St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-08-08
The WOman's Club.

The August meeting of the Woman's
Club Monday afternoon furnished an en-
tertaining and instructive program under
the direction of the literature committee.
After the transaction of the little busi-
ness that was to be done Mrs. Abbie J..
Perkins, chairman of the literature COM
mittee, took charge of the program. In
a few words she announced the subject
of the address, "a Prophet of the Nine
teenth Century-John Ruskin," and in
troduced as speaker, Mrs. c. M. Lam
son, of Auburndale, Mass, who was
greeted with the Chautauqua salute.
After few happy words of greeting,
Mrs. Lamson began her discourse by
saying that more than any other one
author, John Ruskin had been help and
inspiration to her, and that he could
hardly fail to be so to anyone who would
read and study his writings.
She sketched his early life beginning
not with the creation of Adam" as some
hold that biographies must begin, but
with his father aid mother, John James
and Margaret Ruskin. 1t was the desire
of his pous mother that her son should
become a preacher and her wish had
prophecies of fulfillment in his very early
| life. One Of his favorite babyhood plays
was the preaching of long sermons, the
theme and burden of which were people,
be dood!" But his real preaching was
destined to be done by his noble life and
the products of his pen, his theme indeed
being much like that of his baby sermons.
| His early life is marvel in the amount
| he accomplished under the instruction
and in the companionship of his mother
He read his Bible completely through
time after time, committed many long
hard chapters to memory; he stadied
mineralogy and as early as seven years
of age he began to write poetry. Having
been given volume containing vlgnettes
bv Turner he studied and copied them,
developing love for Turner that was a
lifelong possession. His great work
"Modern Painters" began as vindica
ton of Turner after his style had beer
attacked.
In travelling with his father and
mother he had made a special study o
architecture and up to 1860 his work:
were mostly on art and architecture, but
after that time they were mostly ethical
John Ruskin was practical reto1mer
he did not ask people to do things that
he himself was not willing to do; ht
would not have eluxuries for himself wher
so many lacked necessaries. AS an in
stance OF himself setting an example
for Others is the time when, while protes
sor of art in Oxford, he thought the
roads ought 20 be improved, so he, will
a number of followers from among tht
students, broke up stones day after day
until one piece of road was repaired. He
inspired men to do their best by the faitl
he had in them; if they failed once hi
knew that the next time they would dc
better. He teaches us to see and enjoy
nature that lies all about US, even in th
dust. He teaches much about book
and reading,-see Sesame and Lilies.
He would have people perfectly honest
| to speak the truth absolutely; to see tn
. real value of things. After all wealtl
means "weal" and that only is tru
wealth which is for the common veal.
A social hour followed the regula
: club meeting during which many oldtim
friends had the opportunity of greetini
Mrs, LamSOn.