1892-1893 Meeting Minutes II

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The next article on our programme was by Mrs. Edward Shippen, and was on “War Songs.”

She said that she had wished very much to correct the errors in an Article in the Century Magazine, signed by Mr. Brander Mathews; in which the strange assertion was made that our national song, The Star Spangled Banner, was written to fit an old tune. In the same article also, an erroneous account was given of the setting to music of the song “Maryland, My Maryland.”

Mrs. Shippen, who owns the original manuscript of The Star Spangled Banner, as begun on the back of an old letter, told us how Francis S. [Scott] Key and a friend of his, went, in the kindness of their hearts, on board one of the English War Ships to try to obtain the release of another American and civilian friend of theirs, detained a prisoner of the enemy. Though finally successful in their mission, they were themselves detained on ship-board, while the attack on Fort McHenry was being made. How they afterwards described with great animation the surprise and anxiety of the three Americans while the firing went on. How the trouble of their souls grew greater when, before day, ”the red glare and the bombs bursting in air” ceased to be seen and heard, and the fear came to them that the [cessation] meant surrender. But as soon as there was enough morning light to see that “our flag was still there,” Mr. Key, in the first enthusiasm of that assurance, began to write his song, on the back of an old letter. He wrote it out fully that same night after he came back to Baltimore, and showed it to his brother-in-law, Judge Nicholson, Chief Justice of the State. It was Judge Nicholson who fitted it to the tune of Anacreon in Heaven, which

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suited it wonderfully well; and who received the gift of the original manuscript. It was soon known and sung all over Baltimore; and very soon afterward, all over the country.

The tune of Maryland My Maryland was also not a native one, although like that of the Star spangled Banner, it would seem as though it ought to have been so.

Mrs. Shippen told us that one day, while our Civil War was raging, Mr. Rozier Dulany took a copy of the song Maryland my Maryland, —then recently written by Mr. J. R. Randall,—to the house of Mr. Carroll, where a party of the fair young ladies of Baltimore were accustomed to meet and spend their time making clothes for the Confederate soldiers. The song was received with enthusiasm; so was the suggestion to sing it; and various airs and old college tunes were tried to be fitted to it. Miss Jennie Cary at last chose one of these old college tunes which suited the words extremely well.¹

Mr. Dulany was forthwith requested to have the words and music published together; but he positively declined to do so, for the reason that: “Fort McHenry was entirely too near.[“] Some of the young ladies suggested that “men were too timid for anything.” Finally Miss Rebecca Lloyd Nicholson said that “her father was a Union man, and she was not afraid.”—she would publish it herself. She took it to the music store of Miller and Beacham for publication; —and soon the words and music were known all over the South,–and elsewhere too.

Mrs. Shippen authenticated her account, not only by attesting her presence in the party of girls described, but by the further statement: “I was the Miss Rebecca Lloyd Nicholson, who had the song published,—myself.”

She said that her father was a believer in State

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Rights; but he thought that the battle to be fought out at the polls, and not with the sword. She spoke of those who gave their lives, and of those gave the loved ones dearer than their own lives, to fight for what they believed to be the Right. But she thought we could all of us now join in a few lines she quoted from Maryland My Maryland, and a few more from The Star Spangled Banner.

We were given other sad or stirring songs by Southern writers; —one on the dying words of a young soldier who had been the only support of an aged mother: “Who will care for Mother, now”;— “A Mother’s Prayer,” with words and music by Mr. Otto Sutro;—the ringing “Stonewall Jackson’s Way,” by Dr. [John Williamson] Palmer; “The Vacant Chair,” written in Massachusetts, but sung both in North and South; “Dixie’s Land,” an old Minstrels’ Song; —“The Southern Cross,” set to the same tune as “The Star Spangled Banner[“]; a song “To the Exchanged Prisoners,” written by Mr. J. Teackle Wallis, when he was a prisoner in Fort Warren, in 1862; and “God Save the South,” by Mr. George H. Miles of Baltimore. Of course, “The Girl I Left Behind Me” was a song not forgotten by soldiers of either side.

Mrs. Shippen’s very entertaining article was received with applause.

Mrs. Turnbull announced, that the Committee for decorating the graves of authors and artists of Maryland, next All Souls’ Day, would publish a notice a week before that time, that those interested in this work may send flowers to the Committee room of the Club. She wished that this work might be known as the work of the Club.

Mrs. Turnbull also spoke of the great sorrow that had fallen on a member of our Board of Management, Miss [Henrietta] Szold, in the death of her sister. Mrs. [Annie Leakin] Sioussat was requested to draw up a resolution ex[tending] the sym[p]athy of her fellow members for Miss Szold.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs. O’Donovan for

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loan of her bronze statue of “The Toying Page.”

The meeting adjourned.

24th Salon.

The 24th Salon of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore was held on Tuesday, April 25, 8093, at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets.

The Recording Secretary having been absent can only copy the newspaper report of this meeting.

Report in the Baltimore Sun of April 26th, 1893.

“The Woman’s Literary Club enjoyed yesterday afternoon the usual monthly “Salon,” at which the reading of papers and poems was followed by informal talk and five o’clock tea. A bright and interesting paper on “The Education of French Girls” was read by Mademoiselle [Rosine] Mellé, instructor in French at Bryn Mawr School. Several unpublished letters by Sidney Lanier, written in the poet’s exquisite style, were read by Mrs. Turnbull,—who also read a charming little poem entitled “Twilight’s Hush,—an Etching,” by Mrs. Marguerite E. Easter.—Mrs. John M. Miller read a letter written by Madame Jerome Bonaparte, who was the beautiful Betsy Patterson, to her father while she was in England, and inclosing a piece of a ball gown, which she wore on some special occasion.—“My Lady’s Eyes,” a poem by Miss Anna Vernon Dorsey of Washington was also read.”

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83rd Meeting.

The eighty third meeting of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore was held on Tuesday, May 2nd, 1893, at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets.

The President, Mrs. Turnbull was in the chair.

