regency to expire; and because the
throne was waiting for him, he was
forced in knowledge and hedged about
with dignity.
One day after listening to tutors who
tired his poor little brain, finishing with
PETERSBURG. VA.
solemn state function, he saw while
driving home soma dirty little boys
making mud pies. "Mamma," said he,
'nlease let me tret down from the car
rlag and matte mud pies a little while,
I am a tired f being a king:"
see
The Her an too women, bless my seull
Ain't this a funny oapert
With tauseled hair and fen la air.
They re ouun' cl a paper.
Don't ask for stews, ertams or ragouts
ftfado br their nnirars taper:
Unless you'll take them served with Ink,
Toey'r makin' of a paper.
Mrs. Osgood, of Maine, president of
the lint federation of women's clubs,
tells that years ago when in her hus
band's newspaper office and any of the
Btaff appeared, h would tell tier to
"run away, as her presence disturbed
thenv," adding, "I am happy to have
lived to see the day when women have
a place in the newspaper world with
out disturbing the men."
This niillcnial state of things, though
doubtless true of the larger centers,
lias not yet obtained in Scranton,
where, to most women, a newspaper
establishment Is a mysterious and un
canny pluce, and we have watched our
pioneers In this field (Miss Dickinson
and Mrs. Penman) go in and out with
Interest not unmixed with awe, for who
has not read of the Impatience, to use no
stronger word, of editors as a class;
how the office would bo blue with lan
guage quite unfit for phonographic Im
mortality, when some unlucky wight
chanced to Incur their displeasure by
want of directness, an Irrelevant
question or an 111-timed suggestion; and
yet these two women have apparent
ly bearded the Hon in his den, though,
of course, we can only conjecture how
near thoy get to th sanctum-sano-
torum.
Apropos of editors' directness, w had
occasion once to visit an ofllce In the In
terest of some enterprise, and contrary
to our expectations, were received by
the editor-in-chief, who waved us to
a seat, drew, a pad toward him, picked
up a pencil and fixed his keen, blue eyes
upon us with a come-to-the-point ex
pression which drove our littl speech
entirely from our mind, and, for the
first time in our lives w felt sure we
were going not only to stammer but
to actually stutter. Somehow, before
we had fairly begun to unfold our
scheme, it had been ventilated, defined,
put down In black and white, w were
bowed out of the office and reached
th sidewalk trying to pull ourselves
together and think how it all hap
pened. But th editor la not tba only bete
nolr. He has a familiar of wtorn we
were taught to speak with bated
breath. The manager of The Tribune
did once upon a time offer to chain this
satanlc porsonage If we wished to visit
the building, but the gnashing of teeth
is a blood curdling sound a sort of
muslo with which we did not wish to
burden our memory. What will be
done with him when th women, who,
by instinct and inheritance, are his
foes take possession? For they are to
be enthroned for a day; privileged to
penetrate thea mysterten open up the
gruesome places and fraternize with the
powers that be; unless, Indeed, there
latter follow the examples of their
brothers of the quill, who, under the
maddening strain of a similar experi
ence, betook themselves and their pads
to beer saloons, livery stables and other
plaoes where the women dare not fol
low. Alaal Th first announcement of the
woman's paper said: "The women of
the city are going to issue a model pa
per, showing everybody how It should
be done;" thus putting us In a comer at
the outset, since before the mental
eye of the reader arose a band of strong
minded females with cranium rising
to a cone at the back, chins well up,
and mouths compressed, grim resolu
tion and proud satisfaction In every
line.
So, we start out by disclaiming any
intention of th kind. We are not go
ing to assume superiority, teach any
lesson or pay any grudges. Not
even to answer the - perrenlal Jokes
about mother-in-law, house cleaning,
overdrawn bank accounts, ignorance In
regard to checks. Eve and the apple,
etc., which have so long helped to satis
fy the craze for antiquities, and about
which w feel much as did the girl in
a recent story, who, cn being asked
why ah allowed a man to hold her
hand, replied: "It didn't hurt her and
it seemed to glv blm pleasure." Just
here we would say, however, if anyone
questions our knowledge of the check
business by sending us a few signed
for th Toung Women's Christian as
sociation, we will demonstrate our abil
ity not only to endorse, but If desired,
to fill them In with neatness and dis
patch. We would like to reassure our friends,
placate our enemies, and most difficult
of all, disarm our critics, most of whom
have fixed and definite Ideas of "wo
man's sphere," -
We hasten to assure them that the
suslaaaa at Uvea a ooekiag. saw.
