Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-19

Armory Hall, some three or fou
hundred teachers being present. Th
meeting was called to order by Super
intendent Seaman. The programm
was introduced by a vocal solo b.
Prof. Jas. A. Foshay, which wa
heartily encored. "The Teachers
Reading Circle" was responded to b,
Prof. F. H. Clark. He gave a brie
history of the origin of the circle. Th'
circle was based upon'the demand TO
a more general and thorough know
ledge of literature. The teachers O
the State had felt this need, ant
already had manifested considerabl,
interest in the organization. The OBJ
jects, prospects, &C., of the circle were
explained.
Mr.. Clark introduced Miss M. X
Scott who read very interesting
paper on Ruskin and his "Sesamt
and Lilies" Her eulogy amounted te
a sharp and somewhat severe crit
cism.
Mrs. G. B. Bradfield being intro
duced gave most interesting sketch
of Genl. Lew Wallace and reminis.
cences OF his life and that of his wife
Mrs. Bradfeld stated that she had
| the honor of being a personal ac-
| quaintance OF both the General and
his wife. A letter from Mrs. Wallace
was read also one written by Genl.
Garfield short time before his death,
after having just completed the read
ing of ben Hur." The letters were
as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1881
DEAR GENERAL:-I have this morn
ing flushed reading "Ben-Hur." and
l must thank you for the pleasure it
has given me. The theme was diff
cult; but you have handled it with
great delicacy and power. Several of
the scenes, such as the wise men in
the desert, the sea fight, the chariot
race-will, am sure, take a perman-
ent and high place in literature.
With this beautiful and reverent
book you have lighted the burden of
my daily life and renewed our ac-
quaintance, which began at Shiloh.
Very truly yours, J. A. GARFIELD.
Gen. Lew Wallace.
HOME, March 27, 1888.
DEAR MRS. BRADFIELD Il am send
ing you a Quantity of cuttings from
which you may select what you wish.
They are rather confused as the busi-
est OF woman has "no time" and new.
err will on this planet. You will have
the goodness to make your notes as
soon as possible and return these with
care. Ihave many applications SINH
lar to yours and find the easiest way
of answering is to borrow the words
of others. Ben Hur has been translated
into seven different languages, the
last Bohemian. whatever that may be,
Something gay?) two hundred and
fifty thousand copies sold and de-
mand increasing. We supposed the
religious world would condemn it but
instead Jew and Gentle, Catholic
and Protestant, have adopted the
work. 1t is amazing. Let me beg
YOU to excuse evident haste. Kind
est salutations OF me and mine wait
on you and yours. Very sincerely
SUSAN E. WALLACE.
A high tribute was paid Mrs. Wal
lace, the success Of the general in
literature, being attributed largely to
his devoted and noble wife. When a
friend remarked that she had not
known there was so much genius in
the general, Mrs. Wallace replied, 81
have known it for twenty years.
Mys. Bradfeld's paper and remarks
we're the most interesting of any of
the session and were listened to with
breathless attention.
Miss Packard read long, mastery
and comprehensive review of "Ben-
Hur."
After recess of twenty minutes a
discussion on "What are the essen
tials of common school education"
was opened by G. T. Merdith, County
Superintendent Of Ventura county.
Miss Emily A. Rice read paper n
the subject, in which she materially
disagreed with Mr.. Meredith.
Mr.. E. P. Roweil, of Santa Monica,
followed with some thoughts on train
ing pupils in department OF the body.
The exercises were concluded by a
lecture by Prof. Ira More, principal Of
the State Normal School, on the sub
ject Of, "Moral Teaching"