The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-27
Great Psnmaa
Jasts Hesat lhs

greatest penman. Pfatf r. SpenceF. Tie
new building win be os st0ne. ana = -
cost Ssa,0a. Besides an extensive noraFH
Il = to shelter the historical eoiiection4
Of Ashsabusa County.
IN this town OF some $40 inhabltantH
Spencer lited In the early days 81 the
Early Reserve. and In ths iittle iog school
house. which was also his Tesiderice. -
first taught writing. This little los housa
Is fresh IN the memories OF hundreds ak
the most successful men and women Of the
United States. who in early days came
from all sections Of the country 60 attsns
this school. which was commonly knows
as ''Jerico' or the Log Seminarg.~
Spencer's life was flied with haraships.
ana all that ne attained vas gained %
hard study. hard work and strength q
purpose. he could, therefors. as a teac1-
er appreciate the hazxiShips OF his pupils
In their struggles for an education. &C
was as much spencer's attitude toward
his pupils as his capabilities that uaa5s
bin famous a. an Instructor. AlthogsA
Spencer was teacher OF many branches
his speciality. a. IS wen known. wss pen
manship. The beautiful characters Of the
Speneerian system OF writing are Gaught
today most extensively In every state IN
the Union
when these Characters first took form
Il wac not upon carefully prepared paper.
but In the sands BY the waters edge. on
the bark OF trees and upon the TEAMWORK
forming the cabin OF lake steamer Long
before he had attained the ake Of eight
years his great desire was 90 write or
draw.
Even at this early age his har,ishlps O.
pursuing his chosen work are notieeabls.
for up to that time ne had never seen
a piece Of writing paper. lie had heard
OF writing paper and ~ uses, howeveR.
and It was his great desire 90 secure. Y
possible a single sheet. He then lived e
East Fishidn. New YORK state. his nativs
town. This point was a Mecca for luna
In those days. who often traversed
a distance OF % miles 10 the nearest town
OF any size.
To one Of these hImbeTmen me enibitloUl
boy in;rusted what was probably tho hrHe
penny. lnstructing him to buy him q sheee
OF paper before his return. II was nearly
midnight when the Zimmerman arrive0
for him. and, with tho precious sheet b.
fore him. in his room he began 20 write.
He would often walk miles TO borrow Q
book, and retrace the distance TO returu
Il promptly. On these Journeys raw tur-
nips are said TO have many times formed
his meals. Later he used 20 walk bare
footed through the sonw 10 the district
school. with out one aim IN view-an edit
cation.
The Spencer family was Industrious. but
poor. His father. Caleb Spencer. diea
when Piatt was years of age. leaving
Mrs. Spencer and II children. The father
was a Revolutionary soldier. Two Of his
sons were soldiers in the same war. ana
their met their death.
When Speneers moved West from New
York 20 Ashtabula county a new Oppor-
tunity opened TO Piatt. which wAs 10
write in the sands on the beach while nsh-
ing.
AZ the age OF n years PIatt made the
Fourth Of July speech At lingsville. This
was indeed an honor, for ElngsvIiie. al
though small In size. supported the lad
InE school IN the county IN pioneer DAYS,
and was looked upon az an important sdu-
rational centre. Since that time such msn
~ Senator Burrows. % Michigan: Judge
Albion w. Tourgee OF. New York. author
u ~ Fools Errand:" Congressman
from Ohio. and others attend
Fl school At KinEsvIlle Academy. This
Fouroh OF July speech was probably spen-
,er's debut upon the lecture pla form. A.
a lecturer throughout the remainder oe
his nfe be was interesting. impressive
and eloquent
While in school n. C0nneaut. this r0un.
y. Spencer asked permission 20 buifd q
partition around his dssk. that he rnighs
study alone. Consent b~inR given he bulls
he partition. Ills peDnanship vas 30 no.
icsahly hHe that ne was levied upon 10
write cordes for the entire writing ciass
81 the schooL These copies were usually
u his own composition. and macy tines
we're verses OF poetry containing sofns
pm 81 thought He once wrote q poem
IN 'fhe pen" which j. eoasidtFed bis
Desi
when he became a teacher himself re
yave no couniensncs n he pupil zho vas
inclined o waste his TIM. Re would.
however. stay h0uTs aftsF school ss as
list the willing pupil ana . parent could
5ave taksn no more heartfelt Interest IN
heir welfare
n Is FOR this reason that IFS psIplls,
.hOuEh now vel along N year,. eek %
remember him IN behiinE manner.
sfahIon J. woodruff % New York efsy.
aas erected a stone a. The grave q ur.
spencer in Geneva cemetery. and or taiS
l;0Bs are the foIigEinz words.
PLAT RODGERS SPENCER
is8-issg
Poet. Penrgan. ESBeator.
Author % EVsnrerian Ptnmansaip.
RefDrmer. Bensfac,of.
Erected ly he Orsfsfui Pupil.
AAHIJOS J. Woodbury..
View York CITY.
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