The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-06-05

fine dissection as he did in poetry. His ma
ture was lovabe, modest and sympathetic.
He saved old Ironsides by his poem, preached
sermons to those who never would attend
church, softened the narrowness of Puritan
bigotry, produced works of lasting humor
and was a patriot all of his life, which
ended October z, 1894.
Culture" was the subject of thoughtful |
essay by Miss Lena Martin. Culture Is
catch-w0rd of the day. Arnolds definition |
of culture Is ''the knowing of the best that |
has been said or done in the world"
Thoughtful reading brings culture and all
should read to good purpose and read a
great deal. Everyone wastes little time
| which might be so used. Culture is broad
while mere learning may be narrow. Edu-
| cation should produce culture. Science is
daily adding culture to our life. Electrici-
ty, attention to the public health and the
travelling in which our restless, curious fell
low-countrymen indulge, result in culture.
look dark but now the future for the artist,
musician and poet is bright with promise
for the success of their culture bringing
labors.
Wednesday afternoon Miss Ethel Mclean
read her essay on "Richard the Lion-heart-
ed" which showed that she had studied
history to advantage. She traced the out
growing of his childish innocence and the
quarrels which he had with his brothers.
he took leading part in the first crusade
and for years battled with the Saracens by
whose leader, Saladn, he was much ad-
mired. His life was full of great opportuni-
ties but he died unmOurned because his gen.
crosby extended only to his equals and his
bravery only appeared on the battlefield.
Everyone by studying his mistakes could
learn lessons of what is true bravery and
generosity.
Ernest Mann discussed the prosperity of
the United States" in his we'll written ora
ton on that subject. No other country had
in so short time attained such condition
OF peace and freedom that we enjoy. This
is because we have greater equality of OPP
portunity and civil rights. The brotherhood
of man is the rule of our social order while
discovery and invention are having re-
markable influence upon Our civilization.
The foreign immigration is factor some
what inimcal to our civilization as too many
come, with inherited seml-barbaric traits
which one generation Of training does not
remove. The necessity for wider extension
public education is evident, yet in spite
of the public schools the foreign population
is not assimilated as we'll as some suppose
The necessities of pioneer life induces ignor-
, ance and the question for the next century
is whether or not the civilized portion of the
country shall maintain supremacy over
the semi-barbaric elements of our civiliza-
, ton.
Miss Eliza Martin clearly outlined the
leading principles of ''Cvil Service Reform
/ in her essay on that subject. The U. s..
constitution contains much material brought
from the laws of other countries but the
most important part is derived from English
sources. The early history of the country
, contains no record of political corruption
} but the Unsuitable desire for Office which has
since arisen has led to the civil service re-
, form movement of today in which regard
, we are behind England Civil service re-
form is an issue in politics and aims to place
: honest men in Office upon an Slnpartisan
' basis. Much. trouble comes from the indf-
! ference of the individual voter but the judi
cial and purely administrative officers could
a be better chosen and those departments
: maintained If partisan politics were not the
basis of their selection. The greatest strides
5 have been made in the last six years and
] barring few trivial matters the civil SER
t vice reform laws have been success.
r In his essay on GRAINS" Edwin MosheI
showed in how many different instances
t and ways the great arose from the small
e While we stand admiring the great things OF
4 this world we should consider the little
: things which gave rise to them. The little
e monitor revolutionized naval construction
t into what it is today. The history of every
h great invention which has been perfected by
!. many improvements betrays its humble orr
! gin. Men do not attain position or power
b at once. Abraham Lincoln's path from the
= log cabin to the White House was anything
: but easy. Failures are lessons in living
The great tree of freedom sprang from the
a seed CT liberty nourished by the colonists
+ Our place or station may be small and low
/ ly but the1ives of great men show that they
= began there, too, and we should do the hes
# we can.
Q Miss Ivah Peterson entitled her essay
o Abstraction" and gave much of interes
/ In regard to astronomy. She described thu
!. thoughts or dream of an astronomer as b,
j slept upon the open deck of an ocean steam
n er from which he was lifted by an invisibl,
o power out into space. Visits paid to Venu
d and other plauets revealed more of the vast
y ness and beauty of the universe. The as
a tronomer in response to a question given b!