Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-12-06
Sunday school Exhibition. n.

el, was very fine affair, and did cred
toboth teachers and pupils. The Chprcl
was filed to its utmost capacity, and W
are informed that many were unable I
gain admittance. ,5y, sr ~ .r
By some mistake the stoves were heatet
before the audience collected, and the eve
ming proving warm, the crowded state o
the house rendered the atmosphere with
in almost insupportable. And, unfortu
nately, in the construction Of the house
like most other public buildings, no iade
quate means were provided for ventilation
The consequence was state Of depression
in the people, which no ordinary enter
.ainment could have induced them to en-
dure. But the fact that they did, endure
1t, and that the children were able to over
come the depressing effects Of the cheated
term" and hold the audience to the las
piece Of the long programme, is the high
est proof which could be given of the IN
teresting character of the performance.
We are not about to enter into a descrip.
ton of the exercises, or a criticism on the
performers. The pieces selected for dec.
lamation and dialogue were very good ol
their kind, and we're creditably delivered.
The singing was good and showed not
only the existence of latent musical tai
ent in the children, but skill AMI perse-
velance in those who have had the charge
of them, in its development and cutiva-
ton. at ia'.@ f.'i
Such exhibitions we think are Of far
more Importance than they are supposed
to be by the public at large. 1t is often
thought that the time employed by the
"little folks"-in memorizing their pieces
and preparing for their delivery is all lost,
and that the excitement attendant upon
the occasion is an evil which over-balances
all the good. But such persons we are
satisfied do not take the true view of the
subject. ...
That the children are deepl, interested
in these exhibitions is abundantly proved
by the radiant happiness which beams and
glows upon their features, and the energy
it impars to all their actions. And this
happy and pleasant excitement calling
into activity. as it does, their mental pow
ers, is the means Of real progress in their
subsequent studies. 1t calls out their la
tent powers, and under the stimulus of the
occasion, finding that they can accomplish
something that their elders admire, they
ale encouraged to new efforts. In tl.is
way we have no doubt such exhibitions
have a beneficial effect upon the intellect
ual development Of the pupils. The So
cial and moral benefits resulting to the
children will, Of course, depend very much
upon the motives FROM which they are in
Iuced to act, and these upon the charac-
Ter and social and moral qualities OF those
who direct and influence them.
But we think the benefits Of these ex =
hibi,ions are by no means confined TO the
children and youth. The competitions Of
business the struggles and cares of life
the rivalres of trade The conflicts OF
clashing interests-the antagonlsms' of
political partisansbips the jealousies OF
religious seclarianisms, and the thousand
other influences which surround US, tend
to blunt the finer sensibililies of our ma.
ture, and inslil misanthropic spirit which
points in any other direction than that of
genial good will to our kind and the cul-
tivatioh of sentiments Of fraternal love and
universal brotherhood. Indeed, we very
much doubt whether society composed
wholly of adult men and women could
long retain suficiency of innocence and
purity to preserve it from destruction by
the outbreaking of its internal antago-
nisms. a.i.. r........ a
But here comes to their aid the Infinite
wisdom and goodness of our Heavenly
Father, Who, in the constitution of human
society has mingled Heaven with Earth,
by the bountiful gift of 'little children. -
The serene smile on the innocent counte-
nance of a helpless infant, has an effect
upon the half calous heart of manhood a
thousand times more powerful than all the
logic ever employed by the greatest
preacher that ever lived. The first pratt
things Of opening childhood breaks away
the crust of cold selishness which envel-
opes the soul, and let's in upon the :orpi
affections the warmth of celestial inhu-
ences, as no eloquence or power of reason.
ing could do. In short, home would not
be home without children, and the Earth
would be forever divorced from Heaven
but for their presence. And when hun
dreds Of them, in all the freshness of theil
young life, and outbeamingr innocence o