The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-29
Fassett A. Cotton and DR..
Leon Vincent Addressed a
Large, interested Crowd
on Timely Topics.
FINE PROGRAM WAS
GIVEN LAST NIGHT
And a Large Crowd Was
Present Despite the Disa-
greeable Weather Inter-
esting Chautauqua Notes.

Fassett A. Cotton. former State Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction, of
Indiana, and now president Of the
State Normal School. Lacrosse. Wis
consin, and DR.. Leon A. Vincent, of
Boston. addressed two large and inter
ested audiences made up of those at
tending the Wayne County Teachers
Institute and the Chautauqua this
morning. Mr.. Vincent opening with one
of his series of talks on American
Men of Letters" which was for the
hour, Emerson
Emerson's temperament, ana the
trend of his genius. were, said DR.. Vim
cent in effect, traceable to his direct
forebears, certain transcendental quail
tiles in both parents being reflected
in their famous son. OF Emerson's
mother it was said:
Her face was a benediction to ev-
eryone who knew her." and the sweet
ness, gentleness and exaltation depict
ed in the celebrat ed philosophers face.
in her dairy stated, some time after
meeting William Emerson, her future
husband:
II have taken ride with William
Emerson. and he seems a godly
youth"
Father = Clergyman.
Emerson's father, an unworldly
clergyman, died comparatively young
and his mother was left with the sons
to look after on a very small compe.
tence. She was advised to take them
to the country. She, in spite OF her
gentleness, being woman OF courage
and determination, said that "the boys
we're born to be educated" and that
to do so she must remain in town.
Emerson, born on the 25th of May
1903, was entered in Harvard at the
age of fourteen, and graduated at
eighteen, the requirements for entry
at that date being much less severe
than at present and on a basis with
those of the high school of this day.
While Emerson later entered the
ministry, he at one time taught school
which he regarded with humorous de.
testation stating that one would bet
ter,
"Sow hemp and hang at the end OF
it than try to SOW the seeds of in
struction.'
When asked at one time what his
prospects were ne replied,
II have no prospects. am school
teacher"
In making these quotations DR.. Vim
cent emphasized the fact that Emer
son must always be remembered tc
have been a humourist Many OF his
books, notably bis English Traits,
said DIR. Vincent being "shot through
with humour."
In the departure from the practices
of his church, Dr. Vincent referred es
pecially to his refusal to take the sac
rament, although he would administer
it to others, and to make public pray
ers, as these two practices particular
ly concerned his change of religion.
attitude To his detractors a certain
Catholic clergyman said, in reply tt
their remonstrance with him for asso
citation with sucn supposed hereto
that whe be had been with Emerson
he felt that he had been with Christ.
/ He Visits Carlisle.
| The choleric Carlisle, to whom En-
erson made a visit stated as reasol
for not accompanying Emerson upoI
the latter's departure to the top of I
!. hill, which led away from Carlisle''
home, that he preferred to see hin
"vanishing like an angel"
| Emerson's meagre remuneration
from the sales of his books and from
his work as lecturer, compared witt
those of modern writer's and lecturer
of little note, was referred to, Emer
son frequently lecturing for ten dol
lars, the largest sum he ever receives
being $500 for a course of ten lectures
Opposed to this was the fee of $50
paid to a Chausauqua lecturer for ;
speech of two and one half hour
which he had paid to him Immediately
upon leaving the platform. Incidental
| ly he would not take it in chec. II
sisted on bills. Emerson realized littI
on the sales of his books but to Dl
vincent's personal knowledge men
bers of his family had received 70
their portion of profits OF the anne
tat3d edition of his works. $4,000
| DIR. Vincent also pointed out Eme,
sons exquisite use of diction. -his ol
|. .iginality in literature, not in thought,
! in that while he always used the pei
fectly apropos word it was yet littl
different from that ordinarily emplo,
ed.
Talks Of Schools.
Mr.. Cotton, in treating of his subjee
What Is the Matter With Our Con
imon Schools" referred to what th
term common schools" meant in thi
state, according to legal designation
Continued on Page Six)