The Recording Secretary read the Minutes of the meeting on Tuesday, April 18th.

The Recording Secretary also read the names of some new members presented at the meeting of the Board of Management, just adjourned, which had been approved by the Board, and were now duly submitted to the Club.

The President announced that our next meeting would be under the direction of the Committee on Economics. Also that are present meeting would be under the direction of the Committee on Fiction, of which Mrs. [Louise Clarkson] Whitelock and Miss [Sarah H.] Bennett were the Chairmen.

Our programme called for two articles on the Definitions of the Romantic and the Realistic Schools of Fiction;—but it was announced that the first Essay would be omitted, and that only the one on the Realistic School would be read to us. The name of the author of this article was not given. It was read by Miss [Annie S.] Perot.

It spoke of Realism, tersely defined, as truth, a statement of facts, with nothing extenuated, and nought set down in malice. Realism may give us noble ideals of life, but it does not analyze motives; it deals only with results. It portrays life often in humble conditions, but it needs not to describe vulgarities,—nor to thrust them before us;—it ought to preserve the dignity of literature. Theories are not denied,—but only recognized by their results. Realism may laugh at Romanticism, and tell us that man can not live on love alone, but all

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the realities of life belong to it, while life remains.

We may be reminded of Mr. [John] Ruskin’s assertion that: “Finding the world of Literature more or less divided into Thinkers and Seers, I believe we shall find also that the Seers are wholly the greater race of the two.”

Our next article was by Mrs. Whitelock, and was read by Mrs. Sloan. It was on “Morality in Fiction.”

Mrs. Whitelock [spoke] of moral Fiction as not that which is especially opposed to immorality, but as that which is pure and unhurtful. She spoke of those who read and admire Zola; and yet who would abhor and find disgusting in actual life scenes he paints. She reminded us of the late “Agnostic Novels” also. Then of the apparently well-meaning stories which have a bad lack of moral tone, and no comprehension of the higher life, or of what Wordsworth calls “high thinking.” But she thought it is possible to teach without preaching, and those of us who have young daughters and nieces well perhaps be disposed to give them the old-fashioned moral novel to read.

Mrs. Whitelock spoke of Hyperion, and of the works of “Miss Mulock,” as many of us continue to call her. We may call them “romantic,” but they give us high ideals, and we can hope and believe that such ideals will not fail us in the future.

Our programme promised us several short stories; and these had been written under the direction of the Fiction Committee. The subject was the same in every case, and it has been given to the several riders by the Committee. The subject was the meeting, after separation, of a man and a woman who had in lovers;—and each story was limited to two thou-

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sand words.

The first of the stories was written by Miss Bennett, and read by herself. The title was “Shadows.”

She described a little town, half-buried in snow, the trees bending under their heavy white covering, while a hard, beaten track, shining like silver, led up to the top of the hill. At one end of this path a tall, thin man was beating his hands together. From the other came a short and stout women, with black hair and eyes, who carried a basket on her arm; and was thinking aloud. The subject of her audible meditation was the momentous question of turning and repairing a dress, which had not only seen good service, but had apparently been turned and repaired before.

“Gimp at seventeen cents a yard won’t do, and the dressmaker won’t skimp,” she said. “Ruffles would be better, taken out of the back breadth, and then nobody would know it for the same dress.”

Suddenly she recognizes Luke Rollins, and with the voice and manner of bygone years tells him that he is the last man she would have expected to see that day;—well he answers that “Ca’line Smoot” was the last woman he would have looked for there.

“Ca’line Smallwood,” she answered, adding that the old rhyme said: “Change the name and not the letter, change for words and not for better;[“] but she wouldn’t say that in her case this had been true. She told him, moreover, that she was staying there with her “Cousin Lisbeth.”

As they talked on the woman was saying to herself, “I won’t ask after Maria. She played me a mean trick.” Nor did the man ask after Jonah Smallwood, his successful rival. And so they went on talking, with

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the shadows of Maria and Jonah Smallwood, unbidden,—forbidden recognition,—but actively felt.

The woman said Cousin Lisbeth was most particular, and it wouldn’t do to keep her table waiting for supper. But then they talked of [a] winter evening, long before, when there had been music and dancing, and they were both sure nobody else could ever play as well as the old colored fiddler did then. Still, no matter what subject they discussed, Ca’line whispered, “I won’t ask after Maria.”

But it last when Luke turned to go, she called after him, “Luke, how’s Maria?”

“Maria?” said Luke, “Why, Maria’s dead. She died five years ago. Poor Maria changed very much before she died. How’s Jonah?”

“He’s dead too,—eighteen months ago,” answered Ca’line. “He was a good provider.”

“I’m going your way Ca’line,” said Luke, “and I can carry the basket just as well as not.[“]

The moon rose, and they thought of the new moon of a time long past, when they looked over their shoulders to make wishes they believed it would come true.

Then, like overgrown children, they repeated their wishes as they walked on did the new moon that was rising again, now.
The next story was; “An Episode in Chamouni,[“] written and read by Mrs. [Alice Emma Sauerwein] Lord.

She told of a party traveling in Switzerland. It comprised an American lady, not unconscious nor unappreciative of the grand scenery around then, but sometimes constrained to yawn,—her little daughter,—her husband who was a pros-

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perous American, and a Frenchman with whom he talked about money, while both of the two latter appeared unmoved by the grandeur and sublimity of Nature.

“Mrs. Irving is always tired,” says her husband. She sympathizes with the mountaineers as he notices the laborious life they lead; but when she offers them money, and they refuse it, she is reminded that they are peasants, but not beggars.

Reaching a hotel in the evening, and feeling tired of the carriage, she goes out with her little daughter to take a walk. They find such Alpine roses and blue bells as they have seen nowhere else, but they also lose their way.

And here she meets again the man who had put the span of half the world between them, after that time when they had met and parted, in England, years before. He asks whether she is happy in her worship of the golden calf, and he claims the right to ask, because of all she once condemned him to suffer. She answers that she has two dear children, and an indulgent husband. She hopes he had forgiven and forgotten the past, and that the world has been kind to him also.

