Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-10-16
BLOOMINGTON.

a# aEg8a BLOoMINGToN. rf r..s.. .s...... s.
We spent two days at this place. It's one
Of the finest cities in tho west. 1t is the
shire town Of McClcan county, and is at tho
crossing of the Illinois Central and Chicago
and st. Louis Railroad. II is surrounded by
a productive and thckly settled country, and
is destined to become place of some i'm.
portance. Bloomington contains popula-
ton of about lo00O It is noted for its ed.
ucational advantages. The State Normal
University. Wesleyan College, Female Uni.
versi'y, Mr,se1dxOIroyy's Mr., Female Ac-
cademy, anda~~ .-,-,s,frsA he building of
tho Normal University is the finest structure
in the West,--buit in tho most substantial
manner, with all Of the late improvements
for the comfort and health Of the students.
We paid . visit to the institution in company
with one OF the students, to whom we are
under many obligations for her kindness in
showing US around, introducing us to the
Professors, and making our visit one Of profit
and pleasure. We hope to reciprocats some
time We were present at The opening Of
the morning exercises, and never in our life
did we see such order and system We
think we never spent day so proiitably as
as we did in the different departments of the
Normal. One of the good features of this
institution Is the attention that is paid to
physical education. The mind is stimulated
and excited to its utmost capacity, and why
not bestow on the body healthful growth
and perfect developments Look at the
mass Of graduates Of our Colleges, and how
few of them, especially the mentally gifted
ones, enter upon the high duties OF life with
sound and vigorous bodily health. And Of
what avail is an educated mind compelled to
live in ruined and diseased body. We are
convinced that no school or college should
ever be without this exercise. 1t should be
part Of the duty Of the faculty Or directors
to require the students to practice regular
system Of gymnastics in connection with
daily studies. There are now some 45O stu
dents in attendance at this institution. We
visited some of the other schools and were
much pleased with what we saw.
A people that will foster their educational
advantages as do the citizens of Bloomington
cannot help but prosper. They are evidently
a go-ahoad people. The interests of tho
youth are looked after. This is as it should
be. We shall long remember our visit tc
Bloomington. And before we close we fee
like urging our citizens to look more afte,
the welfare of our rising generation. W,
arc in our infancy as town and county
We have grown as business center rapidly
and have made rapid strides in that direction
but as far as our interest in education is con
cerned we have not made that progress tha
we should. But we are now pleased tha
steps are being taken for the advancement o
the subject of education We hope the plar
Of building large commodous house suta
ble FOR graded school will succeed. Let u
make our schools what they ought to be-
Place them under the direction of competen
instructors; have the branches taught philo
sophicaly--taught as they should be. II il
admitted by the wisest and best men in tn
Union, that education is the palladium. th
safeguard and the security Of the Republic
Let US then rouse up, and feel our obligation
and our responsibility to keep this boon be
queathed to US by our fathers alive, and no
let neglect and apathy and want of patriot
ism in our educational interests pervade on
land. If there is any one Thing on whic!
the usefulness, the true greatness, and tn
permanence of a free government depend
more than another, it is education There
much to keep alive this train of thought il
the very means of acquiring education. Tn
once difficult and toilsome paths to the tempt
of science have been robbed of half of thei
terrors, by class books, text books, essay
and treatises. written in clearer terms, and !!
lustrated with more captivating style. The,
are calculated to allure those who do no
come willingly into the charmed circle O
educated minds. Let us then, as Americans
cherish our educational advantages as tn
key stone Of our liberty, and II must be rem
dered still frner and broader, to meet tn
growing strength and the growing danger
Of our country. One word before we close
as to the building OF our proposed schoc
house and its surroundings: II we expec
our children to succeed we must make tn
school house and grounds attractive; Civ
them an air Of neatness and comfort; bull
a commodious house agreeable to the eye
with all of the modern improvements sc
apart portion of the grounds for lawn
plant the elm, the maple and the flowerinj
shrubs; plant the beautiful vines and creep
ers; train them on the walls and let then
hang in festoons over the windows. Hoy
much better to dstil these gentle dcws 4
1eaven" +" into the young heart; toHU
even in the schoolboy days, a''0s Wv
of flowers, Of gardens, Of -
home, Of all Of the pure =, =. ooon,
which are in after lifeIxsoV. :"
only in the memory
n.ss. ,n,,s who h. r.,s wall. l5ar9ains /!
crossing occulyEN IN ALL KINDS or
else, almost
s"'s'pr'.'v GOODS,
wusytS and Shoes.
is or
/
CLOTHING,