Literary Department
Ing and tending babies, and thla ven
ture I merely a little ramble Into Par
nassian fields, before setting out upon
which, every button has been put firm
ly In place, all the stockings darned,
the larder filled, the children's faces
shining, our husbands well fed. well
groomed and well content; so prythee,
good masters, have patience!
see
After all, there Is no happier being
than th egotist, and In the long run
no more useful one, for he unhesitat
ingly accepts positions the diffident
would decline, and accomplishes much
one of equal ability and less confidence
would fear to undertake; and if we can
repress a natural feeling of irritation
and look only upon the funny side,
what amusement is afforded.
There Is the breesy, happy, buoyant
type who "talk right on," only pausing
to ask us If "we catch their meaning"
or "see the point, reminding us always
of th man who on meeting a friend
said: "There was great preaching at
Tangletown last night." "Indeed, who
preached?" "I."
Y e once knew a representative of the
ponderous type In whom egotism rose
to sublimity. He possessed a grave
dignity of face and manner, bearing
himself like the wise doctors In Ho
garth's Immortal picture.
Lying on his table on day was a
fresh quire of foolscap, upon the first
page of which was written with many
Bpencerlan flourishes: "The remark
able sayings and doing of Charles
Kundl Bliss." Charles was evidently
about to begin a diary. The same
Charles after gravely and critically
studying an addressed envelope, told
us we "wrote a very good prescrip
tion." I know a dell where violets grow-
big, velvety blue ones others sweet and
white, with yellow cenUrs cunning lit
tle dog tooths great yellow discs with
black hearts, and myriads of tiny pale
blue ones.
The ground is soft and oozy; you
must try each step carefully, but It you
walk that large moss covered log you
can reach all you care to gather.
Here the sunlight never comes In
full flood, but nllters through a mil
lion leaves making a golden twilight,
and the deep woods guard it round.
Mosses green and lush grasses nestle
the flowers, and a tiny waterfall gur
gles a dreamy song. Like the "horns
of Elfland faintly blown" come bird
songs In soft echoes from the sunny
world outside, or the nearer twitter of
some nesting mother brooding In sweet
content. Yet the silence is replete with
life, If only of a higher organism we
could hear a thousand tiny voice of
the growing world around us. Here let
us rest while care falls away from the
spirit, and nature's healing touch gives
peac to th soul, for these lovely
haunt hava nearly all been destroyed
by th outtlng away of th trees.
Away to th hills, to th hills sway,
"Tls the boom sweet month f May,
Whan heaven and sarth, and air and sea.
Are chanting a roundelay.
Through sunny green fields, where th
cowslips bloom,
Throuch the greenwoods flewery way:
The world Is thine, the world is mine,
'Tls the bonnl sweet month of May.
SCRANTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Albrlfnt Memorial Library,
This library Is an Institution In which
our city Justly takes much pride. Its
site waa given by th heirs of Mr. Jo
seph J. Albright, a well-known, early
and long resident of Scranton, while
the building, which la ono of the finest
of its kind, was erected by Mr. J. J,
Albright, of Buffalo, as a memorial to
his parent, Joseph J. and Elizabeth
Albright.
Such a monument la a well-chosen
memorial. It perpetuates th memory
of the donor, and also help to uplift
and educate those who hava high As
pirations without means to cultivate
them. A study of tha building is an
education In Itself. Messrs. Green and
Wicks, th architects, carefully car
ried out the Ideas of Mr. Albright, who,
In hie travels, saw th
CHATEAU DB CLUNT
In Paris, admired the Gothic style of ar
chitecture, and wished to make this
building In Its exterior resemble that;
which, aa far aa possible, has been done.
On the outside of the building, cut in
the atone, are a dozen or more of the
devices or trade marks of noted print
en; on the stained glass windows are
representation of celebrated bindings
used during th sixteenth century. The
Boston Publlo library has a magnifi
cent building, on much grander than
any library In the country, but, from
an architectural and artlstio standpoint
ours is a more harmonious structure.
Tha Boranton Publlo library waa
opened for publlo use June, lasts, with
16,000 volumna; it now contains 16,000
volumns, to which additions ara con
stantly being made. Tha library la mis
cellaneous In character, furnishing In
formation on almost every .topic, from
popular Action to the moat profound
philosophy and theology. The refer
ence department, containing 7,000 vol
umns for use In the library only, Is ar
ranged on open shelves, free of access
to every one. Few public libraries, ex
cept In the very largest cities, have a
greater number of reference books
placed so conveniently or subject to
such unrestricted use.
In the reading room are to be found
many monthly mogaalnes, literary,
soientlflo and Juvenile. This depart
ment la very popular, aa Is attested by
the numbers who frequent it at all
hours. Tha library la largely used by
tha teachers and pupils of the various
schools, and by the members of the
many literary societies and clubs. Its
futur Is In th hands of the people, as
upon their liberality, represented by tho
city councils, depend its growth and
progresa
CORA M. DECKER.
