v of o 3 Oregon Daily Emerald VOLUME XXIII. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, EUGENE, FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1922 NUMBER 110 ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PORTRAYS SPIRIT OE Dr. Woodbury Brings Audience Closer to Emerson and His Group ANECDOTES ARE AMUSING Incidents Told Draw Thoreau and the Alcotts Vividly Before Hearers A smallish old man with a kindly face stepped forward on the platform at Villard hall yesterday morning and won his audience with a smile. With out preliminaries, Dr. Charles J. Wood bury, associate of Emerson, Thoreau and the Alcotts half a century ago, carried his audience back at once into Emerson’s study in the days when this circle reigned supreme in literary America. The speaker’s very dress, the conventional long black coat, high white collar and black bow tie, helped to transport his hearers into the atmo sphere of those earlier times, and he pictured those great literary figures with a faithfulness that made them as real as the speaker himself. Ralph Waldo Emerson was portrayed to the students of the University, not impersonally as a historic figure in literature, but as an intimate friend, because Ur. Woodbury thinks that to understand Emerson’s work the reader should know something of the man’s personality. As one of the few sur vivors of the Concord group of writers spoke, it was as if the famous New England scholar himself were telling of his life. Met Emerson at 62 Dr. Woodbury, who was once the associate of the essayist, also spoke of Thoreau and Louisa May Alcott, both friends and co-workers in a group of noted writers. “It was when Emerson was 62 years old that I first met him,’ said Dr.'Woodbury. “Even then he had retained all of his agressiveness and did not show his age. His eyes at times had an introspective look and his face wore the expression of a seer.” The speaker, introduced by Presi dent Campbell, told informally of his experiences with the literary people of New England. He wandered at random over various incidents in the lives of those he knew. He gave brief personal glimpses, and it was one from their midst who was speaking. Once or twice the speaker brought a ripple of laughter from the audience by relating some peculiar anecdote of the life and philosophy of Emerson. It was said that when one of the contempor aries criticised Emerson for what he termed lack of sociability he was asked the basis of his criticism. “Oh, when he talks to you he acts like he were ad dressing a large and intelligent audi ence,” was the reply. Always iteaa opeeuuca Dr. Woodbury declared that when Emerson wrote some of his theory of self-reliance he stated that “all that society gives to a person is composure. One of Emerson’s habits was to always read his speeches. Instead of looking his hearers in the eye lie would gaze intently into space o- would occupy himself with shuffling his manuscript while presenting his theories. “Emerson believed that manners and morals go together,” said the speaker. “His own manners had an exquisite charm I never knew him to be late at an appointment. He was punctual be cause of his regard for men as men. Anything odd or peculiar in the dress or action of a person is said to have been exceedingly annoying to the poet GSSfl Vist. Dr. Woodbury was also a personal friend of Thoreau. He described some of the details of Thoreau’s life and his interest in nature. He told of the trips which he had taken with the naturalist through the woods and of the things which he had learned. “He knew to a dav when the wild flowers would cast their seeds and he was familiar with all the life of the wild creatures." said Dr. Woodbury. Aleott Home Visited The home of Louisa May Aleott was frequently visited by Dr. Woodbury. He described the various incidents in her life and told of the surroundings in which she grew up. It was when she was seven years old that she wrote a plav, which was acted out by the neig. bors. When she was 16 her first story was published and it was several years later that she joined the army as a nurse. Dr. Woodbury spoke Wednesday to a gToup of students in addition to his ad dress to the student assembly. He left (Continued on page three) RELAY CARNIVAL BILLED FOR SEATTLE STADIUM Practically Every College on Coast to Compete in Washington Meet, April 29 University of Washington, April 13— j (P. I. X. S. Special) — Washington’s 1922 track season opens at 2:30 p. m. i Saturday, April 29. in the Stadium, j Practically every college on the Pacific j coast will compete for first place in' this classic. According to Coach Clarence “Hec” Edmundson, this will be the third and largest Washington relay carnival ever held. More colleges have entered this year than in any previous carnival. A wide diversity of events is prom ised by the program. It includes seven college relays, two 100-yard dashes, a pentathalon, a 200-meter dash, a 1500 meter run, two relays between King county high schools and University freshmen, and the interfraternitv relay. The feature event of the meet is ex pected to be the 100-yard dash. Victor Hurley, the Washington sprint ace who won that event last spring, and Casey Anderson, who placed second, are the pair whom Edmundson thinks will probably represent the purple and gold this season. Dave Metlen is a certainty for the pentathalon. STUDENTS TO STAGE SHOW OLD FASHIONED COLLEGE NIGHT TO ENTERTAIN PREPPERS Football Men to Receive Sweaters; Basketball Awards May Be Delayed Tonight’s show at the Women’s building is to be a regular old-fashioned college night, according to a statement made by student body president Lyle Bartholomew yesterday afternoon. “This is going to be a pep-fest that will send a thrill down the backs of all those present and show