Dr. Mitchell was here this afternoon.
On Saturday, the 27th, I was all ready for the two hundred teachers, who advanced in a body with a banner, and I gave them a regular lecture on Chautauqua and its out-reachings.
Then I said my friend, Prof. Hogg, had seen me model in Philadelphia, in 1879, at convention of the National Educational Association, where he read a paper on “The Education of the Hand, the Head, and the Heart,” and he had asked me to show this company of teachers some clay modeling, so I would occupy a few minutes in that, as it was one of the methods in the Chautauqua plan to train the hand by clay, and through that educate the head; and if the hand and the head were truly educated, as they ought to be, the heart should be developed too. So, laying out a colossal head in relief, I made a few remarks as to the value of a little easy practice of clay modeling in schools; and then, turning to the board with clay on it, I worked eighteen minutes, and made a head of “an American Teacher.”
General Eaton came to me after their vote of thanks, and as soon as they had gone—in the most congratulatory frame. “Chautauqua could afford to pay you two months’ work for that!” he said, shaking me by the hand. Two of the class of ’86 C. L. S. C., from Lockport, Dr. Mitchell, Mons. Buisson and a few others expressed themselves as much interested.
I was glad to find I had so many “Spare-minute” circulars—and I must have given out seventy-five or one hundred yesterday, beside one hundred to the Texans, generally accompanied with a conversation of more or less length.
All this in the midst of busy work and good progress in the mechanical embellishment of our alcove. It will be very attractive when completed, and I have so planned that I can work at it all along, adding new features from day to day.
It is very interesting, how near to people’s hearts and inner lives I sometimes get in these little talks. It is a plan that touches the aspirations and longings of many a true soul. I wish sometimes that words could be instantaneously photographed. It is impossible for me to write as fully as I should like.
Our only Chautauquan (November) with one copy of the C. L. S. C. circular, with its cut of the Hall, has done good service.
I very much hoped that Dr. Vincent could manage to come here. Many people have asked, the first thing, if Dr. Vincent is to be here. Every state should have a Chautauqua headquarters—this alcove will get them all ready for it.
Monday morning.—Damp, muddy, discouraging to many people. The car drivers have struck and the hour’s ride, long and tiresome at best, is now cut off. Hundreds of teachers who have been pouring into New Orleans these last days of their holiday, are prevented from seeing and learning by this four or five miles of mud before they reach the Exposition. There have been great hindrances all along to the completion of the Exposition, and many grumblers. But I have never been discouraged! Everything from the first start has been delightful. When the roof leaked, I moved some things away, told the roofer, and it was at once mended. When it came on a hard storm night before last, I laid down on the floor, rolled in my Kansas blanket, and liked it so well that I shall camp out here in the Chautauqua precincts; at any rate, till there is some comfortable conveyance away.