WHY DAISIES ARB WHITE.
There is a quaint Hebrew legend
Of the shadowy burled age.
When man's history lay written
On but on brief unturned page.
Part, Illumined by the brilliance
Lent from bliss, a bright as brief.
Part recorded in the tracery
ut a pitying angel s grief.
To the gates of loved, lost Eden,
Sorrowing Eve each morning crept;
From the bowed head, golden glory
To the dust Its bright length swept.
Veiled her brow In silken softness
As against the portals dread,
Beat the tender hands, forever
Reaching after peace long dead,
Never stain of Eden warbler
Wandered through that woeful bar;
Never gleam of silver river
Flashing under sun and star
Ever stood th stern eyed keeper
Lifting steadfast gaze afar
From the woman, waiting vainly
For the gate to drift ajar.
Once she cried with bitter longing.
And next morn her startled eye
Greeted a bright group of daisies,
That had slipped from Paradise.
Daisies then were blue as Heaven;
But 'neath that baptismal rain,
All their petals bleached and whitened
Bleached by the exiles pain.
Still the daisies flecked the meadow
But their pure sweet faces lis
White, from tean our falr.frall mother
1 Wept outside lost Paradise.
HARRIET CLAY PENMAN.
IMOGENE L. flATTHEWS, Editor.
A LETTER ROM WASHINGTON.
(By Mrs. Joe pa A. Scranton.)
Inferring that your readers will ba In
terested In social and other matters at
the Capital of th Nation I choose thla
as my them for a brief communica
tion. Women particularly will be in
terested In th varied and somewhat
peculiarly distinctive features of social
life In Washington. In one respect a
novel difference from society uaeg
elsewhere perplexes and embarasses
the new comer Into official life, for the
ladles of members of congress, have
their rounds of dally duties, which are
quite as exacting and oftentimes as
wearisome as those of the sterner sex
who congregate in that vast wind-mill,
known os congress, and located under
the dome of the capltoL
OFFICIAL ETIQUBTTB.
When strangers visit or locate In other
cities, they expect the residents of the
places to make advances In cultivating
their acquaintance. In official lit here,
this custom Is exactly reversed. An In
stance is given of a representative's
wife accustomed to social leadership at
home, who spent several weeks In neg
lected seclusion at her hotel, until at
last learning th custom of new mem
bers' families taking th Initiative and
making first calls, she began to un
dentand why she had no attention.
The new member's wife coming her
a total stranger, and being obliged to
confront large receiving parties. In
crowded drawing rooms, must undergo
an Initiation far from agreeable or in
viting, and a sensitive woman would
rather face a cannon's mouth, than the
critical eyes of so many of her own s?x.
Washington Is largely an official city,
and the regular weekly receptions by
official families are open to the general
public, and are made attractive by num
bers of young lady assistants, by re
freshments, and music. They are at
tended by hundreds in a single after
noon, etiquette requiring that each of
these calls be returned presumably at
least one during the season, which ne
cessitates much clerical labor In re
cording the names and addresses of vis
itors, dates of their calls, and time re
turned. After the first call Is paid,
subsequent visits are optional. New
comers must commence at the top, and 1
visit everyone In official society, the
family of the older members and sena
tors must call on those ranking them In
term of service and dignity of their
office. Of course the president's wife,
Mrs, Cleveland, being the first lady of
the land, and a most delightful and
Cgracious hostess, must have th first
call.
MRS. CLEVELAND'S RECEPTIONS.
She "receive" very Monday after
noon after five o'clock, and hales other
publlo reception during th season.
Next comas the vie president's wife,
Mra Adlal E. Stevenson and her two
charming young lady daughters. Then
the lovely wife and daughter of Speak
er Thomas B. Reed both families hold
ing their eceptlon on Wednesday as do
all the member of tha cabinet Then
comes the senator" wives, whose day
are Thursdaya '
OFFICIAL PRBCBDENCa
It has long been a subject of contro
versy whether th cabinet ladles
should call on tha senatora' wives first,
or vice vena, it has raoently been de
cided in favor of the sen at on" wives,
they being here six year while th term
of office of the cabinet is only four
yean, or during th presidential term.
It Is told of Mn. Lamont, who la the
wife of the secretary of war, that she
called on one of the senators' wives this
winter, who ho been here for a num
ber of years, and waa accosted in this
fashion by th hostess: "Are you one
of the new members' wives making her
duty calls?" "Oh, no, I am Mrs. La
mont," she replied. "Well," said the
other, "had you don your duty yean
ago, and called upon me, I should have
known who you were." Comment is
unnecessary. Th representatives'
wive receive on Tuesday, and the
heads of the various bureaus, and de
partments bring up the rear of the list
SOCIAL CUSTOMS AT THE LEGA-
- TION3.