He picked [up] the tired child, and told her he was Mr. Gray no longer. Two cousins had died, making him a Lord. If she had known that would happen, it would have been unnecessary to sell her birthright. But they were quits,—and each knew that another mile-stone on life’s road had been passed.

On their return, when she introduced her friend, Lord Hatton[,] to her husband, it was a little difficult to interpret the artless prattle of the child to the money-king about the golden calf,

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And also afterwards, when the young Lord presents a beautiful woman as his wife, She says, “I shall always thank Chamouni for this meeting”;—and her husband says, “In America, you know, we are all lords.”

The next story was by Miss [Louisa Courtland Osburne] Haughton, and was called: “So Runs the World Away.”

Adolphus had gone away from Penelope 10 years earlier, and women learn much in that length of time. She kept his photograph,—and he had said “Auf Wiedersehen”; —but he had not come back yet, and perhaps he did not get many of her thoughts.

There were rivals for her love,—two artists, especially, who hated each other as [only] rivals in love, and artists can. The beautiful piece of work by artist number one,—representing Penelope in the act of refusing the suit of Philander—artist number two—was very much admired. Some people said there must be a Ulysses somewhere else,—otherwise she could not afford to wait. These of course were her dear, dear friends.

One day Adolphus comes to call, and is asked to come back to dine. While he is gone, she sits down to the piano, to think. Perhaps she must take a poor counterfeit, if not a reality;—but the heart once warm may have grown careless. The ten years might have been longer still;—there might have been some one else.

In due course of time they were married. Where they happy? Well, yes;—but she has devoted herself to music, and Adolphus has hated it.

Miss Bennett gave us the Minutes of the Fiction Class of our Club, written by Mrs. Whitelock.

There had been much original work done, consist-

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ing of stories, essays, critiques; reviews of Mr. [William Dean] Howells’s sometimes very unjust criticisms, and of those by Mr. Brander Matthews.[^Howells] The attendance had always been good, and the interest unflagging.
[^Howells] Howells and Matthews (1852-1929) were editors and literary critics; Howells was a longtime editor of the Atlantic Monthly and Matthews wrote criticism for the New York Times and became a professor at Columbia University in 1892.

Our programme have been shortened, and Mrs. Turnbull had been requested to read to us some extracts from her own last book, “Val Maria,” and she had consented to do so.

She read first the opening of the book, to give the setting of the story. She painted the estate of Val Maria, and the home of count Louis de Montal, with his wife in only child, Felix, as a spot of seclusion and peace; with the statue in shrine of the Madonna of Val Maria,—a statue not beautiful artistically, or even capable of being beautified by the mellowing touch of time; but sacred to the village-folks, who are free to find on this Virgin’s face whatever expression it was in their hearts to give her.

It was at the time of the Directory, the Reign of Terror was passed, and the young general Bonaparte was rising into notice. The life of the village in the life of the castle unfold before us naturally and attractively. The child Felix is beautiful and enthusiastic,—too spiritual for length of days, and with the purity unsullied by earthly evil. The Count has a knightly soul, and, giving the First Consul credit for an absorbing and disinterested love for France, accepts the position of senator, scarcely confessing to himself that he had begun to count on Bonaparte as the savior of his country.

The child shares his fathers enthusiasm, and

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makes of the First Consul, and afterwards of the Emperor, in his own mind, the truest and noblest of heroes.

Mrs. Turnbull read the scene in the studio, where the boy-Artist shows his father his studies for the head of Napoleon, some day to be put into marble. The father can only listen to the child who—

[poetry]
“—still is nature’s priest;
And by the vision splendid
Is on his way attended.”
[/poetry]

although—

[poetry]
“—the man perceives it die away.
And fade into the light of common day.”
[/poetry]

Mrs. Turnbull also read to us a scene in Florence, where the mother takes her son to what had been her own early home, and the boy is delighted by the wonders he finds there.

Finally we were given the last scene in the book. The boy has made the bust of his beloved ruler of men,—as his pure eyes saw him. This last scene is a striking piece of word-painting. The time is during the fateful “hundred days”²;—and the world-worn emperor is brought face-to-face with the image of himself,—as he perhaps might and ought to have been,—in the presence of the image’s creator, the youthful sculptor, lying calmly waiting for “the unbidden guest,” in “the beauty of holiness,” in

[poetry]
“—the faith that looks through death.” [/poetry]

The thanks of the Club having been given to our president for her reading; the meeting adjourned.

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84th Meeting

The eighty-fourth meeting of the Woman’s LIterary Club of Baltimore was held on Tuesday May 9th, 1893, at the corner of Cathedral and Franklin Streets.

Mrs. Turnbull, the President[,] called the meeting to order; and the Recording Secretary read the minutes of the meeting of May 2nd.

The announcement was made that two books have been presented to the Club, one by Miss Whitney, and one by professor Milton Whitney.

The names of new members which had received favorable action by the Board of Management — and no objection from the Club—where again read to the Club. They were six in number;—Mrs. Bertha Hall Ahrens,—Mrs. R. K. [Lucy Randolph] Cautley,—Miss Mary D. [Dorsey] Davis,—Mrs. Sidney [Clara B. Newman] Turner,—Mrs. Henry J. Oudesluys,—and Mrs. R. M. Wiley.

Mrs.[Caroline Canfield] Bullock, the Treasurer, read her yearly Report,—in this case,—dating from last November, when she accepted the office, until the present time. It was a clear and satisfactory statement of the items of receipts and expenditures,—showing good management, and avoidance of debt, and closing with a balance in the bank. The balance with which our treasurer began her work, was forty-eight dollars seventy-nine cents [$48.79],— Received up to May 1883, eight hundred thirty dollars one cent [$800.01], making the Assets eight hundred seventy eight dollars eighty cents—$878.80. The Expenditures were seven hundred twenty two dollars seventy two cents—$722.72—, leaving a Balance of one hundred fifty six dollars eight cents— $155.08. Miss [Mary F.] Grace said we are to be congratulated on

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receiving such a Report,—and moved a vote of thanks to the Treasurer.

