Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-08
AT NoTRE DAME.
Iussrssting Lecture in the Convent Hall
 by Ers Rose LAhrop.

Enseresting Lecture in the Convent Hall by AKrs Rose LaIhrop.
 E The hall of the Convent of Notre Dame presented cheerful appearance last night. Tbe place was tastefully decorated. and the audience was large and one of the most representative literary gatherings that has come together in Waterbury for some time. The programme prepared by the sisters was very interesting and included several selections from the lecturers best-knovn poems and essays which were recited with touching effect and good elocution by the pupils of the convent. ''God Made" one of Mrs Lathrop's most popular productions, was set to music and was sung in very acceptable manner by Miss Daisy Bsbus, At 8: 80 o'clock Miss Emma McCarthy. pres dent of the Sodality of the Children of Msry, introduced the lecturer in a short address which showed that Miss Mccarthy herself is a person of more than ordi- nary literary attainments. Mrs Lathrop at once delighted the audience with an excel lent rendition of one of her own poems entitled "A Song Before Grief" After a felictitious introduction in which she proved herself possessed of an irresistible power over the audience she said:
 "It God helps us we need not be anxious about our own qualifications; we may be aged. friendless. faint, but we need never be passive or servile. Not that the good in us is always adequate. but that inspira- tion can make it adequate. Not that the effort to form 6 good resolution is easy or slight An important element in effort i- the adroit quickness of it's opportunity. It must often be the result of long delibers- tim ,pws'ry struggling with temtation and cowardles; but its opportunity for victory is the concern of & moment. In all battles. testified Napolean, a moment occurs when | the bravest troops, after having made the greatest efforts, feel inclined to run. That | terror proceeds from & want of confidence | in their own courage and 1t only requires a slight opportunaty to restore iL to them" Speaking of the duty of woman to min ister to the abandoned and frisndless. Mrs Lathrop said: 1t is toward these our Lord turned His face. If a woman raises her voice in public think she may as well speak of the dearest interest woman has in this world. Now. I hope I shall never cease to believe that, like the three MArys. | the chief interest of woman is to follow Christ and to lead the children to Him We cannot get away from labor, from con. stant effort, it we would honestly decide upon intrinsic nobility. There is an enor nous difference between the labor of moral | effort and that of the stock market. for in stance. or the bringing out of dsbutaptes, | admirable as both these pursuits must be
 Moral effort is even more laborious than the visiting of hospitals or foundlinR ssy. lums where we sympathize for half all hour with the people who are doing the work of charity.
 "The merry hour of laughter and all healthy jollity, the cosy hour by the fire aide of rest and fairy tales and ease are tc be welcomed like visitors dropping in upon their way about the world. But never lei these good visitors be our hosts, with whom VIC stay in a prison of selt-indulgent | leisure. Selfish ease is as hard to catcl and send Lbout its business as the fragrance of the lotus; but we must ever be on tht alert to rout 1t even when we are at play in the intervals of work. Remember this dear women. that what it is hardest to dC it is sweetest to see done."
 The reading of Mrs Lathrop's paper oc cupied about an hour and was listened tC
 with the greatest attention. At the con clusion she was the recipient of a baske of roses marked Waterbury" TbeI
 The Battle of Charlottesville, one O George Parsons Lathrop's thrilling Wa
 poems. was recited btN Miss Mary Kane A violin. selection by George Rudolph recitatiora from Mrs Lathrops poems an, a song. .@sTheTe Are Friends That W
 Never Forget" brought the entertainment
 to close. A reception followed in th convent parlors.