Th famllle of the foreign diplo
matic corps, some thirty In number,
form a unique and distinguished group
by themselves, they have different days
at the various legations, some of them
showing little respect for the American
Sabbath, by Introducing the European
custom of receiving on Sunday, select
Ing that day fir dinner parties and
other gaieties, the Spanish ladles of
the Central and South American coun
trie predominate In this society. There
are also among the ladles whose nus
bands ar accredited to this county.
many Interesting and charming Amr
ican women who have married foreign
era As a rule, however, they pay llt
tlo attention to the average congress
man's wife, rarely returning their calls
In person, or giving Invitations to their
houses, except when they meet als
where and take a fancy to her.
A PATRIOTIC SENTIMENT.
While I would accord to these distin
guished strangers all courtesies due
their station, there I nevertheless much
fiunkyism and toadying for their fa
vors by Americans, who thereby debase
their own nationality. This Is an Am
erican city, and being the Capital of the
great Republlo of a nation second to
none, I may be prejudiced in favor of
my own countrymen, and women, to a
a degree of maintaining their crest as
peerless among all peoples. There Is a
large resident society of cultivated and
wealthy people which is yearly Increas
ing, until Washington now has become
to this class, the great winter resort,
combining In one center, the gayeties of
War Harbor, Newport, Saratoga, the
seaside and mountain resotrs of the
summer season. Immense wealth has
been attracted here In the Investments
of hundreds of large and elegant resi
dences, which has done very much to
build up and beautify the fashionable
portions of the city. Thla society Is dis
tinct and apart from the official circles
and has comparatively little to do with
them. It has two exclusive oountry
club houses, at Chevy Chase, and at
Woodley.wlth their packs of hounds and
ether paraphernalia of outdoor sports.
Handsome dinners, balls and receptions
are given by these clubs, Invitation to
which are very much prized,
THE ARMY AND NAVY CIRCLES.
Residents In this city are much larger
than anyone would suppose who have
not seen the special directory Issued for
them every year. They are a large and
influential social element and an seen
to the best advantage on the annual re
ception to the president to the army and
navy, at which these distinguished gen
tlemen and their families appear in full
dress of their offices, making perhaps
the most brilliant occasion of the season
at the white house. Many of these offi
cers are stationed here on detached ser
vice In the war and navy departments,
while others have been retired from the
service and selected Washington aa a
place of residence. Just now Fort Myer
has been dignified by being madb head
quarters of the Sixth Calvary regiment
with Its band, six troop of horses, etc.
Colonel Gordon, the commanding offi
cer, is a Pcnnsylvanlan, who served
during the war, from tha beginning,
and has since been on frontier duty,
this being his first eastern assignment
In consaquMC of his record thla dis
tinguished honor haa been oonfagrad
vpon his command, a tardy recogni-
aga during tha coming summer. -
One of the- most interesting weekly
functions are th drills, reviews, pan
rades, band concerts and receptions ev
ery Friday at the fort, which adjoin
th Arlington cemetery on th height
verlooklng Washington.
Washington barracks, on a neek ol
land Jutting out Itno the Potomac, Is
headquartan of the Fourth artillery In
command ef Colonel Clnsson, and main
tains Its reputation for hospitality and
sociability.
The marine barracks In the same
section of th town, with Its celebrated
band, I also a most attractive point for
visitors.
BOMB ADVANTAGES OF WASH
INGTON LIFE.
Washington ha, too, exceptional ad
vantages for tha student of various
branchea ef study, Its counes of free
and paid lectures on scientific and ether
subjects. Its great congressional library
and Its collegea Its theaters and con
cert halls hava all the celebrities each
season. Including the star perform
ances of the greatest stage notables In
In th country. This Is also a church
going city, a large element of the old
resident population being) Catholic.
Every Sunday the churches ar crowd
ed, sittings being at a premium, and
many evident divines among tha set
tled pastors.
The so-called society leaden ar in
terested In charitable works of all
kinds, and hospitals, homeB and Insti
tutions of like character are well pro
vided for, and maintained by these In
dies, and many are the beautiful homes
thrown open t the public for charity,
ADA M. SCRANTON. '
"THE
LOVE AFFAIRS OP
MANIAC.
A BIBLI0!
EUGENE FIELD.