Our President said that we had never been in debt.

Miss Grace’s motion was seconded by Miss [Lizette Woodworth] Reese, and was carried without opposition.

The President showed us a cup and saucer presented to the Club by Miss [Eliza] Ridgely,—a beautiful specimen of gilding, looking like gold itself, which was the discovery and work of a woman.

It was announced [that] the meeting of the next Tuesday would be under the direction of the Committee on Current Criticism, of which Mrs. [Aileen B. C.] Dammann is chairman.

The meeting being held was under the direction of the Committee on Economics, under the Chairmanship of Miss Mary Wilcox Brown.

It was announced that we would be unable to have this evening the paper promised on our programme to be given by Miss [Jane] Zacharias.

Mrs. [W. H.] Anderson was called on to give us the Report of the work done by our Class in Economics. She told us that in the year 1891, a few—some six—of our members met, at the house of Miss [Charlotte Dellacklot] Thompson, to study Political Economy. They began with the book of Mrs. Millicent Fawcett,—Fawcett being a name of a good omen since a daughter of that house has won the right to stand before the Senior Wrangler at Oxford. Our political economist studied the requisites of Production—Land—Labor, and Capital;—plodded through the problems belong to values and wages, supply and demand, bimettalism [bimetallism],—and Adam Smith’s four Canons of Taxation.³ Such fun as this went on until the brains felt bruised and battered; and the meetings generally

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closed with a cup of tea, to refresh exhausted vitality. Mr. Thackeray, I believe, said Heaven meant kindly by women when tea was made.

When the warm weather came, the inspirer of the Political Economy Class had gone across the Atlantic; and soon the numbers dwindled, to two lone women; who, without hesitation, decided Political Economy to be a cold-weather study.

Beginning again with new courage in the autumn, the place of meeting was changed to the rooms of Miss [Mary Worthington] Milnor; and the class studied several approved authors; including Professor Simon Newcomb and Mr. [John Stuart] Mill; and even made acquaintance with the works of Mr. Henry George. Mrs. Anderson quoted to us the saying of a woman that the carrying out of one of Mr. George’s theories was like the burning down the house to roast a pig. This woman would seem to relegate Mr. George back to the companionship of Charles Lamb’s prehistoric Chinaman, in the Essay on Roast Pig.⁴

Mrs. Anderson went on to describe the study accomplished and the work done by the Committee on Economics, after the moving into the handsome new quarters of our Club, and their having possession of our pleasant Committee room. She spoke of the meeting address by Archdeacon Moran, to which the whole Club was invited; and of the interest of other Committee meetings, to which other speakers and writers have contributed. Also of articles given at our general meetings; especially of the very interesting one of Miss [Eliza] Ridgley on the College Settlement in Philadelphia; and of that of Miss de Graffenried on The Housing of the Poor. Then of the vital interest that has been aroused in vital questions, in

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the efforts of the present, and the hopes of the future.

Our programme promised us “A Talk about Pullman,” by Miss Mary Wilcox Brown. Miss Brown said that, before describing her visit to Pullman, which is now considered a suburb of Chicago, she would lead up to her subject by mentioning some of the things that have been done for ameliorating the condition of the laboring classes in America, elsewhere. She spoke of the difference between the conditions of the present and those of the past; the protection given to the laborer, of co-operation, and trades-unions. She told us of Robert Owens of England, and of many who followed him; of the Rockdale pioneers; of the work done in France, and in America, and even in our own city of Baltimore. She dwelt on the difference between work done for charity or philanthropy, and work done, on strict business principles, for the good of all concerned, now,—and henceforward. Mr. Pullman, she said, is working to prevent evil, not to cure it, and disclaims the name of philanthropist.

Miss Brown went on to Pullman alone, and arrived safely at the Hotel Florence,—named after Mr. Pullman’s daughter; he himself, being the owner of the whole place. She found the settlement clean, bright and attractive. There are twelve hundred houses, chiefly of brick,—not more than seventy five frame houses in the place. There is a park, and a public library of four thousand volumes, to which additions are often made. She described the Arcade Buildings, and also the halls in which the religious services of different denominations are held. Also the halls

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for musical, literary and theatrical entertainment. Also of the loan and savings bank, which receives deposits of respectable amounts, especially on Saturday evenings, after the workmen are paid off. She spoke of the excellent sanitary arrangements, on which one million of dollars are said to have been spent. The work shops are comfortable, the dust of the furnaces is consumed, and not breathed. There are almost all languages talked, and almost all nationalities represented among the workmen. The best workmen are said to be the Swedes. The work is all piece work, not days-work; and the men generally work ten hours a day. The public schools are part of the system of Chicago. Almost everything for the Pullman cars is made at the Works, except the plush, curtain materials, china-ware and glass. At the hour for dinner the workmen come out, looking clean, and with their coats on. There is no direct profit sharing; but it seems to be made for the interest of all to do good work.

Mr. Pullman says that the time has not yet come for the workmen to own land in Pullman; but half a mile off in the country they can, and, to some extent, do, own houses of their own.

Miss Brown told us that there had never been a strike in Pullman;—that there were five doctors there, but no lawyer.

Mrs. [Francese Litchfield] Turnbull congratulated the Committee on Economics; which, with so young to chairman as theirs, had been able to add so much to the interest of our Club.

Mrs. [Gertrude Pierce] Easby next gave us some account of the Cannon Foundry of the Krupps at Essen in

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Germany. She regretted that the facts she had to give us were not new,—but rather an old story. The Krupp Works are larger than those at Pullman, and our managed on the principle that it pays to take care of workmen, and make them comfortable. There are stores, where necessaries are furnished at something like cost rates. There are relief associations; there are special surgeons provided; also an oculist,—as working in iron is apt to be dangerous to the eyes. There is no theatre, however; for, as Mr. Conway says; “People who work from ten to twelve hours a day have no time to enjoy dramatic art.”

