The Republican journal., 1908-12-17
Meeting Of Seaside 6. |. S. 6. Alumni

The members of this Alumni organi-
cation were invited to hold the Decem-
Der meeting at the pleasant home of
Miss Isabel CHM Thursday afternoon,
December 3rd, and at the appointed hour
the company assembled in the parlor.
There were representatives of the c. l..
S. C. graduate classes from 1885 to those
of 1907. The president, Mrs. May Rob-
ertson, called the meeting to order and
led in the responsive reading, and after
the usual opening exercise the study
topic claimed the attention of all present.
The special seal course selected for this
year is Switzerland, the country, its
government and literature, with read
ings from two books, "Swiss Life IN
Town and Country" by Story, and 'Our
Life in the Swiss Highlands, by ]. A.
Symonds.
The lesson was followed by aprogram
which included quotations on Switzer-
land, music, singing C. L. S. c. songs,
reading letters from absent members,
paper on our presidential Candidates"
reading a description of ''The Ringing
of the Bryant Bell' at Chautauqua,
which always marks the beginning of
the C. L. S. C. year, and an original poem
entitled "The Response" which was
written and read by member of the
1904 C. L. S. C. class. The merits and
benefits of the Chautauqua course of
study were discussed until their host
ess announced that the Alumni Banquet
would be the next in order. This proved
to be feast of delicious viands, tempt
ingly arrayed, that appealed to all, and
the happy company were soon seated
around the table. The place cards, bear
ing the name of C. L. S. C. class flower
and motto, are treasured as mementoes
of this pleasant occasion. These meet
ings of Seaside C. L. S. c. Alumni are
held the first Thursday of each month.
The poem was as follows:
THE RESPONSE.
Wrapped is the flower in slumber deep;
With petals close folded, it's fast asleep,
Choosing to dream of the riddle of life,
Believing dreams better than waking strife.
A life self-centered, alone, apart,
1t knows not It's cramplng the grown OF ltS
heart.
Fragrance whose perfume might sweeten the
Smothers, unknown and unguessed Of there
For the flower has dreamed that life's highest
delight
Is to sumber with petals close hidden from
sight.
So it holds fast the curtains which wrap it
around
And with locked heart believesit has happiness
Content thus to live naught receive, nothing
giving,
Contented to dream out the problem of
living
Believing that life is less real than twould
seem,
And love, in itself, but thing of dream
But one day sunbeam's bright magic wand
Commanded the heart of the bud to expand.
The tightly sealed surface felt the caress
Wooing to life from its drowsiness.
Spirit of sun called to spirit of flower
With petals flung wide, life is born in that
hour.
Straightway the heart, all it's slumber forsak-
ing,
Knows the first thrill of the joy of awaking.
Wide to the world all its perfume is thrown;
The lord of the flower has called forth his own.
It's golden heart opened to drink in the light,
1t scatters its treasures in rarest delight.
Giving to all for the love of the one
Source of its throbbing life-warmth- giving
sun.
Finding the world bright, busy place
For newly-born flower with joy in it's face.
Plainly the flower has learned to see
And it whispers its secret to breezes that blow
1T is sweeter to live, and feel, and know
Living no longer life apart,
But holding the world in its beating heart.
Willing to die when its day is done,
But glad to have lived in the light of the sun.
ROBERT MARION LEWIS.