One take up the Lova Affairs of a
Blbllomaniao" with a mingled feeling
of curiosity and reverenoa We arc
ourloua because in these page tho au
thoc la said to live over his own ex
perlencea aa a book lover, and In tha
American mind then Is always a desire
to know tha personal aide of our men
of letters. Wo ara reverent because
Kugene Field wrote the last chapter of
this book but a taw day before his
death and tha vereea which conclude
tha ohaotr. war the last word writ'
tan by that hand which laid; down its
pan bo reoently. But whatever the feci
ing with which the book la taken up.
tha reader J s soon lost to everything but
a sense of keen enjoyment and from
that story Is hla first love, "Tha New
England Primer." which stirs up mem
ories "of childhood In every New Eng
land heart, at least, wo eagerly follow
,o "Old man a return to old time place
W old time loves." until th
comes all too soon.
This Is a book to be read aloud. Given
a wood' (Ire and a sympathetic friend.
wno win respond with a smile of appre
ciation as you look up from the page.
and your enjoyment of the book will be
complete. The humor is gentle and
kindly, with a savor of Charles Lamb,
tho style is quaint and simple, and
through all Is. felt the personality of
the author, delighting In the work of
carrying out a long cherished plan. A
most lovable man this book lover must
have bean, and aa the book Is laid down,
there corn again th feeling of sor
row and loss that tilled our hearts,
when tha newe-was flashed over tha
country that Eugene Field's Ufa
earth waa ended.
"THE- COMEDIES OF COURTSHIP,"
ANTHONY HOPE.
"All th world love a lover."
hava long known, and all tha world will
cartainly enjoy reading; of Anthony
Hope's loven and their lassies as ha
unfolds their somewhat complicated ex
periences in "Th Comedies of Court'
ship." Hla characters truly ar people:
whether, like his own Miss Liston, he
puts his friends in his books, or whether
these very human men and women an
creatures of his brain, the result is tho
same, and they are no make-believes,
but bear the sterling mark in plain
sight." The Wheel of Love" Is the long'
est, and In many respects the beet of
the six stonea. Though a preserved-
peaoh tin masquerading as a dynamite
bomb may seem a somewhat unusual
and far-fetched expedient for straight
ening out the love affairs of four young
people all In love, but uncertain as
to the object of their affections the- re-
suit certainly justifies the means. If
It be objected that these young folk
are too fickle, n member the title of
the story, and the tendency of wheels
to ohange their positions, and what can
you expect?
In "The Lady of tha Pool," the mys
tery of the ghost of the temple Is in
geniously conceived, and her identity
not fully revealed until the final de
nouement. Which, by the way, Is the
most Improbable scene In the whole
book. There Is a suggestion of some
thing more serious than comedy In the
mlsmatlng In "The Cunte of Poltons,"
and In the disappointment of little Miss
LUstom, but these are the shadows that
make the high lights mere brilliant.
In the lost story, Mr. Hope returns once
more to that country tnat cannot be
found on any map. but which h knows
so well, where all rulers are absolute
monarchs, and all tho women willful
and beautiful. Anthony Hope Is a
prince of story tellen. He brings for
ward his men and maidens, and then
the rest lies with them, and they act,
and tell their tales as they will. Mr.
Hope may be lacking In literary style,
but he has vigor and variety In his
stories, which make them very accept
able to he reader, who Is weary of
problems, and purposes, and studies,
appearing in the guise of fiction. May
Mr. Hope give us much more of his
fiction, the evident aim of which Is to
entertain, and which accomplishes the
desired and so. easily and agreeably.
O. S. W.
, '
"Europe In Africa In the Nineteenth
Century," by Elizabeth Wormely Lati
mer la one of the valuable books of the
year. It gives a clear and concise ac
count of the manner In which the dif
ferent countries of Europe have gained
a foothold in Africa, the steps which
have led up to the present parceling out
of Its territory, with grnphlo discre
tions of the won and conflicts through
which its occupation has been accom
plished. As Its title Indicates, It treats
especially of the European movement
of the physical features of the country,
the mannen and customs of its Inhab
itants only as these are necessary to
a proper understanding of the subject.
Africa Is without doubt the most in
teresting oountry in the world todn.y,
and Miss Latimer's gossipy, bright
manner of presenting the salient points
of her subject is shown to advantage In
this latest contribution to the knowl
edge of a country upon which the ayes
of the whole civilized world la turned.
A FAIRY TALE.