Mrs. Anderson next read a letter from Mr. Howard, a labor statistician, on co-operative unions in Baltimore. He told of an attempt made some time ago to buy coal in large quantities, at summer prices, and to sell it in the winter, at summer rates also;—which failed; owing to a lack of comprehension, or of appreciation, or the dislike of a new venture in those who were intended specifically to be benefitted by the plan.

Miss [Jenny] Nelson also gave us a letter from Mr. Howard, giving some information relating to the Tailors’ Co-operative Union, and to the garment cutters’ strike of some little time ago.

In the discussion that followed, it was recalled to us that workmen continually fail to appreciate that the enormous majority of men are not fitted to be leaders; and many object to the semblance of being led.

Mrs. [Annie Leakin] Sioussat quoted the opinion of Frederick Maurice that the principles of Christianity must be applied to trade and industry, and must be

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proved not incompatible with them. She spoke of the work done in Boston by the Church of the Carpenter; where co-operation is carried on to give employment to those who need it, in the name of the great Founder of such co-operation. It is this kind of work that can add the Keystone to the arch that shall bridge the gulf so long yawning before us.

Miss Comins next spoke of the beautiful building on the cup and saucer presented to the Club by Miss Ridgely; and said that Miss Ely, the Discover of the new process, had wished her sister to introduce her to a Mr. Cooley, who would be likely to buy her right in the secret of this production. The interview was polite, but amusing; as Miss Ely did not dare to make experiments in Mr. Cooley’s presence, nor to tell him enough of the secret to make him take the risk of a chance—which might not be the main chance to him.

Miss Comins however believed now that the discoverer of the process I had made arrangements by which it would be carried on under her own direction.

The meeting adjourned.

85th Meeting. [May 15th, 1893]

The eighty fifth meeting of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore was held on Tuesday, May 15th, 1893, at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets.

The meeting was called to order by Mrs.

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[Francese Litchfield] Turnbull, the President; and the Recording Secretary read the Minutes of the previous meeting on May 9th.

The President read a letter from Miss Keyser, the sister of Mr. Ephraim Keyser, the Sculptor. It expressed the gratification of Mr. Keyser from the high appreciation shown by the Woman’s Literary Club of his own State for his work as an artist. He had expressed particular pleasure that one of his works had inspired the poetic muse of a member of the Club.

Our President then spoke of the honor lately conferred upon one of our honorary members, Miss Sarah Adams, the sister of our own Miss Elizabeth Adams. Our honorary member has come back to America from Europe, with a gold medal presented to her by the German Government in token of their appreciation of her efforts toward the success of the lately erected Memorials to Goethe and Schiller. Miss Sarah Adams had also been chosen by Grimm as the translator of his Works into English.

A letter was then read by the Vice President Miss [Louisa Courtland Osburne] Haughton, from our fellow member, Miss Elizabeth Adams; “To the Ladies of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore,” presenting to us a beautiful portrait, painted by herself, of our first, and for three years only President, Mrs. Turnbull. Miss Adams’s letter spoke of the excellent work done by the Club in the various departments of Literature and Art, during the three years of its existence,–“in

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all of which the guiding hand of Mrs. Turnbull has been felt.” “For all this,” says the letter, “let us thank her; and let me hope that this portrait will bring her in full remembrance to you all.[“]

A vote to thank Miss Adams was moved by Miss Brent, and seconded by Miss [Mary F.] Grace; and of course, carried immediately.

Mrs. [Caroline Canfield] Bullock then read to us an Article in the last Churchman, giving an account of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore. It spoke of the founders and prominent members of our Club,–of our President,–of the late Mrs. Tiernan [Mary Spear Tiernan],–Mrs. Franklin [Christine Ladd-Franklin],–Miss Hester Crawford Dorsey [Hester Crawford Dorsey Richardson],–Miss Woods [Katharine Pearson Woods],–Miss [Lizette Woodworth] Reese, and others; and gave some account of the excellent work, and growing good influence of the Club. It closed with a very appropriate quotation from the last annual address of our President.⁵

Mrs. Turnbull next announced the request of our Treasurer, Mrs. Bullock, that her Report presented at our last meeting, should be audited by a Committee of her fellow members. As a matter of routine, the President appointed Mrs. [Annie Leakin] Sioussat and Miss [Henrietta] Szold as this committee.

The President then announced that at our next meeting the annual election for all the officers of the Club would be held; and that to give time for this important business at half past three as usual. She also announced the Method or Scheme by which this election will be conducted,–as follows:

• “A Judge of Election to be appointed to conduct the business of the Election.
• “Three tellers to be chosen by the Judge of the Election.

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• “One Teller to hold and give to the other Tellers, for distribution, blanks corresponding to the number of persons present,–no more,–no less.
• “Colored blanks shall be distributed by the Tellers, on which each member is requested to make one nomination for the Presidency.
• “These blanks shall be collected, and must correspond to the number of members present.
• “All names receiving five (5) nominations will be considered as candidates. These names shall be written on the blackboard, with the number of nominations received.
• White blanks shall then be distributed, and members shall vote for President, and the Candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast shall be declared first ballot, other ballots shall be cast until an election is made.
• “The other officers to be nominated and voted for in the same manner as for President;–with the exception of the Corresponding Secretary; who is nominated by the President, and voted for by the Club.
• “Doorkeepers shall be appointed to see that only members of the Club shall be admitted while the Election shall be in progress.
• “Voting by letter shall be done by sealed notes, sent by mail, and with the signature of the voter.”

Announcement was made to the members who have not received their certificates of membership, that they can; if they wish, apply for them.

Announcement was also made that it is expected to

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form in the Club, a Committee on Archeology which members interested in that subject may wish to join.

Also that a Class in Geology in connection with the work of the Academy of Sciences is proposed. Dr. [Philip] Uhler has spoken of some new discoveries in this department of knowledge in the neighborhood of Baltimore; and he would be glad to see a more wide spread interest taken in the subject. The first meeting of this Class would be held on Thursday, at five o’ clock.

