, 1861-12-31
!. EDUCATIONAL ANNIVERSARY.
BOYS, Sports Enacted.-An Evening at
PhRntx Hall.


Correspondence Of the Chicago Tfibune.1 =:
BLooA1HGro1s, Dec. 9Th, 1881.
| The exercises Of the day have. been varied
and Interesting In the evening the Teadingcf
| papers and some discussions. A little later
/ the floor was cleared in the center Of the room
md sides chosen, four on side. Six pegs,
/ like small nine pins, were set up at equal Dis
| tanccs from the stands Of the contestants.
The contest consisted in starting at @ given
| eignal-taking up the first pin, bringing and
setting il up within gi7en circle, then return
=! ing in like manner for each Of the Others.
The effect on the assembly was not very un-
| like that Of spiritedrace in the ring Of a dair
| after day ortwo Of quiet. The game was not
new; it may. be seen any day ut our city
| schools; and you may see also the teachers
and even the superintendent participating.
at other times during the session drills in
physical exercises were conducted. They
ought rather be termed w1ingipg, twisting
and distorting performances, for such they
appear TO looker-ou. For many gears our col
leges, and particularly our higher seminaries Of
learning, have been hot beds OF intellectual cul-
ture. Lately those who lead the young mind
through the delightful fields Of knowledge
hare come to the conclusion that the body
needs some care and Strengthening. In de-
fault Of this they see that the over acti7e brain
exhausts the energies Of the physical system
and takes away the power Of appropriating its
Increased qualifications to benefit. It is no
new discovery; only IN awaking to common
sense from stupid, unobscrfing state, in
which nature and laws were not understood.
But the effect Of this tossing the arms and
bending the body in the school room can
never take the p1ace Of boyish sports and
manly games in the open air. These rouse up
deep emotiye feelings, which also should be
cultivated, made active and controlled. Phys
ical exercise in schools can never be complete
until with the infinite variety Of postures
I which nothing bnt ga1ncs suggests, it also
stirs deeply the motive power, which lie deep
| er than action
The election Of officers produced no special
; interest. The political aspect Of the associa-
ton is unknown. An attempt was made, after
| three cheers had been given for the American
flag, {whcn O beautiful one was brought on the
: / STACEY to get up three cheers for Fremont-but
the mover was the only one who cheered, An
attempt was made to get 8 committee ap-
: pointed to attend the ensuing Constitutional
r Convention and suard the interests Of educa-
tion. The Superintendent Of Public lnstruc-
: tion, Mr. Bateman, assured his friends that he
apprelcnded no unfriendliness to education
: on the part Of that body. He believed il
$ wtF!j be their desire and effort to promote
. the interests Of education in the State. Th.
S movement met with but little encouragement
;, No one seemed to know Of 4 single delegate
r who vas opposed to an education, and it was
c believed that If any errors should be commit
e ted they would be through inadre1tance rathcl
L than intention. So nothing WIS done.
J Mr: Allen, State Agent for Wisconsin. gavt
c plain, forcible talk on Teachers Institutes
:, III the forenoon, and Hon. Mr. Pickard, Super
n intendent Of Public Instruction for Wiseon
e sin, addressed the Convention in the evening
: His remarks we're well received, PARTICULAR,
q those on female education, which #er
l. thought to be in strong contrast with those O
h President Sturteyant Of the evening previous
y Mr. Bateman Has prevented from speaking b,
- | Illness.
It Soon after eight o'clock in the evening til
J Convention rc-assemblcd III Phoenix Hall
" where refreshments were provided. Their
:, we're about i've hundred persons present. Th
u fine hall was warm and well lighted, and pre-
"a sented commendable contrast for clcanlnes
with Royce Hall, which WIS in a filthy condi
"a ton during the whole Of the two days The Cor
!. yention assembled in it.
Of The sociable OF this evening was fir NOR
Of lively and enjoyable than that OF "Wednesday
evening. To2Ets and responses formed til
4, order Of the evening till late hour, when til
H. departure of trains diminished the number
VI and soon the whole assembly retired.
ly In retrospect ne would say that this sessio
has been an improvement on the last four sin
j., liar ones in number Of points. 1st. Tier
Is has been no wrang1ipg. I'd. There was nc
I'd iye minutes tine aetually lost "a: TheE FL !
blown by book agents and tradcEmcn- It'll
In several Of the drill exercises there wei
r. useful hints impaired to teachers. 5th- Thcl
I'd | was an unreserye and ffiendliness not conmo
NJ in the educational conventions of tile cas-
nS There was an absence Of the witAered an
= soulless pedagogucs often found in those old.
is conventions, and there seemed no fears on tt
IS, part Of any one that his dignity WIS in jco]
-, ardy.
e. The citizens Of Bloomington, with the
d usual hospitality, entertained most of Il
Ill Indies and some OF the gentlemen Othe
tn preferred stopping at The hotels: Thc r3 Eaj
~ tesies to members. s. II.