Minutes 28 March 1904
Item
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Title
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Minutes 28 March 1904
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Description
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[Page 1] Just across the street from the home in which we were meeting March 28th, a ball game was to be played; and if anyone, not a member of our Club, could have heard and not seen us they might have though ours s club of college girls, from the interest shown in the hour that the game was to be called. We were meeting an hour earlier than usual on that account. The day, too, was not Friday but Monday. Mrs. Sloan thought by taking a trip to N.Y., just at the time for her meeting, that hers would be omitted; but we wouldn’t let her off; we would have it and have it we did, much against her wishes! We understood when the meeting was over that all Mrs. Sloan had said, about lack of preparation, was said that she might surprise us with the good things she had in store. Of the items given at roll call we were especially interested in what Mrs. Graham told us of two paintings
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[Page 2] by Whistler, valued at $140,000 brought over as first-class passengers from London to N.Y. An officer was detailed to look after their comfort three times a day! Five of our members were absent but their places were filled by three guests whom we were pleased to have with us. Miss Addie Herron, too, who was at one time a member of our club, met with us and we wish it were possible for her to meet with us oftener. We had met to hear something of James Lane Allen. Mrs. Sloan told us all that it was necessary for us to know about the man. He comes from Va. ancestry and a pioneer Ky. family; was born on a farm in Fayette Co. seven miles from Lexington, Ky., where he spent his earlier childhood. He was educated in Ky. Transylvania University, graduated in ’72. He taught in district schools; was private tutor for a while and afterwards accepted a
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[Page 3] professorship at his Alma Mater which he gave up for a similar position at Bethany College, W. Va. In ’84 he began his career as a writer in N.Y. City. In ’91 his first book “Flute and Violin and Kentucky Tales” was published. All of his work is indelibly linked with his native state. His latest book, “The Mettle of the Pasture,” our Club has just been reading. Mrs. Graham was asked to give her opinion of this book which has been favorably and unfavorably criticized. She thinks it clean. What seems repulsive is as delicately put as could be. A good sermon on “the way of transgressor is hard.” Mrs. Black gave us Bliss Carman’s criticism of the book. He recognizes the writers genius and charm, but says that “there are many things that ought to be ruthlessly forgotten; to recall them is almost as criminal as to commit them; to rehearse them to another is
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[Page 4] “stark folly.” From the Outlook, Mrs. Sloan gave the opinion of a writer who says that “Mr. Allen’s work seems to indicate that he will probably take in our generation the place which Hawthorne occupied in his own.” “Some” he says, “will be reluctant to admit that his last venture all things considered is equal to “The Choir Invisible.” He thinks that in dramatic interest “The Mettle of the Pasture” is an advance upon anything he has yet done. He has treated a sensational theme as Hawthorne treated The Scarlet Letter. After very dainty refreshments Mrs. Martin made the suggestion that our club entertain the new Book Club at our last meeting in April or have that take the place of our regular meeting. All thought it a splendid suggestion and committees were appointed to decide on some form of entertainment.
Hattie Thompson.
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Subject
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Women-North Carolina-Davidson-Societies and clubs.
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Books and reading.
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Women-Societies and clubs.
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North Carolina-Davidson.
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Creator
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BookLovers Club
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Publisher
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Davidson College
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Date
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28 March 1904
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Rights
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For permission to reproduce image, contact archives@davidson.edu
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Language
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eng
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Type
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Text
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Identifier
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bl-034
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Coverage
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1904
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4049696
