Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-04-23
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CONDUCTED BY
E. A. MATTHIAS.

E. A. MATTHIAS.
The Club met US usual on Friday afternoon.
After reading:he minutes current events were
discussed as follows: the discontinuance Of
the study of modern novels at Yale College,
which proved SO attractive TO the students,
az to divert their attention from more impor.
tant subjects; the details of secret treaty be-
tween Russia and China, which practically
reduces the latter to dependency of Russia,
and other matters Of interest.
The President then read chapter from
valuable work, entitled 1.-THE Study Glass;"
dealing with the proper aim and best method
of the study of literature. The former Cen
cepton of literature as mass of nap.es and
facts to be memorized, is to be dep. coated and
IN its place nobler one subs.ituted, that of
regarding cart or geniuc as being charged
with message which 1t was ours to master
and assimilate." The student is urged to seek
to discover Tie tral thought in every work
of gen'Is, whether the work Of the artists
pe1cl or the writer's pen, and the more din.
cult the task, the greater the reward.
Browning, in answer to the complaints Of
his obscurity declared that his poems were
not intended as substitute for an afler.din-
ner cigar.
Mrs. Garrison then read paper on Elmer.
sons childhood, which want of space will
prevent us publishing IN full. 1t is very
much regretted as the following briefextracts
give an imperfect conception Of Its interest
and value. "The founder Of the family in
America, Thomas Emerson, came from Eng.
land at very early period Of colonial times.
After several generations Of the family had
served their fellow men, mostly as ministers
William, the father of our hero was born in
1880, he graduated from Harvard College,
and later married Miss Ruth Haskins. He
was soon called to the pastorate Of First
Church. Boston, and it was here that Ralph
Waldo was born on May 3rd, 1903. Ralph's
education was begun at the early age Of three
at the dame school. Poetry and letters came
hand in hand with art to meet the little
scholar ard the traditions of their family In
all its branches required that he should be
we'll educated. He and his brothers took 10
their books as ducklings to water. The Rev.
William Emerson died in 1910 leaving q
widow with FIVE little boys to provide for
With the assistance Of friends aided by the
efforts of her small sons she managed to pro.
vide them home and continue their educa.
ton After the dame school, Ralph went to
the grammar school and in 1918 he entered
the Latin school. Ralph wrote verses, non.
sensical and ambitious by turns, the exploit
of the U. s. frigates in the war, then in prog
ress furnishing his most inspiring theme.
Study, all but mathematics in which he was
always dull, was no hardship to him. A
gentleman who in his youth clerked in dea
con Whites store tells US that he used to
love to hear the small Ralph declaim and
would often induce HIM to entertain an audi
ence with Rotations OF poetry &C. Ralph
entered college in 1917 at the age Of fourteen
and thus, though mere boy, we must con.
clude that his childhood was ended
Miss Cassell then read poem of Emerson's
fable called "The Mountain aud the SOUR
rel" followed by another entitled Fragment
of Poet" read by Miss Norris. Reading
and discussion OF the essay on Self Reliance
was the next item on the program. Miss
Norris gave US her conception of the central
thought in the essay which was "be true to
the divinely implanted instincts of our nature
to the God likeness, which the Creator has
given to each one of us, rely on that and not
on the opinion and sentiments of another"
Reading and discussion ESPECIALLY inter-
estng or perplexing passages then followed
which was both instructive and inspiring.
The Club will begin tue study of Shake
speare next week by reading the first act Of
the Merchant of Venice" and the assign.
ment of characters, &C., concluded the meet.
ing for the day
PRIZES. The publishers of Ladies Every
Saturday" will give $40 in gold, besides gold
watches, silver tea sets, fruit services. silver
water pitchers, silver fern dishes, silver coffee
cups and saucers, silver knives and forks, all
of good plate, also genuine diamond rings,
music boxes, boudoir clocks, china sets.
sewing machines, chatting dishes, ETC., In
order of merit, 10 those sending the largest
number of words made from the letters con.
tanned in the two words, ~. AID LES
WEEKLY" The publishers will offer
one of the above rev ards to any person send.
ing list of not less than fifty words. Three
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