Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-02-18
HIGH SCHOOL EXERCISES.

ly and proftably entertained by music, es-
SAYS and decIamations-the seniors and other
of the High School participating.
It had been previously announced that the
seniors, Frank Foust, Guy Dittenhaver,
Frank Wilson, Julia Fouke and Belle King,
were to be contestants for the most meritor-
ious essay on ''Mrs. Thrale's Dinner Party, "
given in honor of DR.. johnson. These papers
were submitted to the Judgment of Mrs. L.
L. Orwig, Martin Knupp and s. M. Hague,
who we're selected for the purpose, by Miss
Sharp. The judges were informed that the
literary style of the essays and the general
conception of the dinner were the two things
with reference to which the papers were pre-
pared. ......
It seems proper to say in this connection
that the subject chosen for these essays is one
unusually difficult for beginners in the study
of literature to treat. An accurate descrip-
ton of the man and the occasion involves the
necessity of pretty thorough knowledge of
the manners, customs, habits and social con-
duct prevailing in high life in London Gen.
tury and half ago. These young essayists
must have found it necessary to identify
themselves to quite degree with the great
characters who were in the habit of frequent
ing the hospitable home of Mrs. Thrale, for
social intercourse, at the time when these
dinners were given. It was period in the
social life of London when much more atten-
ton was paid to the companionable ameni-
ties than at present, when the leveling
effects of democracy had not become appar-
ent in the social gatherings of the great,
when the man honored with an invitation to
a London dinner was, as a general rule, ex-
pected to array himself in becoming attire,
and conduct himself in a courteous and
gentlemanIy manner, while accepting the
Inequalities rendered him. And if from any
cause, a guest failed to thus conduct himself,
and persistently violated these plain require
ments of the social code-and yet continued
to be favored visitor, there must have been
some underlying reason for such an one be-
ing made an exception to the general rule.--
The essays under consideration have drawn
out and shown up in the darkest colors the
unfortunate characteristics Of DR.. Johnson
his physical and mental weaknesses, his
boorisliness and seeming want Of culture, and
hissutter want Of regard fof appearances and
of the feelings of his friends. But they ut
terly fail 10 show the almost superhuman
powers of his wonderful mind, the overflow
ing goodness Of hiswarm and generous heart.
But in -as-much a. the writers were required
to confne themselves to this particular din
ner at Mrs. Thrale's and to DIR. Johnson's
peculiarities, the general stane of the essays
was, in the main, truthful h ss.f
| DR.. Samuel johnson was without doubt
the most remarkable figure in the literature
of England during the last century. BoIn Of
parents who had signally failed to distinguish
themselves in the world of letters, and whose
memory could not recall distinguished an
cestor, without the incentive to ambition
which gentle blood is almost sure to impart
with an inherited tendency to scrofula; hi
fourth youth-the seed time of life-burdene'
with the clogs and weights incident to power
ty; his early years made wretched by almos
constant sickness, poisoning his young blood
his plans frustrated by the death of his faith
er while he was still of tender years, with n
means Of prosecuting them; the support Q
a widowed mother thrust upon him; Q man .
uncomly appearance, ungainly carriage an
hideous countenance. Yet with all thes
drawbacks we find him in the middle of th
18th century the central figure around whic
the greatest minds of England revolved, lik
satellites about their central sun. Twas thi
wonderful man, this many-sided genius, th
first Of English photographers, the novels
who had written "Rasselas;" the poet who's
master piece was the Vanity Of, Huma
Wishes;'' the biographer, whose 'eives Of th
poets has placed him second only to Plutarcl
, who, with his wife was invited to dine at tt
house of Mrs. Thrale, on the occasion referre
to-, and 50 graphicaliy described in thes
school essays. ~e.rs,sf . .
In passing upon their respective merit
the committee was forcibly struck with IL
/ originality Of all of them, and especially wit
the strong individuality impaired BY eae
writer to hiseforts They al show eviden'
sas se,,,;a - ths @ r;tsr rte FranE Eanst
paper betrayed the, most consummate con
! - n;..aans,.s,s ,asa - !. M. ,d;c,o,,s sbo,,s
NJ. s.arsr u r.,a Nj. .-.nh n .a.,,a 4, !,
, Johnson's weaknesses, and a5snrdities,sa ai
coarseness in the most glarinR light; and lii