, 1860-06-30
THE NORMAL SCHOLAR.

The qualifications for admission to the State
Normal School By the provisions Of the slh Sec
tim Of the act establishing the eame arc as iot.
lows:
i. 10 be, If males, not less than Il, and i
females, Dot less than 1G years OF age.
@ To produce certificate Of good moral
character, signed by some responsible person.
3. To sign declaration Of .ncir intention to
devote themselves 10 school teaching in this
Stale.
1. TO pass 4 satisfactory examination, before
the proper officers, in Heading, Spelling, Writ
ing: Arithmetic, Geography, and the elements
OF English Grammar.
Each county aud each representative district
in the State is entitled to gratuitous instruction
for one pupil, for the selection and appointment
Of which specific provision is made.
In Major Hall yesterday about one hundred
students Of both sexes were thus gathered, Of
whom eleven, the irst graduating ciass, are to
receive diplomas tomorrow. Gathered from
throughout the borders Of our Stutc. their ap-
pearance. and intelligence would do credit 10
any section Of the State, and from first appear
ances to such visitors as we're for the first time
there present, it was manifest that the welfare
Of tile Institution is in good hands in the i'm.
portant respect Of class and character of its
students. Nor were first impressions defeated
By the esents Of the day,
was glad to zee among the spectators on tue
platform, his .E1cellency, Gov. Wood, Hon.
Jesse 4. Dubois, the entire State Board Of Edu-
catioa, Capt. J. n. Brown, Lewis Ellsworth and
large number Of wcil-known aud prominent
citizens Of our State. 1t furnishes a pleasing
aud Eignidcaut token Of the fast hold tie cause
OF popular education has taken on the hearls Of
our people when such, rs many Of those pres
ent turn aside from important duties Of State
and private life, for day among students.
The exercises were opened at 4. n, BY de-.
a4 ht r.
the Principal. These exercises we're brief,
beautifully simple and impressive, aad worthy
Of introduction in all our Schools.
chapter Of the New Testament was first ill.,
toned after the manner of the Church service,
thee Principal. aud the entire school In concert
reading alternate serses. Then followed the
brief, nnsectarian, yet purely religious e1er-
else Of the Lords Prayer repeated in concert,
every head bowed throughout the same.
The class in Virgil, consisting Of some len or
twelve students were then called out and cxcr.
cised under Prof. Potter, in selections taken at
random from the first two books Of the -Eneid4
This was thorough and generally commen-
turn to assume the teachers post and question
one auother. No chance was afforded for col.
lusion, and for benefit from any cramming'
process, and there seemed to be need Of none.
An hour thus past was succeeded by q short
recess, after the wise Normal School regulation
Of only fifty minutes confinement at time in
stead Of niHtfy, the rule when We pressed the
mates we're then submitted to very thorough
drill By Prof. Moore, the studstts maufcst,Ug
the results Of careful trainin. to the end o
quickness aud precision Of calculation.
Then followed a br.ef recess, after which 4
class was called out for examination in Physi
cal Geography, from the nature Of the pursuit
aud the erident zest with which the student:
had pursued it, one Of the most interesting e1'
erciscs OF the dny.
rrof. c. II. Cndy, Of Root l. Cady Of you,
city, in a way both business and pEofessIona
identified prominently with musical culture il
this State, during the forenoon exercises twice
led the entire school in we'll executed singing
but the students Of both sexes are diligently ant
| carefully trained to sing. aud to teach in sing
| ing. Vocal music should be carried into til,
| schools and become regular part Of the exer
cises, aud thus is emiueusly the practice ant
| precept Of the State Normal School.
The iutermission WIS one hour and half, an.
The hall was filled again at half past one in th
afternoon, and exercises in Botany, Ancien
History and Literature filled up the afternoon
| Blt OF these cau make no extended separat
| mention. The last named is branch OF stud
Of valus and interest, as giying tne studen
some familiarity and classification Of the world
modern poets, novelists and literateurs of th
| u'EA0A
Ihad more than once during the day been wo
from the exercises in the Upper Hall, by th
sweet sound Of childish voices in perfect uniso
and tune, rising from the apartment on the ser
ord floor occupied as the Aodtk School. The.
l found. and not for the first time during n
visit, about thirty young lads and misses, wit
their teacher, Miss Droots, forming altogethe
one Of the hsppiest and most united Ilt,fc con
mupities imaginable. Nothing was straiGb
laced because this was Model School, not oae
The little folk was in a straight jacket becau<
this was "cxsminatlon day" but all moved oi
| each child apparently as responsive to the
teachers voice and look as organ keys to Il
touch of a skillful player.
How the little folks read in concert, and San
in concert like tree full Of canaries, and ho
they mounted huge questions in geog1aph
| and went at the maps as 1t a pastin1e, ard ho
| they at the elosc Of the e1ercites Of the afte
noon fled up into the Hall and took their pl
ces on the Platform - bright pa1ter1e of hapr
faces, aud how they went through their exer<
kes until old faces among the audience forg
their wrinkles, and frosty pows fairly noddt
with delight, tears bedimming more than o,
set Of "eyes unused TO weep through Il
sweet softening influence Of happy chiidhoo
behold is not all this and more fast ard indie
bic in the memories Of the lookers on duri1
this anniversary Of the Normal School.
Thus prepared by the exhibition Of b
works in the proficiency Of these little one
the audience were fully in sympathy when lttt
Miss Fanny Graves came forward and in a ne
little-faltering but clear address presented