We know a man who went home last
week to find the furniture on the piaz
za, book In the easy chairs, sofas and
tables In the hall, step ladders in door
ways, scrubbing brushes, soap and palls
floating about on the floor, the dog
asleep In the baby carriage, and the
dinner spread In the kitchen. What do
you think he did; glower at his wife,
scold the children, kick the cat,
and find fault with the dinner? - Not
a bit of It. He rose grandly to tha oc
casion, gave his wife a bunch of carna
tions, saying "Sweats to tha sweat,"
arid after dinner, though his box of
Clgara waa' missing, said: "Tls to bad
you ara having sucn a nard time, i n
going to buy some tickets for th opera
tomorrow night and you must save
your strength to go. I'll lunch down
town s you won't have to worry about
me." His wlfa taya marriage la not a
failura '
C L S. C
The Chautauqua Literary and Scien
tific Circle dcs not claim to be a sub
stitute for either high school or college;
neither does it guarantee to Its students
what Is Implied In th Urraa a liberal
education.
One of the most extraordinary move
ments of the present age, sneend at as
too pretentious, received, by those not
acquainted with its principles, with a
smile of Incredulity, It has now a plat
tor itself.
And who shall astlmata tha influence
exerted by ItT An influence so wide-
spreading a to embrace every land
known to civilisation: whll It gradu
ates and students enrolUd mount up in
to tne minion.
ITS PROGRESS IN SCRANTON.
But what of th work in our own city T
From time to time there hav been
those, who, taking up th work, pur-
suea tneir solitary way. tanking th
mental stimulus that eeraes with tha
contact of mind with mind. The flnt
local organisation waa effected In 1882,
with th formation of th Vincent
Circle. It was most fitting that th
ploneen In the work should hav taken
the name of one, who not only ranks
high as an cducaor, but to whose tact
far-stghtedntss and rareexecutive abil
ity the movement owes so much, our
worthy Chancellor. This Circle has a
record of which Its members may Justly
be proud. It was very vigorous during
the years between Wl and list, with
the exception possibly of on year. It
Is a matter of regret that It is now only
a thing of th Bast. In October, MM,
unaer circumstances that promlsad a
brilliant future, was organised th
Athenla Cirole with some twenty mem
bers, it was not long before th death
angel claimed one of their memben,
Miss Cora A. Howe, who was Just in
the full flush of her young womanhood.
Following her death th Circle decided
in loving remembrance of th on not
lost, but only gone before, to drop th
name of Athena, substituting for It th
name ef
CORA A. ROWS.
After studying together for fir
rear
some of the memben took up graduate
courses, following up some Una of
special study. lv member srraduat
ed at Chautauqua in some receiving
seats in addition to tneir diplomas. Btlll
otnera nave gone on quietly winning
honors, until at least on diploma bears
fourteen seals.provlng most exclusively
the strong hold this movement has on
th mind and In th heart of Its de
votees. Ip October, 1817, was organised
nrst oi tne suburban omits, th
ANTHRACITE OF Q RISEN RIDOE3,
compos ed of twenty busy people. Tha
regular course w taken up and com
pleted within tha four years, soma two
thirds of the memben graduating with
the class of 'L The story of Nations
occupied ths next four yean. English
History and literature with geology an
now th all engrossing subjects.- From
time to time kindred ' spirits have ap
plied for.admlslon; the cJrel;now num.
bero awentenn. Memorial days hav
reoeivea,a goocuy snar or attention.
Holidays have been observed with
proper oermeony. Arbor day f last
year witnessed th planting of the
ANTHRACITE ELM,
And now It la an open secret that a
Chautauaua novel Is tA be produced In
the near future. This circle deservea
more than even passing mention;
throughout the nearly nine years of Its
existence Its stml-mbnthly meetings
have ban held without a single omission.
A severe leas was experienced In th
death of lta flnt President Dr. Oliver
Chamber. What the Anthracite la to
day Is duo in large measures to his care
ful teachings, his wiceTcounscla
Shakespeare Memorial Day. Anrll it.
1SS8. was observed byth three circles
of the city, Vincent, Cora A. Howe, and
Anthracite. The meetings was'held In
the i. M. c. A. parion, when a care.
fully prepared programme mads th
evening one long to ba remem
bered. Tha Interest that for
weeks had been growing strong.
er culminated on the evening of
January 3, 188), when a large and bril
liant assemblage filled the Academy of
Muslo in honor of Bishop Vincent At
the close of the lecture a reception and
Innquct were given at tne Westminster
where Bishop Vincent was the guest of
the Chautauquas. We also had the
pleasure of meeting Dr. Duncan, an en
tliusiastto and active worker, and Mr.
George Vincent
Klghtcen ninety-two was a "red let
ter" year In the Chautauqua annals.
