The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-08
THE SISTER OF THE COMING MAN.
What She Is Now, and What She
May Become.
mr.. stetson's Talk to the Chautau.
quans at Fryeburg.
something About Charles Dickens
other Exercises Of the Day.
Especial to the Press.l

reform in which he has been interested were
recounted, and his home life was described.
Rain continued all night, but 1t has been
slowly clearing today. and there is every
prospect of fine weather tomorrow. Morn
ing prayers were specially in charge of the
young people, and were conducted by Fred
w. Fogg. The normal hour, at a. M, was
in charge of Rev. j. M. Frost of Portland.
Mrs. Westwood' s primary work was confined
to methods OF teaching by questions, illus
trations, etc.
Profs. Morse and Bachelor are getting
their choruses in fine order for the closing
concert, to be given Thursday evening, Aug
9th.
At 1.3O, children's service on Building
the Tabernacle, was held in Normal Hall,
under the direction of Mrs. Westwood. The
trimming of the auditorium with flags, ever
green and flowers progresses rapidly under
the efficient committee-Mr. and Mrs G. M.
Donham and Mrs. N. S. Fernald of Portland;
and Rev. 0. +. Alvord and Mrs. A. +. Rich
ardson Of Fryeburg
THE COMING MAN.
The forenoon lecture was on the subject of
''The Coming Man." and was delivered by
w. w. Stetson, Esq, superintendent of
schools at Auburn, and councillor of the
Chautauqua Teachers Reading Union for
this State. The lecturer began with hu-
morous preface, which, with every sentence,
increased the wonder of the audience as to
what the subject really was. An object that
so nearly approaches your vision as to fiat
ten your nose cannot be studied to adyant-
age; distance is necessary. The longer the
preparation of each nation has been, the
richer its life work. The forces, at first but
little seen and less felt, have been pressing
to the front. In Central and Western Africa
history shows us our ancestors with common
interest. Time brought differences, and each
tribe found its place; the Greek, art; the
Hebrew. religion; the Teuton, sturdy home
men so little resemble their fathers. A man
cannot put all his life into his work and
transmit his energy to his offspring. That
family has produced no great names is no
proof that there is no latent energy in the
stock. For hundreds of years the Celt lived
and dreamed. One race after another fol-
lowed producing no noted man till at the end
comes the father of English poetry-Chau-
Ger.
Give list of those who strive and Won
show those who make success possible. We
must weigh our county as a whole not in
fragments. New England is no longer the
most influential part of our nation however,
much we shrink from acknowledging the
fact When we discover who possess the
trained intellects we know those who are to
give tone to the future. The girls in our
high schools and academies are more patient
and persistent than their brothers. admit
with profound regret these qualities do not
belong to boys. These same weaker vessels
for the past eight years have taken 20 per
cent OF the prizes offered for good work
they have attained this rank by competition
with men, meeting them on their own
grounds. In the department of invention
woman holds strong second place. She
holds first place by natural fitness in one
profession and is rapidly gaining in Others.
The old idea was that woman should re-
eelye all necessary Instruction from her hus-
band. The poverty of instruction accounts
Tor the dearth of results heretofore. One
half of the race must derive no little comfort
from the fact that old things have passed
away and all have become new. Already
the position of instructor and instructed Il
exactly reversed. In 1900 academies and
seminaries there are enrolled as pupils 23O,-
600 girls and lac, 700 boys, 63 per cent of the
one and % per cent. of the other. SIM
liar statistics were given from colleges
part of young women?
From these signs of the times, Mr.. Stetson
found it not hard to decide who is the COM
ing man. The lecture was full of bright
thoughts and the many wearers of the white
and yellow ribbons were glad to have SO
powerful an ally as Mr.. Stetson.
DICKENS AS A MAN.
At 2 p. M, Rev. Geo. d. Lindsay again
presented Hon. George NJ. Towle. who spoke
for an hour ON 'Charles Dickens as Man.
The lecturer began by describing the i'm
preston made on himself when he called on
Dickens. 20 years ago. A brisk active figure
came forward to meet me. with a bright
twinkle in his eye and warm clasp of the
hand. He appeared to be young and was
Jauntily and almost foppishly dressed. Never
had photography so failed to delineate its
subject. expected to see a face much
wrinkled instead of the fresh complexion.
The bright blue eyes attracted and held the
visitor. Here was one who had delighted
many an hour of my boyhood, whose cham
pionship Of all wrongs had wakened many
hearts. My reception had been SO cordial /
did not at first realize in whose presence /
sat. When at last l told him. all L felt
well, he exclaimed, "you know we can
none OF us have too much love in this world"
HIS boyhood gave little promise of renown,
his surroundings, also, were unfavorable, he
was sadly neglected throughout his boyhood.
His mother taught him how to read, this was
ms s0lace for years. The books that first
Ieil INTO the boys hands were just the ones
calculated to fit him for his work as novel;
ist. He said: 81 have been Tom Jones for
q week together, have been Roderick Ran
dom for months. When | recall some books
l always think of a summers evening, the
Doys S;p playing YIN M outside and sitting on my bed
Thus nourished, the little fellow began to
give early evidence of his talent. His early
years were sad, yet just here his mind was
hlled with the quaint conceits which after
wards appeared in his books. At the age of
10, Chas. Dickens is taking down in Short
hand the speeches Of members of the House
OF Commons for the Morning Chronicle.
Here the literary character of Chas. Dickens
mas mas begun, II is the memorable year Of 1881.
His craving to write, to see himself in print,
finally overmasters him. In intervals of his
duties as reporter appeared the papers which
finally appeared in volume, as'Sketches by
Boz" This was but the beginning of his
brilliant career. At this period he was thus
A look of -youthfulness-then one of can
DOR attracted you, eyes beaming with intel
lect The hair. scant and grizzled in later
years, was then abundant. Light and motion
flashed from every part of him.
His literary career covered about "a years.
Sought for on every side. the idol of large
circle of friends, enjoying intensely his
long walks and travels, happy in living,
the careers OF few men have been so crowd
ed with splendid works and great delights as
that OF Chas. dickens. Among his friends
were Edward Bulwer Lyttop, Thomas Car
lyle, Lady Blessington and Lady Holland,
Hallam, Samuel Rogers. Tennyson, Tom
Hood, Tom Moore and others.
The picture of Dickens in his home is
charming though overloaded by marital un-
happiness and separation. Gad's Hill was
always his favorite residence; there his
spirits were most free and buoyant. He was
the playmate of his children. He seemed
rather an elder brother than a father. This
home was the scene of constant hospitality.
There his life ended.
w. C. I. U. CONFERENCE.
At $3.50 in Normal Hall was held w. G.
T. U. conference, Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens,
presiding. Mrs. Margaret t. w. Merrill, of
Portland, State Superintendent of the De-
partment of Social Purity, gave an outline
of this work, the need of care Of children in
the home, and work of teachers in their
schools and the good to be done by the dis
semination of literature relating to this sub
ject. The work of the white shield move
ment is under the especial charge of Miss
Willard. Questions were asked and answer
ed regarding ways to interest young women
in the temperance work and as to what effect
the enfranchisement of women would have
upon the temperance question. The latter
was answered by Miss Yates. The
majority of the people rule. Since homes
are destroyed by intemperance the majority
of women would be on the right side OF this