The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-12

the pleasure yesterday of witnessing
one of the usual Friday afternoon
exercises of the High School. These
exercises vary somewhat from the
usual routine of the other days of the
week. and are designed to instruct
the pupils in branches of education
and on subjects not laid down in the
text books. -
The several schools occupying the
High School building assembled
in the grand hall-the third story,
which, by-the-by. is one of the finest
halls in the city, and in which may be
seated six hundred to eight hundred
people. The exercises opened by
singing. in excellent style, piece of
sacred music
40, bless our God, ye people,"
With Miss Kate Hornbrook at the
organ, after which Professor Cow an
nounced the object of the assemblage
Miss Brown then read Whittier's
admirable poem, Maud Muller" m
a style that would have charmed the
author himself had he been present,
the object being to give representa-
ton of the tone of voice, emphasis
aud style proper to be used on pub
lie OCCASION
Professor Cow, taking the phrase,
1t might have been," as text. pro
ceeded 10 deliver a brief but exceed
iDgly interesting and instructive lee
ture on the importance of taking at its
food that tide in the affairs of men
which leads to fortune, in which he
took occasion to designate what con-
stitute the true gentleman and lady,
and to impress on the minds of the
pupils that now is the time to acquire
those characteristics.
The true gentleman must be gentle
at the same time active, energetic,
generous and brave. We should learn
to do whatever we do to the best Of
our ability; should aim to excel in
whatever calling we pursue.
He gave a sketch of Hiram Wood
ruff, who was nothing but a horse
Jockey, bat had manifested many
characteristics of the true gentleman.
He was honest, truthful, patient,
sagaoious and brave. He was the
first to discover the latent qualities OF
Dexter, the famous trotter, and had
trained him until he was as gentle
as a lamb, tractable as dog, and
swift as the wind, and after he had
him thoroughly trained, he backed
him to trot mile inside of 2:22 for
$4,000, although the best turfmen
insisted that it was simply impossible.
The effort was made. aud the result
was watched with intense interest by
thousands, and by none with more
interest than by Hiram Woodruff,
who, placing himself at short dis
lance from the goal, with his watch
IN one hand and his hat in the
other, watched the issue with breath
less anxiety, and as the noble animal
sped over the home stretch, and
knowing his great power, and seeing
that single seconds delay by break
or an accident might lose the race
Woodruff, as the horse passed, gave a
shout, which Dexter we'll knew, and
he dashed home with the swiftness OF
bird, making his mile in 2:19
and afterwards made it in 2:174.
From training horses the transition
was easy to the training of boys
Professor Willett- was the Hiram
Woodruff of this establishment, and
it was his mission and his object tC
develope the excellent qualities Of
those under his care. In this effort
he must have their cooperation
They must be tractable, attentive
willing. " Whatever you do, do well
the very best you can"
He did not want any exotic growth
no precocity, but regular, natura
development. do everything we'll
A Mayor of Boston, when taunte,
with the remark that he had beer
nothing but a drummer boy, mildly
remar ked, And did | not drum
well7"
When a boy lis nice and good, an,
smart and gentle, the natural inquiry
is, who is his mother? IF he is mean
idle, ungentlemanly or dishonest, the
same inquiry is made, aud they OWED
it to the honor of their parents {,
cultivate the better qualities Of theil
nature and suppress the evil. FL,
gave an illustration of a young lad,
who is now engaged in teaching, an,
who he styled one Of the best teacher
he ever knew, whose father was Wei
Gus, criminal, and her mother was
poor washerwomaa-but she was
lady, and had trained her daughter t
initiate her virtues and shun the vice
of the father.
He urged the Importance of neat
ness, of attention to all the it'll
civilities of life, little thingssin them
selves, but all going to constitute life
( Boys should be distinguished on til
+. street By their manners, .and thu
they make character.
; 1t don't require much wit or geniu
to chalk boys back, or pin a rar t
7 his coat tail, or slip anything from
his pocket to tease and annoy him
) 1t Is vulgar. mean and unmanly.
> We give but the merest outline 9th