Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-09

the Seminafy, by alarge attendance each day, =
ought always to be the case, if we would have P
life, and interest, and usefulness attend these s.
annual exhibitions Of the progress and at 81
tainments Of the pupils Of our Schools. It 8
them with a laudable emulation to :
excel, and gives a spur and zest to their stu |
dies during each scholastic year. To appear =
we'll before those whom they love and respect, :
to give assurances of application to study, and
of a mind susceptible of high cultivation-is l
one of the strongest incentives a student
should have, outside of the real, intrinsic val ]
ne impaired by knowledge itself; and we
know the effort to give evidence of their pro-
gress is stimulated very greatly, when their
parents and friends come to congratulate and
share with them in their scholastic triumphs.
And not only does it exert a ~salutary effect
upon the pupils, but it is peculiarly crafty
ing to Teachers, to have their patrons come
and see for themselves, as to how they have
discharged the important trusts committed
to their hands, of training and cultivating the
minds of their children, and to feel that they
have their %sympathies and cooperation in
their arduous tolls. Let, then, our Semina-
ries, Academies and our Common Schools al
ways be attended by parents on Examination
occasions-let the houses be filled by inter-
ested auditories- teachers and pupils know
that a citicising, intelligent public will be
present to mark their attainments, and it will
tend greatly to advance the grade of scholar
ship in our schools, seminaries and colleges.
The classes that we heard examined, an
swered readily and correctly the various ques-
lions p~ropounded to them in their respective
studies; and though some evinced a quicker
and kss.lN 7 q seIsSsa thar thar S Others saz yet all
ing to acquire a knowledge of. There was
none of the clap-trap and ostentatious parade
SO often resorted to-but everything was
conducted in a plain, clear manner, free from
partiality and studied preparation, that fairly
denoted the progress and mental calibre of
each pupil. And we hardly know which
were happier, at the success of the pupils
the Parents, or the faithful Teachers-for
both had certainly reason to be proud over
the proficiency evinoed by their young wards.
The Literary Address before the Young
ladies of the Institution, was delivered on
Monday evening, by President CRAVEN, of
Normal College. His subject was Esprit
Life"-or, in other words, the spirituality or
inspiration of thorough Education. And it
was a mastery effort. The diction was clear
and perspicuous, the rhetoric rich and pol
ished, the thoughts energising and vigorous,
the irony keen and whitening. The speaker
took the true ground, that Woman should be
educated for her W sake, regardless of the
power and influence with which she would
thereby be invested to do good to others
She was entitled to a thorough education that
would render her independent in her sphere
of life-and he nobly indicated her from the
aspersion that the female mind is incapable
of receiving that high grade of cultivation and
complete knowledge of the abstruse sciences
that is attained by the other sex. He poin-
ted out in a clear and practical way, many of
the popular errors of modern education, and
scorched with his whitening sarcasm the pa
tent road to learning made easy" by the
many attempts to simplify the text books, so
as to require less labor On the part of a stu
L Io-4 2 L4Z
But p1aTs Is idea Of attempting to give
even a synopsis of the points discussed by
President Craven in this excellent Address.
We shall therefore close our remarks con-
corning it by simply saying, it was about
the best Address we ever heard on such an
occasion. Rich and glowing in imagery, Wig
orous and elevated in thought, and eminent
ly utilitarian in application, it ought to be
published SO as to be read by pupils, teach
ers and parents all over the State and we
are satisfied great good to the educational in
~terests of the country would result from it
Rev. n. F. Reid was to deliver the Vale
dictory Sermon on Tuesday evening but his
attendance nthe General Conference in Nash.
vile, prevented his being present. All felt
that they had been thus deprived of hearing
a rich intellectual and religious DISCOURSE
Can it not yet be delivered9
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were
devoted to the Examination of the Glasses {.
but where all acquitted themselves so credit
ably, it would perhaps be inyidious to par
ticularize more than is given in our remarks
above.
Wednesday night the large Hall of the
School, capable of seating several hundred
persons. a packed to its utmost capacity.
while large numbers had to be content with
what they cchld see and hear through the