The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-07-20

h"LAC. AAC AtCF. 0cOISc Ellis en-
lightened US on themes of early
American history. Col. r. w. Hig-
ginson unearthed fer US the veritable
diary of a Newport belle of 100 years
ago. Memorable was a lecture on
Aristotle, given by the late Prof. ,
Davidson. The interest of this was
so great as to lead to more thar one
especial gathering for the discussion
OF the various directions in which
this greatest of those who know
led the intellectual advance of the
world.
Leaving for the moment the Elf
lieus OF Newport town, let me glance
a little at summer festivities in the
rural districts. In this connection /
recall a dance on the green, the grass
closely clipped for the occasion. The
time was golden September. the COM
pany a dozen intimate heads of fam
lilies, with their young people, the
music an old-fashioned fiddler with
his instrument. On this smooth
sward the waltz, fatal" some French
writer says, ito good dancing" can
not well be managed. But lancers
and Portland fancy succeed very
well. The time chosen is the very
heart of the lovely autumn day.
Papas and mammas sit cheerfully in
a pleasant mingling of sun and shade
and recall their own days of friski-
ness. But when the Virginia reel
is called their feet refuse to keep
still. They take hands and join in
the mirthful exercises until they are
well tired out and by no means I'M
willing to taste an excellent 'bouilla-
baise," which is served, piping hot,
under the shelter of the oaks and
naples.
Shall | go back a little further and
recall a real dance in a barn?' Not
the gymnastic which figures under
that name in a modern ballroom, but
a feast given by a city lady of so
years since to celebrate the compile
ton of a new barn on her country
estate. She sends her invitations
through the village carpenter. He
asks whether he shall invite old and
young. She replies, by all means,
and the more the merrier."
So, at shutdown, the rustic neigh.
bors appear. The barn is lit with
lanterns and adorned with green
boughs. The tables are spread with
substantial viands. The air Is redo
lent of the fragrance of hot coffee.
In a corner stands the fiddler and q
call is made for partners. Farmer
B.. suggests that Cousin Bob might
bring his bass and so the cello
lends it's dignity TO the occasion. The
country folks execute their steps
with great good will. At intervals
they unite their voices in song:
Last Tuesday night the wind was
west,
There was a husking in the east"
And so on and SO on until the rural
limits of frolic time are reached and
the barn is left to its future estate
of use.
II CAlCASlOA III CdluU lll0 III CUR
country is a very encouraging sign
of progress. The breath of the woods
is fresh and inv~igorating and the
labors of the camp, shared
among its inmates, afford a lesson in
the direction of that plain living
which is said to be a condition of
high thinking. The summer camps
for boys, which have so multiplied of
late, provide abundantly for the ex-
of that su~perfuous energy
which renders the youngster when
"cabined, cribbed, confined" a terror
10 orderly households.
What a camping out was that in
which Emerson, the elder Agassiz
and Lowell, with a chosen company
Of friends, took refuge in the Adiron-
dack solitudes! William Stillman,
who planned and conducted this out
ing in the grand STYLE" has spoken
of it at some length in his recently
published "reminiscences" 1t al
remained in his mind as one of
the greatest events in his eventfuf
life. Mr.. Emerson was moved to
celebrate this excursion in a poem
which ! once had, with other friends,
the pleasure of hearing from his own
lips. AS he read the now w~ellknovn
his face was lit up by pleasant
and he v quoted
humor the boatman's comment
on the bad rowing of one of the
party, will you catch crabs?'
JULIA WARD HOWE.