The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-11-23
TRIBUTE TO MISS
SMITH
Written by Miss C0burn-Interestin
Program Presented.


A beautiful tribute to the memory
of the late Lillian Clayton Smith, pre-
pared and read by Miss Louise Coburn
was the feature of the November meet
ing of Eunice Farnsworth chapter, D.
A. r., at the home of Mrs. Edith Phil
brick on Coburn avenue Monday af-
ternoon. Miss Coburn was the reci-
pient of numerous congratulations for
the brilliancy of her literary effort
after the close of the formalities. Six
teen members were present to trans
act routine business, and enjoy the
following program: Extracts from
Williamson's History of the Maine
Indians, read by Miss Gertrude Wes-
tom selections from Aliens History
of Norridgewock Canaan, Starks
Elizabeth Merrill; and readings from
Mabel Philbrick; anecdotes from Han
sons History of Norridgewock and the
letters of Sebastian Rasle, by Mrs
Elizabeth Merrill; and reading from
Standish of Standish by Mrs. Lois w
Patten. At the close of the program
refreshments were served by the
hostess. The tribute to Miss Smith S
memory read as follows:
"Eunice Farnsworth Chapter, D. A
R., records the loss of faithful char
ter member, helpful in the time OF
beginning, faithful during years OF
separation, an inspiring and cour-
ageous presence missed from our
meetings.
Lillian Clayton Smith had a Country
birth, and thus heard in earliest child
hood the voices of the field, the wood
and the stream. She learned that "the
wave has its own murmur, the wind
its own sigh" The heart of the child
listened to the enchantment, and
sought the mystery of beauty upon
the Hills of Dream Later came the
booklife, when in the treasure house
of literature she found things new and
old So it was that her intellectual
being was fed from the sources of the
worlds power, and her expanding
mind gained clarity and yigor by com
mnnion with truth in its most elemen-
tai and vital forms in nature and
thought. From nature her heart was
lifted to the God of nature and OF
truth, and sincere and ferYent re.i-
gion was for her the crown of life
The three largest spheres of thought
were hers, of nature, of the magma
ton, and OF the spirit.
She early began to put her ideas in
to literary form and gave us lovely
poems and sketches in which she EN-
bodied in some part the beautiful con.
ceptions of her mind.
"All of us live our lives in. sections
sometimes visibly distinct like links oi
chain, sometimes blended one into
the other like the hues of spectrum
Life is not continuous and homogen-
eous but diverse and multipartite. In
our sisters life, some of these sec
tions seemed clearly outlined. There
was the younger life, dreamy thought
full, imaginative; then the long years
of illness and seclusion when the
soul was tried as by fire and patience
had her perfect work,-then with re-
turning strength. with renewed men
tai energy and spiritual discernment
( followed the strenuous years, alas
too few, of intellectual endeavor and
devoted Christian service crowded
optimistic period of intense living sud.
denly ended in the middle of her years
and in the fulness of her usefulness.
THE Daughters of the American
Revolution gave much to her of com
radeship, of aspiration, of contact
= with the larger world, and sisterll
sympathy during her long illness. She
! in her turn gave largely to Eunict
| Farnsworth chapter, her sweet poems
many times for our meetings, The
knowledge of her unfailing interest il
the Chapter under all conditions, anC
in later years her constant and active
cooperation. We value the contribu
tions received from her both persona
and literary, especially remembering
the fine poetic-historic essay which
adorned the program of our counci
meeting.
I'VE miss the true-hearted comrad'
whose hand we shall no more clasp
the singer whose verse will no more
shadow forth the dreams of her beaut,
loving soul. Ours Is the sorrow, hers