The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-03-24
Here and There,

There Is q peculiar insistence In the
glancing stroke of the worker In litera-
ture as well as Ia the we'll directed blow.
Quite naturally come these words, "If
M. lola or some other competent wit
ness would only go into the box and
tell us what their morals and manners
were before our example corrupted
Them This, because French gentle
man had charged Americans with the
responsibility of what he fluids disagree
Fable in the morals and manners OF his
conntrymen. But it does cause a feel
ing of surprise to see the date, 1884, Of
the address in which these words ap-
pear as delivered in England by James
Russell Lowell.
Fears ofttimes visited the lovers Of
the poet, Lowell, as time went quickly
and money came in but slowly, with
which to purchase Elmwood as a memo
rial. But ever increasing was the belief
that In no better way could the future
lovers OF nature and poetry and true
believers in patriotism, see the poet and
the man. than in his home seen through
its own fair trees.
LowelPs countrymen proud as they
are, and more loving than proud of their
poel, never can forget that he was ad-
mired and loved beyond the seas. One
can but think with pleasure that we
shall after all owe TO mother England
the fulfilment of our hope of this memo.
rial. For with the time extended and
England's wish to contribute, all will 20
well.
England must remember along with
the thought of Lowell's offer of help in
her memorial to Dean Stanley, the more
precious words, when he asked thai
instead of making it national they
should make it international, pledginl
substantial and most sympathetic hell
from your kindred people on the othel
side of the Atlantic"
To lovers of the works of Jane Austin
the proposal to commemorate her brieI
life so full of results seems fitting
That we are invited to share in thu
memorial window in Winchester Cathe
dral gives pleasure. The author o.
pride and Prejudice" and "Persua
sion," was regarded by Scott al
achieving in the line in which sh,
worked, real triumphs. Macaule,
read all her novels with increasing de
light AT one time he said that h,
would like to review her stories but de
clared that for that work he should no
need any books, 80 familiar had they
,, become. "Northanger Abbey'-ht
writes in his diary-is worth all Dicken,
! and Pliny together. Yet it was tn,
work of girl of twenty-six. Wonder
full creature" Macauley never wavereo
and the six novels remained without
rival in his affections. "If / could ge
material, | really would write shor
life of that wonderful woman and rails,
little money to put up monument t
her in Viii chester Cathedral" Nov
nearly half century has passed and no
one English admirer or one nation blu
two, of kindred blood will unite. |
seems something to be thankful for tina
literature binds countries as well as in
dividuals in close friendship and higl
endeavor.
We gladly remember the sweet wo
man who wrote and spoke and lived foI
principal and who, "although dead, we
speaketb." Frances Willard's memora
is of her own making, and yet, alto
gether and always for others. In al
earnest, strenuous endeavor to engage
peoples interest.in lifting the large deb
on the Temple, Miss Willard reinquish
ed the pleasure of a sadly needed vaca
ton with her friend, Lady Somerset.
With the thought of the great gooC
that has come to the world through
Lady Somerset's work in temperance
there is always feeling of thankfulnesi
that our own Frances Willard was priv
legged to lead this grand worker out int
the bright light of great endeavor. Blu
within this circle of sweet womanly in
tiuence there was sister we'll be
loved. A little memorial without the
writer's name, having for it's title "Nine
teen Beautiful Years." by good fortune
fell into the hands of Lady Somerset
She never rested until the author became
known to her, and in her case "to know
was to love-
E. M. SMITH.