Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-07-03

DELHI, Iowa, June 9th, 1868.

l D6Lhl, AoW~, CuuC <tAn. icVS.
EDITOR BuLLGTuN:-There is little ii
this quiet place to interest your readers; an'
even in frequen, trips to different parts o
the county nothing Of Especial interest seem
to present itself. Buslast Wednesday evening
was An exception, rs your correspondent
had the pleasure Of attending the closing ex
ercises Of the spring term of Lenox Col
legiate Institute, at Hopkinton, and fel,
amply repaid for his trouble, These ex
ercises consisted Of ora,ions, essays, and
music; to commence with the latter, The
music was all vocal, with accompaniment
Of course, which was much more entertain
ing to the audiance than the instrumental
performances frequently given at school ex-
hibitions; the pieces were well selected, and
performed With taste and spirit; both the
articulation, and the purity and melody of
the music, made the pieces a real treat to
the audience. aud . credit to Prof Flude,
and his pupils.
1t will not interest your readers to men,
ton the different exercises in detail; of the
6ne essays, by yonng ladies, it IS enough to
say that they were well written, and well
read.
The Eve orations, by young gentlemen,
were also very well prepared and delivered:
the entire exercises were very interesting,
and received the closest attention Of the
audience, although the room was nncomfort-
ably crowted, and the time very late. This
attention was well deserved, the teachers,
and friends Of the Institute had no reason to
blush for any part Of the exercises, and had
great reason for qualification and pride. on
account of both their character, aud then re-
ception By the audience.
The delivery of the speakers was forcible
and self possessed; in two or three there was
q slight s,raiaing after an oratorical tone Of
voice, which did not leave the utterance quit
a. distinct and natural as could be desired,
but this fault viii soon disappear with
practice. In the orations there was, nasnr>
ally, some excess Of language; a greater
fondness Of long words, nicely balanced
sentences and finely rounded periods, than is
Consistent with the greatest power and effect
But these are the faults always seen in
young speakers, which viii soon disappear
when they come TO make use Of their powers
under the pressure Of some important
subject, to be earnestly impressed upon an
8lUJSUCS. ESPECIALLY WucH - lew YEATS VI
practical life have shown them the value of |
short words and direct, pithy sentences. |
And in these speeches there was vigor of |
thought and careful, comprehensive treat-
ment Of the different subjects which showed |
through independent study. Your county /
Was well represented in the exercises BY an
Grafton BY Mr.. Fred. II. Clarke of Hazle,on,
upon The Western Progress of Civilization
and Empire Ii was fully equal to any |
part of the exercises; mainly historical, Of
course; very interesting summary of the |
rise and fall OF the nations most powerful in
war, and letters arising, at successive
periods, farther and farther TO the westward.
Mr.. Clarke closed with An eloquent re-
ference to our own country as the last Of
these nations, and apparently destined to
eclipse them all. His address was not en-
tirelr without the faults | have mentioned
as belonging to the diferant speakers, but
both preparation and delivery we're able.
and credit to him as Q student and
speaker.
was not present at the examinations at
the close OF the spring term of this school,
but Judging from previous visits, from the
exercises and from what learned
Of the classes, ! had no doubt that the
school fully sustains its reputation for correc:
teaching. The teachers are Of
good ability and high qualifications, and
are faithful, earnest and painstaking: there
is probably no school in our section Offering
better advantages than this. The number
students has been small during the tast term
owing to the large number OF high schools
and Seminaries being constantly established
in our different towns. A change is TO be 1
made in the financial management Of the
school, with some reduction Of the tuition
fees, and an effort to bring in large |
number of students.
For the sake Of the teachers and friends /
Of the school il is TO be hoped that tai-
movement will be successful; but il it is |
not it will not SO much injure the interest of
those who do attend, these are many adj |
vantages connected with small school and /
small classes; in many respect they an to be |
preferred to large one. Whether the school |
is much increased in members or not, all |
sho desire can obtain good, thorough teach |
ing in both the common branches and in |
the languages and higher scientific branches.
Yesterday was day of much interest 10 |
the people Of Delhi, the commencement, We
hope, Of new era here. A "bee" was
held for quarrying and hauling stone for
the foundation Of church edihce, to be
commenced by the Baptist Chulch.
4 picnic dinner and supper was furnish ed
the laborers by the ladies, and the day
heartily enjoyed by all; but better than this
Gne days work was done by the en-.
thasiastic stone diggers, and great Inc
terest manifested BY the whole community
in the enterprise. Mr.. Fulton may aecord>
ing 10 bis promise when he preached to us
. few weeks since, be soon called upon to
to lay the cornerstone Of the new edifce.
With new sehoolbouse and . new church
the present season, and the numerous inns
provlnents made upoE private property ia
and around this place, it may be found that
Delhi, is not quite dead yet. In the whole
county around improvement is the order Of
the day; in some townships it seems IS If |
nearly rs much land was being fenced and |
broken this season as.was under cultivation |
before; and many q tract, hitherto rejected |
on account Of high prices. or sand ridge
or slough or some part of its surface, is now
being made into another noble Iowa farm.
On the older farms improved buildings
and fences are going up as if by magic;
groves and orchards are on longer the ex>
ception, but can be seen no almost every
farm; and in few years Delaware will be
one ofthe most populons and wealthy counties
Of the state.
When the. water power Of Der streams is i'm
proved and the series Of Administering wills
ages commenced which are sure TO sooner or
later spring up along the Makoque;a, their
are very few counties that will surpass her.
II.