The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-19
TELLS FIRST HAND
OF GREAT ESSAYIST
DIR. c. j. WOODBURY. BRINGS
SPARKLING STORY TO STUDENTS
OF RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Ralph Waldo Emerson lived We'd
nesday morning for University OF Id
no students when DR.. Charles j.
Woodbury., for many years private
secretary for the famous American
essayist and poet addressed the as
sembly on Emerson and His Friends
But quite as interesting as was the
intimate story of Emerson, Thoreau,
and Louisa M. Alcott was Dr. Wood
bury himself.
DR.. Woodbury., a man 7S years of
age, newspaperman, lecturer, Elmer
sons private secretary, cultured and
kindly man of letters, and humorist
of the first water, charmed and de-
lighted his audience with his sparkl-
ing humor, his worthwhile address
and his first hand story of members
of the American literary constel-
lation'' DR.. Woodbury. was Emerson's
private secretary for a number of
years. He travelled with the great
essayist to the frontier of American
civilization-that part of the country
which is now called way back east by
Idaho people. He is a graduate of
the Williams college class of 1866 and
for number of years was on the
editorial staff of THE Century,
Brings Emerson to Life
eve do not need to praise great men
it is to know them," said DR.. Wood
bury Emerson died 40 years ago
but the insight given students into
the life of Emerson made him real
ity The sparkling story of Emer-
sons characteristics and life was well
told
The speaker told of his first meet
ing with Emerson, at that time "the
greatest mind in America" Ushered
into the library Dr.. Woodbury., then
young man of 21, found Emerson
quiet and modest gentleman who
inquired about college life. Emerson
was characterized by his lever ready
welcome, his manifest gentleness and
his preference for Others"
Represented all Ages =
Emerson's voice was kindly, agree
able and incisive' and DR.. Woodbury.
said that he always read his speeches
and that he never moved about on
the speakers rostrum. His eyes
never met those of his audience and
his voice scared upward because his
soul was upward"
''He was the representative of all
ages said the speaker. Emerson
was combination of electric origin
ality and Yankee common sense. Wild
wintergreen has the Emerson flavor.
The world judges Emerson by his in
tellect. He always gave freely what
he could and--what he 1had."4
Tells Story of Thoreau
mo keener observer of nature ever
lived than Henry Thoreau," said DR..
Woodbury. in speaking of Thoreau.
The story was told that Thoreau re-
fused to take his degree from Harv-
ard because it was not worth five
dollars. Woodbury. brought new
light on the life of the most famous
writer of girls stories in telling of
Louisa M. Alcott.
After the assembly large number
of students and members of faculty
crowded up to meet DR.. Woodbury. ard
he was deluged with invitations to
luncheon and dinner. He was the
guest of DR.. and Mrs. G. NJ Miller at
luncheon Wednesday noon and was
forced to leave for Pullman Wednes-
day afternoon. Other guests at the
luncheon In honor of Dr. Woodbury.
were DR.. and Mrs. A. H Upham, Mrs.
Winona Byrd, Oren A. Fitzgerald.
Robert L. Holbrook and Joel L. Priest,
Jr.
InterschOlastic Debate Contest
Phillip Buck, undergraduate student
from Twin Falls and debate mana
ger, told of the coming interscho-
lastic debate meet for high school de-
baters at the university at the time
of the annual interscholastic track
meet Lead by Prof. E. o. Bangs the
assembly audience sang 'Tdaho We
Dearly Love Thee" and Idaho Fair
for Dr. Woodbury..
The assembly was featured by the
annual march of the university SEN
iors All senior girls wore graduat-
ing caps and the senior men carried
canes. The students were all seated
and the seniors marched in to their
seats of honor in the auditorium.