The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-05-06

Be it remembered thas the Alpha
Nu Society is exclusively q part of the
Union School. By order of the Board
of Education, no individual can be an
active member of this Society who is
not . member of the School. At their
recent exhibition, they had not even the
benefit of the advice of their Superin-
tendent-Mr. BARBER being confined to
his room by severe illness.
The Orations by Deming, Clark and
E%nsminger, and tho compositions by
Misses Stewart, Johnston aud Willard
WERE ALL ORIGINAL, and the Declama-
tions by John f. and Henry Robinson
were we'll chosen. The Music, which
was very good, was under tho supervi-
sion of C. F. NJ. Clark, and what could
have delighted the hearts of. listening
parents more than the song of " Ross
lie, the Prairie Flower" sung by four
little girls, over whose fair. innocent
brows scarcely nine have shed
their sunlight, and showers; one of the
little quartette accompanying the song
on the Melodcon. The Cuckoo Song
was performed by Miss Emily Luther,
with a pleasing and una ffected simplici-
ty that charmed the audience, and was
loudly a%pplauded. The funny little
Farce performed by CLARK, Robinson,
WATSON. and Clugston, afforded much
amusement. But the exercise which
most elected the admiration and rivet-
ed the attention of tho audience was
!" Tho Fatal Falsehcod," a tragedy by
Hannah Moore. Clark, in tho charac-
ter of Rivers, AMI Miss Willard as the
unfortunate EmmeliEe could not be ex
celled; while FL. A. Demiug as Count
Orlando, and Miss Adelaide Johnston,
in the character of Julia, equally sus-
tanned themselves. Wasson's persona
tion of: old Earl Guildford, both in dress
aud attitude, was happily accomplished,
trand sustained his part admirably
The costume adopted by the performers
was simple and becoming; they spoke
with el,arness and precision, and per-
formed with grace and modest self pos
session. or the effect, 1 need not speak.
It was plainly visible in many a CULVER
ing lip and fearful ere.
Whatever amusement these exhibi-
lions may afford the public, the chief
benefit accrues to the scholars. If pro-
enc ouraged, they &ill be ambi-
tious to prepare themselves so as to in
terest all who may choose to attend, aud
if the minds of our children can be devo-
ted to scientific pursuits, they will have
little taste for the vanities and ~frivoli-
ties SO conducive to lead the minds of
youth astray. Activity is the leading
Characteristic of the youthful mind, and
SO long as that can be applied to the
acquisition of useful knowledge. there is
less danger of a fatal bias. A large
portion of our community have felt an
honest pride in the progress of u Union
School, smaller portion have given it
their encouragement because they could
not well avoid it; but few, if any of us,
have given it that attention which our
own interests, rightly regarded, would
d~ictute. Next to family instruction,
the moral influences (which cluster
around the altar and the hearth at
the school-room demands our
ere. The child is a tender
plaintiffs susceptible, discriminating
mind requires more culture than all 9th
er plants combined and, unless care
fully guarded, noxious weeds will check
its growth, or fatally mar its moral
what, | ask, is moro to be
dreaded, or what will more certainly |
and rapidly bring down our heads il
sorrow TO the grave" than an ignorant,
child g? Let US all endeavor,
then, to keep the minds of our children
in the right direction, aud give our
School the encouragement our own int
rest demands. CLARA CLYDE.