Page 130 - YB1899

Browning J:it¢rary SOti¢ty. HERE seems to be a popular belief that anything established and sup- ported by girls is a very silly affair, and that it will in a very short time ( fall through. The fallacy of such an opinion has well be shown by the success of Browning Literary Society. In the year 1867-having in mind, perhaps, the great female society of Sappho, or, what is less probable, the organization which had been formed recently "on the other side," Irving Literary Society-the girls of W. M. C. banded themselves together for the purpose of devoting themselves to literature. Of course, after organizing, the first thing they had to do was to find a name for their Society. As it was to be literary, the most right and proper name for it would be that of some one who is distinguished in letters and, as it was to be composed entirely of girls, that of a woman would be most appropriate. So, therefore, they wisely named their society Browning, for one of the few women that have a right to be placed among the famous English poets. The next thing that claimed their attention was a motto. Their choice shows plainly that not the boys, but the classics had influenced them to form a society. For, being unable to speak Greek, they immediately framed their motto in Latin- "Vita sine litteris mors est:" But the idea was good; for, by the Latin motto and the name of a modern English poet, they showed that their intention was to embrace every branch of literature. The most requisite thing for a literary society is a good library. Immediately upon her formation Browning commenced to collect books for this purpose. Dr. Ward, at that time president ofthe College, kindly contributed many books from his large library to lay the foundation of hers. Ever since then the number of books has been increasing. This year over fifty new volumes, mostly the works of the best English poets, have been added. In 1882 the Society evidently became too large for the hall, for some of its members found it necessary to form a new society under' the name of Philoma- thean, having, as far as we can ascertain, the same purpose and constitution as Browning- Of her success one of her members will tell you. For several years there has been a spirit of rivalry between her and us, but this is 'far from being detrimental to either, for competition is the life of literary strivings as well as of trade. Evidently Professor Newell thought so, for in 1888 he offered to give each year a small gold star to the Society, two of whose members should write and deliver the better, an original essay. Browning has five stars; lately she has been unsuccessful in obtaining them, but she is still hopeful. Besides, at our contest, we appear once only each year before the public; 120