The Chemawa American, February 01, 1928, Image 1

The Chemawa American
Printed at Chemawa,
Oregon, and Devoted to the Interest* of Indian Education
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VoL XXIX___________ Wednesday, Feb. 1,1928
No. 17
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CHARLES LAMB
the mental processes of his sister in safe channels.
No doubt many of our students have read “Tales Who can say?
From Shakespeare” by Charles and Mary Lamb.
This truly wonderful joint literary work is of ines­
This wonderful volume is well worth reading by every­ timable value to young readers and is really of great
one. It is extremely doubtful if any man, any where, interest to people of all ages. Few there are, indeed,
at any time, was more beset with sore trials than who read these wonderful “Tales” who know the cir­
Charles Lamb. His own life story is of as great in­ cumstances under which they were written. This vol­
terest as anything that Shakespeare had to offer. ume was the work of two super-sensitive souls who
There is no doubt tenable in the matter—every one of were living in constant dread of the recurrence of
our students should know something of Charles Lamb. madness—knowing that at any moment the small thread
His life was a series of lengthy tragedies. He pos­ by which they held reason in leash might snap. Mary
sessed the soul of a saint. His figure was stooped and had killed the mother of both of them, and yet in later
he had the bad habit of stuttering.
years both brother and sister were to achieve fame—
Lamb’s antecedents were anything but patrician. the martyred brother to glory himself. Could one
He was an ordinary clerk for the greater part of his find anything more strange in any volume of fiction?
life, and in his fiftieth year he was retired on an an­
We presume that many of our high school students
nual pension of 400 pounds. He wrote little after re­ have read “Tales from Shakespeare,” if any have
ceiving his pension, and he died at the age of 59, in not we advise them to do so, for there is much of
1834. It seems strange that his literary output was value in them, and they are a stepping stone to the
greatest during the years of his sorest trial—adversity more profoundly written works of Shakespeare.
appears to have spurred him on.
We take pleasure in suggesting from time to time
An innocent victim of hereditary madness, he was something which our young people should read and
the inmate of a madhouse at 21. Shortly after his re­ the little essays, or brief biographies, which we at­
lease his greatest trouble visited him: His sister, Mary, tempt to give you are all well-meant attempts to
in a period of insane violence, killed her mother, and inspire your interest in the better class of literature.
as a result was committed to an insane asylum with a We trust that some good will result from our efforts.
good prospect of remaining there for the remainder of
her life. Her brother, Charles, scarcely more than a
PNEUMONIA PREVENTABLE
boy, pledged himself to the authorities to nurse and
Here at Chemawa health conditions are splendid.
care for her if they would make him her guardian.
Everything is sanitary and healthful and we have a
This having been granted him, his martyrdom
capable resident physician and an efficient nursing
began. At the time Charles was in love with a young
staff. We also have a well apportioned hospital for
woman by the name of Alice Winterton and he sacri­
the care of those who may elect to get sick in spite of
ficed his hopes of happiness with her and lived a life
watchful care and Fate.
of bachelorhood for his insane sister, Mary. Thus
We are printing an article from the State Board of
the years passed with Charles looking after Mary,
Health, both for the instruction of our own students
watching all her moods for signs of madness, and
and for outside readers of The American. Our Che­
when they occurred going with her to an asylum that
mawa students will do well to note some of the facts
she might be confined until restored to herself.
set forth in the article; however, we think some of our
What a time of trial and apprehension Charles must
readers in isolated districts will find greater value in
have endured! Out of this touching love of the
the article than will our own students, who are well
brother for the sister came the “Tales from Shake­
cared for, while those on the outside must look after
speare. ’’ One is impressed with the idea that probably
themselves. The article follows—read it carefully:
this joint effort of brother and sister was inspired in
(Continued on page 4)
the mind of Charles as a possible means of keeping