The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-01

disposition seemed ~ unite them in close
friendship, and they stuck together with
amazing ienacity Perhaps something was
due to the clnnnish fpiri, which has always
distinguished the Crosscauscway boys; but
after all, general desire for mutual i'm
prnvement was the primary cementing
principle Of the society. The club began
with five or six, but subsequently, was in.
creased TO thirteen members. At the time
they commenced operations, books were
not easily got. There were M chcup pub
LEGATIONS in those days, and few even at n
moderate price. The only way of obtain
ing book at cost within ordinary bounds
OF possibility, was to pick j, up at stall;
aud from the keeper OF one Of these vcneru-
BILE repositories Of literature, Mt the foot OF
the High School Wynd, our party of selt.
improvers managed to secure decayed
copy Of Euclid, IN English grammar, and a
Latin Rudimen,s.
With these aids to study, the business Of
mutual teaching was begun; and in about
six months afterwards French grammar
was added. A poor student Of divinity for
the Latin, and mn old soldier who could
smatter a little French, helped 10 forward
the scheme Of instruction; but beyond this
no external aid was sought. As time went
on, the members found their mental cnpa-
cities not little expanded; and they un-
dertook the writing Of ESSAYS for debate a,
their meetings. Little superior to the or
binary compositions of young men of indii-
ierent education, these ESSAYS nevertheless
evinced that their authors were thoroughly
in earnest ia their pursuit Of mental i'm.
provement. Being at the mercy of gcner-
al criticism, any tendency to superficiality.
carcIessness Of diction, or unsoundness OF
logic, was peremptorily checked. A mate
rial benefit which arose from the practice
Of essay writing, wns the degree Of self.
reliance il imposed. |. compelled the wri-
tiers to think; and though they might no.
always think rightly, the mind was exerci-
sed-a point of no little Importance to the
young and aspiring. Probably The prac-
tice was also negatively advantageous; for
it occupied attention during leisure hours,
and may have prevented indulgence in
proti,less or unworthy pursuits.
We need say no more Of The mu,nn-in-
struction part Of the plan, than that j, con-
tri5u,ed TO advance in lie several members
of the society. II also gave TO nearly all
greater zest in their respective occupations,
for the pleasures derived from the pursui,
of knowledge are independent of mere
worldly station. 4 mentally trained arti-
san has m Infinitely greater enjoyment oil
life than one who is acquainted with little
moro than animal sensations. How sped,
meanwhile, the anniversary meetings? II
il Of these we would chiefly speak, because
il must be curious To know how long the
association remained without break in It's
membership, or rather how long any were
LETT to meet on the appointed Hogmnnay
evening. The Imagination was excited
with the IDEA Of an annual assemb!agc
which should stretch or MI tho extinction
Of thirteen individuals; and many laugh
was raised among the Young men, as the
members pictured TO themselves one hob
bling into the meeting on n crn,ch, anoth-
CT carried in sednn, and all bearing nj
least wrinkles and gray hairs. Then they
would raise tho mysterious questions-who
should be the last?-what would DO the
feelings OF that one man when no longer
any OF his twelve early coinpeers remain
ed on earth to greet him? This though, as
To the last survivor, as we'll as who should
be the first to 60, naturally impaired mel
nncholy feelings. There was a double
problem 10 be solved
Five anniversaries took place in success
sion, and still there was no break: there
was not oven removal from the town.
But rs NIL were now pushing on, in life.
the club could not expect to remain much
longer entire. Before the sixth lIogma-
nay elapsed, an unexpected and sudden
casualty occurred. which reduced the num-
bers 10 twelve. The youngest Of The par.
Is. having received nm appointment to
situation in India, set out with two Of his
fe!low-mcmhcrs 10 take leayo Of some
friends, at few miles distance in the
country. Duddingstone Loeb was IN the
way, and tho season was winter. In the
evening, on their return, the party, 70 short
en- the road, attempted to cross the lake on
the ice; but a thaw having commenced,
the surface gave way, and the whole were
instantsnconsly plunged into the water a,
the point where il il deepest. Two had
the good fortune to scramble out; but the
third, the youngest, got below the ice, and
his body was not recovered till life was cx-
,inct. The feelings of the two survivors
reed not be dwelt on.
q Now reduced to twelye the members at the
next annual meeting were somewhat less
hilarious than usual. He whose death was
the least expected, and who promised 70
be the longest liver was no more. Such
circumstance had certain SOLDERING effect.