The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-01-05
The Dedication.

The dedIcaGon OF the State Normal School
Building Wednesday, was a affair of gre at
interest. The, building is proud monument
of the interest the people Of the State feel in
the cause of popular education. No school
in the State, of aLy grade, is more useful or
strikes more directly at the very foundation of
popular education than the Normal. Its mis- :
sion is tO'edueate those who are TO mould the
minds of the masses. Hence the great in ter
es, which the pc ople feel in its success. We
venture that no other State has, at so early IN
age, Qess than six years after her admissoa;)
erected so fine temple for the instruction. of
the teachers of her common schools as Kan
sas. This building, and the rapid progress
of the achool, and the high character it has
already attained, not only shows what amin
terest the people feel in 6 EDUCATIONAL matters,
bat foretells what the State is sooa to be in
this respect. For lintslligenee it viii soon
stand in the froat rank, if it does not alread y
stand there. . .s. -s..
The building is a fac struc;ue., bJ.h in
archite ctural beauty and convenience of ar
rangemeLt. 1t stands on an eminencc north
of town overlooking the whole country. 1t
is Oiset wide and 60 feet long-two stories
high above the bas lent. The upper floor
is IN ''ne large assembly room, finished off
beautifully but plainIy. This csiliag is sur
rounded witL plain corniee while in the cen
tire, overhead, is tasteful piece of stucco
work. Tho first main hoor is divided into
four convenient recitation rooms, two of which
are finished. The halls and stairways are all
finished. The basement is divided into two
large cloak or dressing rooms, for use of the
students, with apartments in the rear f. r fuel,
etc. L. Borton was the superintendent of
construction John Hammond was the con-
tractor for the whole job, and did the -capaR-
ter work. Howe 4 Griffith did the stone work
and the Messrs. Love. of Lawrence, did the
plastering. The manner in which the work
is all done reflects great credit on all connect
ed with the Construction the building.
The exercises consisted of addresses by Prof
j. W. HOrner of Baker University, and Frof
Kellogg, Principal of the Normal, music, etc.
As both these addresses are to he published
in The NEws We will not attempt comment
upon them. They were full ofsoul, and cara
est intelligent thought. The address of Prof
Horner was q lucid explanation of our whole
educational system. Prof Kellogg sketched
the history Of the Normal School briefly. and
gave an able exposition of the peculiar objects
of such schools. If we take close attentio
MS sign, these addresses were certainly en-
joyed by the large audience present.
Judge Watson presided on the occasion with
dignity, in the q bsenee of Mr. Eskridge, who
had been selected fer this post of honor.
At the Gle Sc of the addresses Rev. Mr.. Morse
treated the udience to some in .eresting rem n
iscenses of the effort 10 start the school
procure teacher, etc.
The dedication hymn, written for the occA-
sion by Prof. H. B. Notion, was sung to music
composed by Prof. M . j. Sti4.son, by several
of the students of the school and citizens of
the village, The beautiful gles I'VE Love Our
Native Hills" was also sung with good effect
Not the least interesting part of the ro-
gramme, by any means, was the soul stirring
music of our silver etblnd. Tie ex 'rcis-
es were opened and closed by some of their
choicest pieces. They performed exceeding
ly well. Our band is an institution which the
public would not be without on such occasion 5.
Eloquent and impressive prayers were req
der ed to God at the opening by Rev. G. C.
Morse, and at the close by Rev. j. H. Leard.
The dedication of the State Normal School
Building viii long be remembered as an occa
sion of great interest N our States ist-ry by
those who witnessed it.