The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-30

Geneva. O., Aug. 30.-There Is a
project on foot here 10 erect memoir
ial library TO the memory OF the worlds
4 eatest pennlan, tlaCt AZ. spencer.
Ine n-w building will be OF stone and
il is TO cost $4,000. Besides an exten-
save library 1t Is 10 shelter the historl-
cal collections of Ashtabu.a county.
In anis town of SONS 5000 inhabitants
Spencer lived in the earlier days oi the
Western Reserve, and in the little log
s,aoOi mouse, wnlch was also ms resi-
.tile ne nrst taught MruhS. lAS
,ure log sCnOOl mouse Is fresh IN the
memories or nundreas o. the most sue
cessuu men ana women or the uniled
s.apss, Nno ~ earher days came from
AN sections OF the country 10 attend
this school, which was commonly
known as "Jerico" or the Log sem
mary
Spencer's life was filled with hard
st,I.s anI an ne attained was gained
bv nard study hard work and strength
~ nilr11sC. lie could, thaTICre as a
ts,taps. appreciate the hardsnips or
his pupils m thsir struggles Tor an
cducat On. IL was as -nucn spencer
attgulde toward his pupils as ms capa-
htlttiss that made him famous as an
> ache. of many branches, ms speclal-
80 as h wsll known, was penmanShlp.
I,ha beautiful characters or the Spon-
csrian system of writing are taught
today most extensively in every state
In the Union.
when THESE characters first took form
n was not upon carefully prepared pa
per. but In the sands by the waters
edge. on the bark of trees ana upon the
framework forming the cabin or lake
steamer. Long before he had attained
the age OF eight years MS great desire
was 20 write or draw.
Even az this early age his hardships
I'm pursuing his chosen work are notice
able. for up 20 that time he had never
seen a piece OF writing paper. lie had
heard OF writing paper and its uses,
however. and 1t was mis- great desire 10
secure If possible. single sheet lie
then lived an East Fishkill. New York
State his native town. This point was
a Mecca for lumbermen in those days,
who often traVersed a distance OF
twenty miles 10 the nearest town OF
any size.
To one OF these lumb rmen the ambi-
rlous boy intrusted what was proba-
bly, his first penny, inStructing him to
buy n IN sheet OF paper before his re-
turn. 1t was nearly midnight when the
lumberman arrived back from Fishkill,
but Platt was waiting for him. and with
the precious sheet before HIM in his
room h began TO write.
While in school at Conneaut, this
county Spencer asked permission to
build a partition around his desk. that
he might study alone. Consent being
given he built the partition, His PEN
was so fine that he was
levied upon 20 write copies for the en-
tire writing class of the schol. These
copies were usually Of IS own compo-
sttion. and many times were verses of
poetry containing some gem OF thought.
He once wrote a poem on THE Pen"
which Is cons dered his best
When he became a teacher hirpself he
gave no countenance 30 the pupil who
was inclined to waste his time. He
would. however. stay hours after school
to ASSIST the willing pupil. and "A parent
could have taken no more heartfelt in
trest In their welfare
1t is for this reason that his pupils.
though now well along in years, seek TO
HIM In a beftting manner.
Mahlon j. Woodruff. OF New York
City has erected stone at the grave
of Mr. Spencer in Geneva cemetery
and on this stone are the following
words:
PLATT ROGERS SPENCER.
1S00-1S64.
Poet Penman, Educator.
Author OF Spenceeian Penmanslfip,
Refommer Benefactnr.
Erected by his Grateful Pupil.
MAHLON j. WOODRUFF,
New York City.
BY permission.