The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-01


The CHILDREN OF THE PoET's BRAIN.
Composed for the occasion.)
CHARACTERS.
Mr.. Whittier, VIM. K. Rray
Mary Garvin. Lizzie Fister
Barbara Freitchie, Edna Lantie
Mabel Martin, Una f. Titus.
Esek Harden, VIM. II. Leuder.
Little girl and boy } Leila NJ. Stroud.
in in School Days Jacob Krout.
Cobbler Keezer, Daniel Connor.
Maud Muller. May Learn.
Judge, Clyde Hirleman.
Barefoot Boy, Harry G.. Dechant.
Reader, Mary A. Horn.
The class of 90 this year made a
departure from their usual program on
the evening set apart for their exer-
cises. They invited their friends to
spend "An Evening with Whit err
The Presidents address as given by
Mr.. Bray, explains the invitation.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: An seven
ing with Whittier" may seem to you
inappropriate for a class-day exercise;
but to the class of 90 it is pleasantly
suggestive and most fitting To us
the name Whittier calls up pleasant
memories. We have for the past five
months, been studying this great poet
and his work and especially his poem
Snow-bound and as result our minds
are filled with beautiful thoughts and
we have formed taste for good
poetry.
Inspired by the knowledge we have
derived from our study, and desiring
to impress upon the minds of all, the
culture to be gained from the study of
literature, we feel that an evening
could not be spent more profitably
than in the contemplation of Whittier
and his works.
Has it ever occurred to you how
woefully ignorant the youth of our
land are as regards our standard
literature and our great literary
men? And have you not looked with
alarm upon the literature they seem to
delight in2
The evil effect of such literature,
upon the minds can hardly be over
estimated. 1t acts as mind poisoner,
and instead of being filled with beau
tiful thoughts and susceptible to good
the readers of vulgar
literature become morally depraved
and their minds are so vitiated that
they will not readily yield to the in
fuences of education.
The minds of the young when once
awakened need something to stimulate
them to greater activity. Nothing will
do this better than good literature.
This literature should be chosen by a
person with knowledge superior to
that of the child, because as the
child is not capable of distinguishing
between the good and bad, the result
might be, if left to himself, that he
would choose something that would
be hurtful to him.
Let the parents and teachers of our
great land, choose for the youth his
reading matter and as a result we
would see an improvement in the
moral and intellectual development OF
future generations.
Thanking you all for your presence
and the interest you have shown us,
in the name of the Class of 'o,, bid
you hearty welcome.
Then followed recitations, cho sen
as representative production of the
different Veins in which Whittier has SO
happily expressed himself
A religious poem "The Two Rabbis'
was simple and beautiful given by
Miss Martha Powell; "Mary Gavin"
a story of the early settlers experience
with the Indians, was graphically re-
cited by Miss. Eva Dintinger
The spirited anti-slavery poem
Massachusetts to Virginia" was
given in good style by Mr.. Glenn Weiss,
and Skipper Ireson's Ride" one of
the legends of early New England, was
presented by Miss Maggie Thomas.
Miss Thomas has no little ability in
recitation and did herself full Justice
in her rendering of the poem.
A very common remark by way of
comment on the evening entertain
ment, was that every performer was SO
easy and natural in the rendering of
their respective parts.
There was no great gesticulating,
no affected, unnatural tones of voice,
no apish efforts to assume impossible
roles, but simple, easy, and yet w:thal
a most pleasing and graceful render
ing that at once elected closest attent-
lon and warmest sympathy of the en-.
tire audience.
This was simply the natural out
come OF the careful class drill given
these young people in their Junior
literay work.
When teacher works with view to
pettino the thOuuht Of ,n,, ealao.;o,,