The first literary article on our programme was by Miss [Annie S.] Perot, and was on the “Fin de Siecle, School of Fiction.”–She spoke of the Fiction of the present day; its lack of spirituality, its want of the development of the hidden meaning of common things, its treatment of Art as an end, and not as a means to reach something higher still. She spoke of the influence of [Robert] Browning and of [Richard] Wagner, and of other leaders of thought and expression in the nineteenth century. She spoke of the Fictions of Russia and Germany and France, as well as of those of England and America,–critically comparing their characteristics.

The review was entertaining; but perhaps we may hope, that before the real Fin de Siecle, we may have better Fiction still than the first three years of the last decade of our century have been giving us; that the literature and and art of even the near future may, in its own way follow the clear leading voice of the late poet laureate,

[poetry]
“Call me not so often back!
Forward to the starry track,
On, and always on!”⁶

Mrs. [Anna Dolores Tiernan] Tait, of the Committee on Current Criticism, next gave us her review of a Romance: “The Chevalier di Pensieri Vani,” by Henry B. Fuller. It was a lively de-

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scription of scenery and characters, and especially of different points of view. The book is remarkable for the characterization evolved by description, without the aid of conversations; that is, without any talking in the first person at all, except by the author himself.

Mrs. Tait brought before us with varied and lively interest the typical Italians,–male and female;–the English Duke, “fully armored in an amalgam of insularity and cosmopolitanism;” and Mr. G. W. Occident, an American. This last young man has left the “general awfulness” of Shelby County, “to see for himself if life were not better worth living than he could make it seem in the region where he had had the misfortune to be born.” Yet he finds it hard to forgive the blunt declaration of one of his Italian friends, that “America might indeed be an example to older countries,–to serve less as a pattern than as a warning.”

Mrs. Tait gave us the Finale; in which Occident finds in the person of a successful Prima Donna in Italy, a girl, from Shelby County also;–and they two conclude to go back to their old home and old friends; taking with them grateful remembrances of the Cavaliere di Pensieri Vani.

The next article on our programme was of three Poems by Miss Reese. The first was on “Lilies of the Valley.” She seemed to bring us these flowers of today, and to bring with them the olden times that bloom again for us when they bloom with the old perfume and loveliness. The second was called, “In a Prayer Book”; telling of the warfares that we must wage alone, and of the eternal comfort of knowing that the greatest Love is love still, and still prevails.

Another poem read by Miss Reese tells us that

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“Polly looks from her window, and takes the air,”–and “hears the nightingale,”–“when April is in town,” making us feel that even in town the good gift of spring can come to us.

One other poem she read to us was called: “Fra Basil;”–telling of the pious, artless brother, who works in his garden for this Lord; and hopes that when in–or near–his Lord’s presence, he may have a little garden to work in, for his Lord’s praise still.

The next article on our programme was a story by Miss [Sarah H.] Bennett, called: “A Corrected Impression.” In this story we have Margaret, who has brought her knitting and come to spend the evening with Belvedera. Both of them are sixty; both widows; but Belvedera has been a beauty; and a village belle; and Margaret has been “very plain” always:–which makes them different being of course. Yet Margaret has had a husband worth having, in her opinion, and in that of her neighbors, apparently;–and she visits his grave very often, saying “it is no much company for her” to be near where he lies. They talk of old times, recalling a certain Sunday when Belvedera wore her new spring bonnet and dress, and set the hearts of boys–and perhaps of the girls too–in a flutter. Margaret confesses that was the only time she ever felt jealous of Belvedera;–just then, when Joe left her, and went to talk to Belvedera for a minute or two. But he came back to her,–and asked her to marry him too. Of course she said “yes,”–“she had not thought she was going to get the pick of the lot.”

Belvedera, after a moment, asks Margaret if she shall tell her what Joe said to her on that occasion? Mar-

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garet assenting; Belvedera tells her that Joe said: “Belvedera, let’s take everything back, and be just as we were before.” “I only laughed at him,” she said, “I thought he was just like the rest of the boys;–but he wasn’t.” “You don’t mind Margaret,–do you?” “No, I don’t,” said Margaret;–but she got up, and went home.

A little later she goes to Joe’s grave;–but her very prayer there is an indignant protest that it is not right for Belvedera to have had everything,–even Joe’s love.

The bliss that may have been ignorance, was gone for ever,–or for this world, at any rate.

The last article on our programme was by Miss Brent, and was on “Lorenzo di Medici.” She quoted [Thomas Babington] Macaulay’s eloquent description of the glory of Florence under the rule of the Medici family. She told us of the early life of Lorenzo; of his literary and artistic tastes; of his immense work for the improving and beautifying of Florence. Also, of his sonnets to his lady-love,–telling of a love more poetical than passionate, perhaps, for we were reminded of his saying, that poetry had made him a lover,–not love a poet. She spoke of his having been made to marry a lady chosen for him by his father; but she thought that the marriage was a happy one; and, in testimony to his opinion, she read us a pleasant letter to his wife, showing, as she said, that husbands and wives probably wrote to each other in those days very much the same kind of letters that they write to each other now. She told us of the great men of that time; not only those of Florence, but the great men of other countries also, who were attracted by the wealth of art and learning concentrated in the beautiful city on the Arno. Miss [Emma Fenwick] Brent closed with Mrs.

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[Anna Brownell] Jameson’s description of Florence;–“which seems to gather into itself all that makes life a sunny dream of beauty and delight.”

The meeting adjourned.

86th Meeting. [May 23, 1893]

The eighty sixth Meeting of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore,–being the occasion of the annual election of all the officers of the Club,–was held on May 23rd, 1893, at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets.

The meeting was called to order by the President, Mrs. [Francese Litchfield] Turnbull. The Recording Secretary read the minutes of the meeting of May 16th.

The President announced the last Salon of the year, on Tuesday next, would be our Anniversary Meeting, in which the whole work of the past year would be reviewed. Mrs. Turnbull spoke of the influence of our Club, and of its responsibilities; and, in a few graceful words, invited us to assume the right and privilege of electing our officers for the coming year.