Flnt in order came "Th
ARGONAUTS,
twenty-one In number. The record of
the first two years is a good one; reveal
ing much that must have ben profitable
to its members. The year of ISM Is a
blank. In i)o the Circle was reorgan
l7.ed as a reading club, not attempting
the full C. L. S. C. course. After the
holiday season the club did not resume
Its studies. Will the Argonauts permit
the suggestion "that the race is not al
ways to the swift," with the hope that
the near future will find them once more
enrolled. Next In line Is the Electrio
Circle, of Providence, composed of nine
teen members. Pursuing the regular
course they meet alphabetically with
the different members, on Tuesday
evening of each week,
Last, but by no means least comes
the Columbian, of Green Ridge. Few
in numbers, eight members in all, they
are not lacking in zeal and enthusiasm.
proving themselves well worthy of their
class name, Trutn Scekera. In Novem
ber. "92 came Dr. Edwards of New York,
At a meeting held In the lecture room of
the Pehn Avenue Baptist church the
value and importance of Chautauqua
Union were set forth in most eloquent
terms. A committee comiweed of rep
resentatives of the different circles, was
appointed to take the preliminary steps.
At a later date a permanent organiza
tion was effected. What became of It?
History is silent The
ANNA C. CARLISLE CIRCLE
was organized In 1893 In conectlon with
tho Y. W. C. A. numbering seventeen,
their weekly meetings held at the asso
ciation rooms, are full of Interest Two
literary programmes hav been given.
ELM PARK CIRCLB
Is Just completing Its second year's
work. The names on Its roll account in
some measure at leost, for the prosper
ous condition of affair. If all reports are
true, they are making a brilliant noord
for themselves. The Epworth League
rooms of the Elm Park church wen the
scene of a pleasant gathering on the
evening of May 21, 1895, when ths Elm
Park Circle entertained Its sister circles.
On the West Side Is a little band of
workers, seven In number. Just com
pleting the flnt year's work. They
have never taken a specified name,
being generally designated as the Chau
tauquan Circle of the Simpson church.
Papon on the important current events
of the day have added to the Interest
of -their meetings. It Is very evident
that th Chautauquan movement has
become deeply rooted In th Electria
City. If history repeat Itself then th
progress must be ever onward. Its Im
portance as an educational factor Is
undeniable, while lta influence must
tastftatts)
g. the
mankind
awrauy ana
ualiy.
MARY H. NICOL,
muttftKBASra cm.
This erranlsatlhn began IV literary
work in ISM under th laadenbip of
Miss Blast 11, a talented young girl, wha
coming to Bcranioa a stranger.
made her Influence felttby tha market
ability with which aha conducted aev
era! classes in history. The original
memben of what was called tha class)
wen Mr. N. H. Oasten. Mra Helaa
Loveland, Mra Alfred Hand. Mra R.
Q. Powell. Mra A. M. Decker, Mra A
E. Hunt Mra R. W. Archbald. Mra
Milton Blair. Mrs. W. T. Smith. Mra W.
W. 8cranton, Mra C. H. Welles, Mra
W. H. BueU, Mrs. 3. A. Price, Mra f,
F. Beeber. Mrs. A. H. Lea, Mrs. E. ft
Moffat. Miss Emma Vail. Misa . J,
Piatt and Miss M. a. Mattes.
Meetings were held weekly at th
nouae of Mrs. J. A. Price and English .
history and English literatim engross
ed the attention of tha clasa Tha next
year a permanent organisation was ef
fected. The clasa daclaiwd them Im
a dub. and elected Mra R. W. Archbald
president and Mrs. W. W. oranten
secretary and treasurer.
At tne Deannnlna of their third
the claims of history gave way to lltciea
of art and after some months f study
tney inaucea mra c. U. Adslt of Mil
waukee, to deliver a course ef lectures
on "Etching and Engraving." The
lectures began In February. ISSfL anal
will long be nmembered ter their min
gled profit and pleas un to all who
heard them. Our eyes wen opened and
we beheld wondrous things. If te b a
benefactor I to make two blade of
grass grow when one grew before aa
also enouid ona ne reckoned who tint
wakens our powers of appreciation ant
show us what to sea
French. German and Italian Hla
tory have been successively taken up
by the club, and the past year haa bean
devoted to study of th history ef aur
own country.
It waa through th efforts at thla
club that Amelia B. Edwards, the fam
ous Egyptologist, lectured m Borantois
and Mr. W. Hudson Shaw, tha noted
English lecturer, gave aa Illustrated
aeries of talks on Venice.
When tha Publlo library waa ta ba
furnished with books, among tha other
gifts was ona of a hundred dollar from
th Ladles' Reading Club. On charm
ing evening will be rememband whan
the club Invited its friends to a reading
by Mra Custer, widow ef tha famous
general, and as she gave, from her own
manuscript a brief account af tha trials
ana privations, th dread poaslbllluea
and actual sufferings attendant aa a
life In camo. her listenera felt that not
withstanding the glortes eg war, lta vU
age was indeed grim.
