The Newtown bee., 1903-12-04

The Literary Circle that has been try ing to get started for several weeks was started on Monday evening with an inn
 petus that will keep it going long
 time. The movers of the plan did not
 attempt large things; they thought if
 bakers dozen came together they
 would be doing well. Twenty seven
 came together on Monday evening, ,and
 who are inclined to literary tastes are indeed fortunate in having in their
 midst this year Prof Ross Jewell, the efficient and popular principal of the Newtown High school. He is good all-rOund man; he can kick the foot
 ball right over the goal and he is Tn his own berth in English literature,
 from Chaucer right down. By unan-
 imous consent Prof Jewell was chosen
 on Monday evening to be the literary
 pilot over the smooth Sea which the
 Circle will sail this winter, and he at
 once outlined scheme of readings
 which cannot but be most delightful
 to follow. The course is not to be
 made burdenSOme because of StudiOuS
 preparation. The meetings are just
 to be pleasant evenings when one can drop in and listen for recrea tion at the close of busy day to what the worlds choicest writers have said. If one does not care to take part, he can be Si- lent partner in the concern; if you cannot come to many meetings you are invited to any meeting. Watch the announcements of the meetings in THE BEE from time to time, and come, whoever you are, whenever you can. Beginning at about the 18th century line, the reading on Tuesday evening,
 December 15, the date of the next meeting, will take up Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, and follow the Eng fish poets down., For variety the novel will be interspersed with the poetry; and Shakespeare, the great master in English, standing head and shoulders above all others, will be given a pass ing nod. You see nothing elaborate is attempted, nothing so profoundly deep that one cannot come to the sur face to get a breath and yet nothing so superficially shallow that only the toes will be wet.
 On Monday evening Robert Louis Stevenson was looked into and he was found to be charming man and an en- tertaining writer. "Dr Jekyl and MT | Hyde, I've meet them every day in the men and women about us, aye, closer One. What lcOnceited, sophomoric orator is depicted in "The Wrong Boxn' What a delightful little con ceit of StevensOn's that was, deeding | his birthday to the little girl who was so unfortunate as to have only one birthday in four years because she | was born on the 29th of February. "A Garden Book of Verses"-Steven- son knew just what the children liked, for they chamber upon our knees to- day and want to hear those gems laden" and "aden." And :then that lonely grave on the hilltop in Samoa, what a pathetic ending to a pathetic life! Well, Stevenson, the world owes no mean shAre of it's best thought to those who in racked and tortured bod ies have found the note that has set beating the great worlds sympathetic heart. It is something to pray in simple speech; it is more to pray in words which others take up as expres- sing the deepest feelings of their souls. If the world owed nothing more to this gifted sufferer it would owe much to him for his wonderful prayers. The next meeting of Ithe scircle will be held at the home of Mrs Elizabeth Tomlinson, Tuesday evening" Decem- Der 15