The Scheme or Order of Election, which had been adopted by the Board of Management, and submitted to the Club at its last meeting, was then read to us.

In accordance with this plan, Mrs. [M. N.] Perry was chosen Judge of the Election. She appointed as the three tellers Mrs. [Alice Emma Sauerwein] Lord, Mrs. [Louise C.] Haman and Miss [Edith] Duer;–the first to hold and give out the blanks for distribution, and the others to receive and count the votes. Mrs. [Aileen B. C.] Dammann was made Secretary of the Election, and Miss Fannie [Fanny] Hoffman was made the Doorkeeper.

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The Roll of members was called by Mrs. [Caroline Canfield] Bullock, the Treasurer. Fifty seven members answered to their names, and afterwards the representation was increased by arrivals and by letters to sixty one names.

The first action in order was the nomination of candidates for President. It had been agreed that all names receiving five or more nominating votes should be written on the blackboard, for the information of the members.

The first nominating ballot resulted in the choice of four names. [Written in pencil:] [Emma Fenwick] Brent - [Mrs. W. Woolsey] Johnson - [Elizabeth] Adams - [Elizabeth T.] King.

The first elective ballot resulted in a majority for Miss Brent,–who was elected President.

The nominating ballot for Vice President resulted in the choice of five names. [In pencil:] Adams - King - Johnson - [Annie Leakin] Sioussat - [Mary Wilcox] Brown.

The first elective ballot resulted in no majority.

Three of the candidates having withdrawn their names, on the second elective ballot Miss King was elected First Vice President. [In pencil:] (over Miss Adams.)

The nominating ballot for Second Vice President resulted in the choice of four names. [In pencil:] [Louisa Courtland Osburne] Haughton, Adams, Johnson, Brown.

On the first elective ballot, Miss Haughton was elected First Vice President.

The nominating ballot for Recording Secretary showing a full majority for one candidate, the Club in order to save time, voted viva voce to consider the nomination an election, and Miss [Lydia] Crane was declared re-elected Recording Secretary.

The nominating ballot for Treasurer resulted in the choice of two names. [In pencil:] [Caroline Canfield] Bullock and [Henrietta] Szold.

On the first elective ballot Mrs. Bullock was re-elected Treasurer.

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The new President, Miss Brent then nominated for Corresponding Secretary, Miss Annie [S.] Perot.

By a standing vote, Miss Perot was elected, without opposition, Corresponding Secretary.

Miss Brent then thanked the Club for the honor done her, and expressed her hope and belief that each member of the Club would seek to work with her, and for the mental growth and advancement of us all.

The nominating ballot for the six members of the Executive Committee resulted in the names of twenty one members receiving more than five votes.

After one indecisive ballot,–as it was growing late, and there were evidences of an approaching storm,–the Judge of Election announced that it was necessary to adjourn the meeting to a subsequent occasion, at which the election could be concluded.

The new President appointed the time of meeting again as Saturday Morning, May 27th, at 11 o’clock, until which time, the meeting adjo[u]rned.

Special Meeting. [May 27, 1893]

The adjourned meeting of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore, held for the special purpose of completing the election of officers for the Club[,] year of 1893 and 1894, took place on Saturday morning, May 27th 1893, at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets.

The officers still to be elected were the six members of the Executive Committee.

The Officers of the Election were the same as on

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the occasion of the former meeting, with the exception of the tellers, Miss [Virginia Woodward] Cloud doing duty in that capacity for Mrs. [Louise C.] Haman.

At half past eleven, the Club proceeded to business.

There were thirty eight members present,–and fourteen members sent their written, sealed, votes, making a total of fifty two votes.

During the meeting some discussion arose on the right of members present to refrain from voting. It was ruled that any member desiring to so refrain ought to leave the room.

The first ballot for the election of the first member of the Executive Committee resulted in a majority for Miss Mary Willcox [Wilcox] Brown, who was, of course declared elected.

For the second member of the Executive Committee five ballots were taken, the fifth resulting in the [election] of Mrs. [Alice Emma Sauerwein] Lord.

The first ballot for the third member of the Executive Committee resulted in the election of Miss [Henrietta] Szold.

For the fourth member of the Executive Committee two ballots were taken;–the second ballot resulting in the election of Mrs. [W. Woolsey] Johnson.

For the fifth member of the Executive Committee four ballots were taken,–the fourth ballot resulting in the election of Miss [Mary F.] Grace.

For the sixth member of the Executive Committee, eight indecisive ballots were taken.

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Not only did the candidates seem to have very constant supporters and friends, but the votes sent by mail, which could not be changed, added to the number necessary to be a choice, and consequently to the difficulty of obtaining a majority.

The hour was growing late, and a compromise ticket was proposed presenting two names taken from the list on the blackboard. On this ticket two ballots were taken, resulting in the election of Mrs. [Aileen B. C.] Dammann, as the sixth member of the Executive Committee.

A vote of thanks was given to our members who had acted as officers of the Election, and the meeting adjourned.

25th Salon. [May 20, 1893]

The twenty fifth Salon of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore, being the last meeting of the season of 1892 and 1893 took place on Tuesday, May 30th, 1893, at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets. It was also the anniversary occasion of the year; and was, as previously arranged, under the direction of the officers for the year just closing.

Our first–and, for three years, only–President, Mrs. [Francese Litchfield] Turnbull, called the meeting to order.

The Recording Secretary read her Report of the year’s literary work of the Club; which was, of course, compiled from her minutes of the meetings of the year, and recollections of specially interesting meetings.

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The Librarian, Miss [Virginia Woodward] Cloud, then gave us her Report, of our library; which in November 1892, numbered sixty three volumes, and now numbered two hundred. After enumerating the books presented during the year, she spoke of our gratitude to our members, and to our other friends, who have increased the number of books in our library.

As our Librarian has also been our Corresponding Secretary for the past year, a vote of thanks for all her work was moved by Mrs. [Elizabeth Turner] Graham, and seconded by Mrs. [Marguerite E.] Easter. In this motion the Recording Secretary was also included, and it was passed without opposition.

