Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-06-11

lVccU. L Tx uIuNCIy W 1uC vVuHS
English officer, james Wolfe, his
strategy, Snd the trnacity with
which he chung to the hope ofcnptur-
ing Quebec. a hope which he realized,
though it cost HIM his life, were all
eloquently mentioned in his Grafton.
While he eulOgized Wolf he also paid
the young French officer, Montcalm,
who defended Quebec, though I'M
successful, a tribute to his bravery.
He closed as follows: "And when
the sun once more shed its golden
rays over the plains OF Abra-
ham. Canada was won: Wolf had
paid the price OF an empire with his
blood. and when the reve.lle sounded
ON the clear morning air, the world
was the poorer by two great men,
and two heroes were added to the
Lists OF the dead. but their memory
shall live in the hearts Of all true
patriots forever"
"A charac,ersketch of Ralph Waldo
Emerson" was then read by Miss
Laura Pool. In part she said:
"StaiDlees in character. noble In
mind, Ralph Waldo Emerson stands
august ant serene among the men ot
his time. like a beacon light whose
clear and steady flame guides men
to Il higher and more exalted plain
OF living and think ing" The truth
fulnrss OF his character "as shown
by several Incidents. "He was far
too noble to act Il ialsehOOd or to
believe In one thing land live an
other" His home was In Concord
and Of all the cities Of America there
Ia none more famous for its historic
al and literary associations. ut IS
not noted for its wild picturesque
neas but consists Of rollins plains
and fields of waving grain. 1t was
on these plains that the battle Of
Concord was fought and monuments
commemorating 1t have here been
erected. But monuments Of purest
marble or lifelike figures OF bronze
cannot speak in such eloquent
language, cannot give immortality
to such names as Hawthorne,
Charming. AlcOtt and Emerson, cam
not appeal to posterity and he the
inspiration of generations to come
like the inperishable works they have
leit.'
The chorus then rendered "Blue
Dnnube.' This was followed by an
GRAFTON by George Hurting who had
for his subject, "American Politics."
In part he said: 1.-The right OF
franchise invariably carries with 1t
the necessity Of private considera-
ton and public discussion OF every
question of national Importance
that comes before our people for
acceptance.
AT thcpressnt day, so thoroughly
have American citizens become
imbued with rights and privileges of
self government, that they. without
hesitation, and in only too many
cases, with but little iniorma ton,
presume TO discuss ana adjust ques-
tions of the deepest Importance,
questions which have for years per-
picked our greatest statesmen. y
While it must be admitted
that with this freedom of discussion
there may come Il deeper interest
and a clearer understanding Ofpublic
questions, yet it Is to be regretted
that public opinion Ia often influenced
by arguments which in and OF them
selves. contain no intrinsic value.
"A very large portion OF our popu-
Ia alton is controlled or Influenced by
the politicians whose places Of dis
cussion are street corners, drygoods
boxes and barroOms."
He further stated, that through
our educational institutions the
work of eliminating the evils that
now menace would lie accomplished,
by teaching the youth so that he con
have an understanding of public
questions, aud when OF age he Gun
exercise the right OF franchise in
diligently.
Miss Nellie Baxter read an interest
ing character sketch Of that popular
author, Louisa NJ. AlcOtt. The
struggles of her early life and her
determination never to give up until
she had "done something' were:
shown to have entered largely into
the training that::developed noble
and useful life. Speaking OF her
stories for children she said; ''She
charms them wisely, to love thecom-
mon virtues OF truth, unselfishness,
kindness, industry and honesty. The
happy world Of children claims her
as it's own. She comes among them
a. child herself in her SIMPLICITY, and