The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-07
an Atlas and Dictionary After singing the
Institute adjourned until evening.
EVENING. - -.

an Atlas and Dictionary. After singing the
Institute adjourned until evening,
EVENING.
The ouestion for discussion to-nightwas how
vbisperino might best be prevented in school
| The meeting was called to order by Mr.. Webb
| at the hour appointed, and the question was
read. Mr.. Stone of Portland opened the dis
custom He spoke first upon the subject OF
scholars reporting. 1t holds out too strong a
temptation to scholars to tell an untruth. II
they think the teacher does not see them, they
will tell an untruth. 1t is dangerous course
to follow. Whispering in school is the root OF
great deal of evil. allow it cannot be en-
tirely stopped but it should be done as far as
possible. Scholars should not be allowed to
whisper about lessons. No young teacher
should be discouraged by what is said here.
All should try to do something toward it, Pu
pills should have the idea that you know more
about what is going on in the school room
than any one else. Then good deal may be
done toward breaking up whispering. Mr..
Stone closed by saying he did not believe whis-
perlng could be entirely stopped.
Next on the discussion was Mr.. Chase of
Portland. He thought in some schools whis-
pering could be stopped; for instance, a coun-
try school with lady teacher. Mr.. Chase's
first school was country school; he sat but
one in seat, and did prevent communication
to great extent. The first days of school
the scholars are engaged in watching the
teacher, and will whisper. l should arrange
the school so as to put the rogues with those
who do not whisper. y
Mr.. Taylor next spoke. He took the grourd
that whispering could not be prevented, but
might be controlled. -..
Mr.. Gross complimented Mr.. Stone upon the
excellent condition of his school in Portland.
He said children should be taught self control,
and related beautiful anecdOte of one asking
some celebrated person why our Heavenly Fa-
Their took from us our parents, those upon
whom we are in the habit of depending. He
took them out into field and showed them
where an oak had been cut down and left the
sprouts growing very rapidly. Says he, eff
that oak had not been cut down, those sprouts
would have grown very weak and slender;
while leflto depend upon themselves they grow
stout and strong. So with us; left to depend
upon ourselves, we grow strong"
Mr.. Wentworth was next called for, who
made very good remarks upon the subject and
was the last one who spoke in the discussion.
At o'clock the lecture commenced, which
was by DR.. Mayberry OF Massachusetts, on the
subject of Poetry as an Educator" He COM
menced by quoting that emo man was sent into
this world to write poetry; what we want is
TRUTH" with which sentiment he did not agree.
He considered poetry great soother of
trouble and sorrow. 1t increases all our joys
Poetry was our earliest literature. He who
takes into his hand the poetical Tyre, takes in
to his hand an instrument of Gods. About
hundred years ago man left his plough
and took up the poets pen; art had moth
ing to do with making Robert Burns. He
was natures student. The lecturer compared
different poems, to show that not all rhymes
may be properly called poetry. Some of his
quotations were exceedingly beautiful. He
said the whole beauty of poetry was not in the
subject but in the style and expression of
thought. He quoted Ms. Osgood's beautiful
poem commencing" All! woe is me that should
perish now" Such poetry as this is the soul
overlooking with emotion, warm with sympa-
thy for sorrow wherever it may be found
Other men may feel, but their feelings are
locked up within their own bosoms, while the
poet has the great and rich power of express
sion. True poetry should be holy thing
Religion, poetry and philosophy should be en-
throned in the soul as a sort of deity Genius
is a mystery to itself, but its stamp on man
can never be mistaken. The calling of poet
is too holy to be allowed to pander to public
taste. How many poets abuse the great power
which God has given them. Transparency of
expression is the product of the greatest mind
Art cannot make poet, but poet must stu y
art. Like the worker on marble he must work
patiently and long. Virgil wrote few lines
in the morning and then spent the whole day,
and perhaps two or three days on those lines
Milton wrote slowly. He sat alone, sad blind,
studied long and patiently. In beauty and
purity poetry shows above all other literature.
Pure poetry is the greatest means of training
the imagination. 1t forms, too, a correct taste
for reading. Poetry will create and increase
love Tor nature. The lecture was listened to
by large and attentive audience, and the
exercises closed at nine o'clock