The Worcester spy., 1898-10-02
EMERSON.
w Way to Study
His Essays
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FOR JUVENILES.
Local Teacher Writes
Book on His Work.

A volume of Emerson's essays and
poems, edited for the use of schools, by
Miss Eva March Tappan of the English
high school, will soon be published by
Allyn Bacon, The book is the out
come of Miss Tappan's experience in
teaching Emerson to third-year pupils
last year. Asked with regard to this
interesting experiment, Miss Tappan
said
The class was new and the school
was neY, and how the combination of
Emerson and juniors and me would
work was a question; but we began
feeling out methods by the expression
of the pupils faces. One of my pet
theories is that in an English class
every pupil should be free to ex-
press the most extravagant opin-
ions, provided they are honest,
and that every glimmering of original
| thought should be welcomed with the
warmest cordiality. The result was that
the recitation became free discussion.
OF course there were interpretations
whose connection with the text would
have puzzled the wisest philosopher to
discover There were questions that two
or three generations Of Emersons
could not have answered. There were
Illustrations that would not have Illus
trated Emerson's widest nightmare,
but out Of the apparent chaos there
came day by day the proof that young
minds Just arousing to see the link be-
tween thought and action, Just begin
ming to realize the responsibility of
thinking Alright were developing by
Emersons aid strong and helpful prin-
eiples of living that cannot fail to be of
service TO them in the years that are
to come.
AT the end Of our study of Emerson,
l asked the class to tell me what real
good they had gained from it. These
are extracts from their papers:
l have learned to think for myself.
AT first, disagreed with many of his
conclusions, but I always found at last
that he was right and Mas wrong.
When l read Emerson's essays,
always want to try them and see how
they work
Emerson has given me many new
ideas; see things quite differently. I
know now what it means to be a gem
tleman, and that everybody can be one,
if he chooses.
Emerson teaches me how to behave
with friends, and how to meet people
whom I dislike
If we followed Emersou there
would not be envy or jealousy, and
these are my besetting ssins If I see
girl about my own age riding in
fine carriage with a coachman and
everything to match, straightway be-
gin to scold because haven't the same
luxury at my disposal but now I see
that perhaps am much happier than
she is.
IF any one starts to do things that
ne knows are not just right. and stops
to think of compensation. it will pre-
vent him from doing wrong.
Emerson's plainly spoken facts are
particularly plain when they point to
me-
Since I read Emerson, 1 keep one
thing In mind, and that is not to be
too familiar In this point l fail. be-
cause when l am talking have to tell
everything.
Before I read Emerson I never
thought that the borrower lost any
thing
II never knew any one else who
wrote such essays Of pure good sense
Emerson has shown me what a
person ought to be, even If do not live
up to his Ideas
Emerson has helped me to be more
trustful that. If DO right, nothing can
really harm me-
AS read some lines of "Manners''-
I won't say which ones-I said to my
self: There! that's just what do;
and l hope l may be pardoned for the
feeling of comfort that came to me.
as l said to myself; II am glad there
are others who act likewise and have
the same feelings that 1 have" Emer-
son pointed out simple way by which
my difficulty could be overcome-for
which sincerely thank him.
'Emerson's judgments are correct
they are first class.
These extracts show that the gen
eral tone of our discussion Of Emerson
was the ethical, the practically moral.
would have a definite aim in the
study OF each author-in Shakspere.
development OF his characters; IN Ma
caulay, style; in. Irving humor-on the
principle that the pupil who has
learned to appreciate real humor is far
less inclined to nervous giggle if the
window stick falls upon the floor.
AS for the little book that 1 hope will
be out in few weeks, under Allyn &
Bacon's fostering care, my idea is that
by practical questions connected with
same page, the pupil can do
much of the Interpreting that has
usually been done for him, and that his
attention may he draw to such
thoughts as may be of present value.
passing lightly over what is not adapt
ed to his age and intellectual develop
ment The book is to contain the three
essays, Compensation, Self Reliance
and Manners, and 10 or 10 poems.
As to notes, one may we'll havel a
righteous quarrel with those editors
who, for instance, inform the boy of
high school age where the Andes noun
tains are; or who, on the other hand
illustrate an idea almost beyond his
grasp by an even more difficult pas
sage in Faust. 1t is better not to turn
on Niagara to float canoe and the
few pages of notes do not serve well as
a trapeze whereon the editor may
show his literary agility. HOW well /
can succeed in walking In the narrow
path between these two great CULTS. |
shall know better when | have an op-
portunity to test the little book with
a class of juniors; but it has at least
been prepared with them In mind. and
with an earnest wish to be of service
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