Tne penonnel or tha eralula hut
slightly changed. On snambar, Mra
Loveland, has exchanged tha aunulMC
earthly knawledg for heavenly vision.
Mra Le and Mra Beeber ar no longer
memDcn ana ura j. b. Hoainaon waa
chosen In Mra 8er' plaaa, wall
Mra Oasten Is now aa hamarasw is sen
ber.
For th earning year. Plans of work
are already mapped out, and let us
nope tnat tna time snail he far tuatant
"WBanrtae lata reader raaaa m flu
ANNA Ri MAFAT.
THE DANTB Ola.
The Dante Club has had aa Brief a
past as to furnish tussles) material far
a sketch of its wark. ta flv memben
wha compos tha elub, Mra Rogers
Israel, Mrs. W. L Ptaah. Mra 3. W.
Conant Mist Lea M. Heath p4 Mra
E. 8. Waaton, began their saaatings
early last tall so th Is but on win
ter's wark to sevlsw.jbat the r staespeot
is sufficiently gratliyia
Ifylai to warrant
slieUajBl ex
anticipationa ai muo
Joyment in thvfutur
Tha present object elth an 1 tha
study fDaht:a Dt,Wn OomHft and
with the aid of such Banks eOafennoe -and
coramentartis as th maatbers
could procure themaelv, and of
several valuable' beasts recantl pur
chased by thsbrayy, a esreful study
of th Inferno and a portlen of ths, Pur -gatorlo
has bean made. Dahte says
tha poem la to be taken literally and
allegorlcally. In order ta rightly un
dentand, and to fully Uteraret thla
double meaning, la te open up a field of
study af tha widest natun. The Dante
Club of Scranton does not attempt to
make a complete and final analysis of
the Dlvln Comedy, but to glv the
poem careful study, to andentand Its
historical allusions, to appreciate Its
poetical beauties and its wonderful
imagery, and to discern th spiritual
Interpretations f the allegory, which Is
the very soul of the poem, thereby
learning again the old lesson of tha evil
effects of sin, and tha Blessedness of
virtue.
When ths Divine Ceraedy shall hsv
been satisfactorily oom stated, th olub
hopes ta tek up soma topic of equal
interest, such as Milton, er Browning,
or Bhakespearn Q B. W.
TUB THURSDAY MORfONO CLUB.
Among tha many slabs that have
arisen In Scranton none haa been mon
enjoyable than th Thursday morning
club which originated in the informal
gathering together of thirteen young
women. This oolty, in existence for
several years, waa unique In that It had
neither officers nor by laws, a majority
vote deciding ail tnastlana without
friction.
The reign of Quean Anna, so rich in
literary activity was studied nearly
two yean, followed by ths Lake Poets,
ths remainder of th time being spent
on Colonial history and the books of
Iniln-rt dest Amand on th Napolaonla
period.
A notable event in tha history of tha
club waa a lecture by Pre. Winchester,
of Wesleyain TJnlveralty, on tha Lake
Poets, at the reaidenoe of Mr. Jam
Blair, given before the club and its in
vited guesta
This ran Intellectual treat.a comming
ling of wisdom and humor, In whion
the dead past lived again, was given
with th simplicity of styl character
istic of this accomplished scholar.
The personnel of the club was as fol
lows: Mra C. 8. Weston, Mn. H. O.
Shafer, Mra William Brown, Mra N. O.
Robertson, Mra Kenshal, Mra H. W.
Kingsbury, Mra Levi Bhoemaker, nee
Cocella Scranton, Mrs. John Bauer,
Tim ikm inhip and the Minna
Manness, Mattes. Hand, Reynold. Mat
thew, Flora Matthewa .
F. L. MATTHSWa
In looking over this list of clubs it
must occur to every thoughtful woman
thst we have abundant material for a
successful woman's club, such aa exists
In every large city and town for literary
work founded on broad lines, liberal
In tone, progressive in eharastar, and
worthy of th city w love.
The mental growth and development
consequent upon consolentleus wark in
these societies cannot be estimated! or
the opportunities which arise through
such organization, as In the case of tha
centurv club of San Fran Cisco, before
which many notables have thought It a
compliment te be asked to speak, Edwin
Arnold for Instance, it ia iub i
tea wheeled Into Una
Mr. Wklitler and th dasher.
"Mr. Whlstlr,H said tha gushing lady
visitor to tha cynical artist "why do
you never paint a storm at sea?"
"My dear lady, I've often tried, but
unfortunately I paint In oils, and as
soon aa I spread my colon tha waves
subside and the aea become as calm
m a duck pool." New York Wosid.
LITTLE THINGS.
Art Important in Dry Goes, as wall
as In other lines. Our notion stock lr
fuU af utile things at little i
CONNOLLY Wi