The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-23
A Letter from the Scribe.

DtuT uUtS uHu Dogs w nile await
ing replies to the proposition made you
and to the questions asked in this col
umn last week, we have a few things
to talk about. First-as the teacher
sometimes says in school-we will
assign your next lesson.
Have you read the verses at the head
of this column? Please read them
carefully, and then answer this ques-
ton; With what do you think the ships
were freighted to which the writer
alludes in the last two stanzas?
If you will all think of this and write
your conclusions on a postal card, and
send to your Scribe within two weeks,
we will compare the answers and make
report. Whenever you send answers
to questions asked in this department
you can sign your name, or your mi
tials, or an assumed name-whicheve
you choose-to be used in case your
answer is printed; but your real name
and address must be sent at the same
time, for your Scribe wants to know
you all. We shall watch with special
interest to see whose name will be the
first enrolled in the Hill Country Club.
There are two reasons for asking you
the foregoing question. One is that
it may be of use to you sometime
to know the answer, for your ships
when they come in may bring you
similar freight, instead of the riches
we like to say we shall have "when
our ship comes in" and you want
to be able to recognize this other
kind of wealth, and to appreciate its
rare worth if it ever comes to you.
Another reason for asking the ques-
ton is this: We are proposing for a few
weeks to do some studying in English
literature; and good way of becom-
ing acquainted with any author, aud es-
pecially with poet, is to take one of
his works and study out all the allu-
sions to various things, and try to under
stand the meanings which he has hidden
away under figures of speech. We
want to be able to think the same
thoughts which the author was think
ing at the time he wrote-to see into
his mind, as it were. In this way we
can soonest learn to distinguish be-
| tween the works that have real thought
and ability in them and those which
are shallow and not worth spending
time upon.
You sometimes hear certain writers
| spoken of as /" standard authors" 1t
of such study as this and have sur
wholesome of them hundreds of
years-while the literature of inferior
quality has disappeared and been for
gotten.
We shall hope in the coming weeks
to learn many things concerning the
standard authors of our English tongue,
if you all feel interested to take hold
and help. At the same time remember
your privilege of asking questions on
other subjects, as proposed last week.
Address all questions and answers to
Scribe" Is South Loring street,
Lowell, Mass.
THE editor desires to add to
" Scribe's " exhortation an earnest plea
for the cultivation of a lively interest
by the boys and girls, without regard to
age, in this experiment, for on this its
success depends. The cooperation of
parents also-the boys and girls of a
larger growth-is solicited, for we feel
assured that Scribe's " scheme, if all
will enter into it in earnest, will wake
up the young ideas and afford the
means of very healthful mental stimu-
lus, as well as real enjoyment. BY
heart and head she is amply endowed
for the work she proposes, but of
course she can not carry out her plans
unless the readers of this department
do their part. So come along, chill
dren, with your responses. II you
have missed it you will find the plan