Mrs. Turnbull then gave us the President’s Anniversary Address, which was also her farewell to us, before leaving for a long visit to Europe. Our retiring President spoke to us of our gathering to celebrate our third Anniversary. There has been a great advance in our material progress,–a thing which might be able to help, or hinder, our mental or spiritual progress. But we trust that the progress and success near to our hearts has been great also, that our work has taken a higher intellectual rank as time has gone on, and that into the domain which is higher still than that of intellect, we have gone, with larger views and nobler ideals.

Mrs. Turnbull went on to speak of the recognition our work has received outside of our own circle. She spoke of her strong faith in the methods that have so far been pursued in our efforts to encourage “right and serious views of life and

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literature"; and deprecated some proposed changes in these methods; as, for instance, the more frequent introduction into our social meetings of men as well as women. She thought that our work should be distinctly woman’s work, in the few hours we give to it, and to each other in our weekly meetings.

She spoke also of our Board of Management, and of the work, especially the detailed or preliminary work, which it seems necessary in all organizations to commit to a selected number or portion of the members.

Mrs. Turnbull reminded us of the critical age we live in; of the power of self-criticism; of our efforts to be artists in words; and of the value of artistic reticence. She spoke of the spiritualization of thought, and of the higher plane of literature that we hope for in the future.

She then spoke of her love for the Club, and for the work we have all done together, and of her regret in leaving it, and us. She thanked us for the genuine appreciation of her motives, and for the co-operation she had received in her three years association with us;–and commended to our consideration and support our newly elected President.

Mrs. Turnbull closed her address with the hope that the work dear to her heart, as to ours also, would have in the future a real, spiritual influence, harmonious, restful, and inspired.

Miss [Louisa Courtland Osburne] Haughton then spoke earnestly and enthusiastically of all that Mrs. Turnbull has done for the Club;–of her wise suggestions and decisions; of her unfailing care and thoughtfulness, which has largely contributed to make the Club a happy

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influence in unlooked for directions and circles.

She then presented to Mrs. Turnbull a badge, bearing the Club colors and motto; which our first President was requested to wear, as a token of grateful from fellow members.

In closing, Miss Haughton said that instead of using our own “good-bye,” we would borrow from our German cousins their “Auf Wiedersehen!”

Mrs. Turnbull, in very few words gave thanks for the tributes she had received, and hoped that all the flowers blossoming here today might continue to give beauty and fragrance to the future for all of us.

Mrs. Easter then read a original poem; speaking of the hush that comes to the woods, and to our Arcadian dreams in them, when the evening shadows are falling, and of the hush that comes to our spirits also, when the shadow is falling of the the absence of one very near to us.

Miss [Maria H.] Middleton next read some lines of her own addressed, “To our Friend, who is going away.[“]

Miss [Lizette Woodworth] Reese next gave us one of her happy musical songs, “April in Town,”–and making a graceful reference to the portrait of our retiring President.

Mrs. Turnbull said she felt herself all unworthy, in having no fitting words to give to her friends; but she thought that next to her home she would always hold the Club in her heart. She then spoke of the thanks due to the members of the retiring Board of Management;–also of their unselfish

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work with her during the past year. And in now leaving the Chair, she presented to us the new President, and asked for loyal and generous support for her and her high ideals.

Miss [Emma Fenwick] Brent said she wished to fulfill the work of her predecessor; or, at least to do a part of what our first President had done. For herself, she hoped for harmony among old and new friends, in our intellectual and literary work. She remind[ed] us of the saying of the great philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton, “that he seemed to himself like a child playing on the sea-shore, now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than usual, while the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before him. That surely in this Spirit, and remembering always that love is the fulfilling of the law,” we can go on to study the little things–the low tones–of home, or the music of the Spheres. We can go on–

[poetry]
“Till old experience do attain
To something like prophetic strain.”
[/poetry]

“We know that no life is for itself alone, that each life tells something for eternity.

Miss Brent then thanked our first, and until now, only, President for all that she has done for us.

The announcement was made of the literary Committees of the Club for the coming year.

Notice was given that certificates of membership could be applied for by those members who have not received them.

The rest of the evening was chiefly spent in social intercourse,–and, as the programme said:

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[poetry]
–“Over the Tea-cups,–and over some other good things.
[/poetry]

Mrs. Graham presented to us some refreshing, “non-alcoholic punch,” which was introduced to the Club by lively verses written and read by Miss Piggott [Margaret Moore Piggot],–singing the praises of Lend-a-Hand Punch.

With many parting regrets, but with happy hopes for the future re-unions the meeting adjourned.[^marginal note]

[^marginal note]: Copies from this time made by Miss Hastings of Miss Crane’s Reports.

[END OF SEASON]

---

1. “Maryland, My Maryland,” the state song from 1929-2021, was sung to the tune of the familiar German Christmas carol “O Tannenbaum”; the tune was also used for college and high school anthems and fight songs, as noted by Shippen in her article. ↩︎

2. The “Hundred Days” marked the final stage of the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, the 110 days between his return to Paris on Mar. 20, 1815 from exile on the island of Elba to the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on July 8, 1815. ↩︎

3. Bimetallism is currency system accepting two metals (in this case, gold and silver) as legal tender, in a fixed ratio to one another. Smith’s "four canons of taxation, outlined in The Wealth of Nations, include 1) equity; 2) certainty; 3) convenience; and 4) economy. ↩︎

4. Lamb’s “A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig” included reference to an essay by Chinese philosopher Confucius on the discovery of the culinary technique of roasting meat. Henry George (1839-1897) was a noted economist whose socialist views, popularized in his book Progress and Poverty, were widely espoused in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. ↩︎

5. The article “The Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore” appeared in the May 13, 1893 issue of The Churchman, p. 665. ↩︎

6. Crane quotes from Alfred Tennyson’s “The Silent Voices” (1892).
   [/poetry] ↩︎