The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-04
For the DIsDatch.1

MeSSrS. Editors: Through the courtesy
of the superintendent of the public school!
Of your city, / had the pleasure of being
present at the closing scene of the schoas
tic year at the Central school-house 1.-THE
Davis mansion) on last Saturday afternoon
and, with your permission, propose to give
short and hasty sketch of the interesting
occasion. Entering the building, found
myself among fifty or sixty teachers (all bu,
one of whom were ladies', the most oi
whom were in the bloom of youth and
beauty, with occasionally among them one
of matronly grace and dignity. Seldom will
there be found together an equal number
presenting so much of intelligence and re-
finement as bcamed forth In the eyes and
countenanccs of that assemblage, and oi
which the city has just cause to be proud.
There were likewise present the efficient
superIntendent of your schools and Mr..
Manly, Mayor Kelley, Mr.. A. Moses, and
Colonel Shields of the Board of School
Trustees.
After the unpoetical but important bus
mess of paying the teachers their salaries,
the company assembled in one OF the large
rooms, and were addressed In short, but
eloquent and effective speeches, by the Su-
perlntendent, MIR. Manly, Mayor Kelley,
and Col. Shields. Iregret my inability, in
the short synopsis propose to give, to do
Justice to the speakers, and wish the
sneeches could be published for the benefit
of the teachers throughout the State. Yet
cannot forbear giving some of the leading
thoughts presented. MIR. Bnford congrat-
ulated the teachers upon the success of
their efforts during the year just closed, as
proven by the examinations OF the scholars
within the last few days, and urged it as-an
| incentive for renewed eXertlon ana faltn-
fulness in the labors OF the coming year,
| and wishing them a pleasant season OF rest
during the vacation which they were now
entering upon, introduced MIR. Manly, to
speak on behalf of the board.
After an expression of the satisfaction of
the board with the result of the labors OF
the teachers during the year passed, Mr.
Manly presented to their Consideration the
thought that their vocation was O profess
sional one, and one of high art that they
were not mere day-laborers; not like the
painter with his brush, who painted a
house, but were artists painting for eter-
nifty; that the true teacher must feel that he
had never arrived at perfection, but that
there was always before him higher height
to be attained, and to which he must aspire
with all the zeal and energy Of his nature.
He supposed none Of the great artists whose
fame filled the world, ever felt, even after
they had attained the age Of sixty, that they
had reached perfection, but always saw be.
fore them lofLier pinnacles Of excellence and
higher attainments Of art, which every
power of their natures must be brought
into action to reach. He spoke OF the So
lemn duties resting upon teachers and trus-
tees, in the great work they were engaged
in, and mentioned an instance Of one OF the
Prussian officers of education, who remark
ed on entering upon the duties Of his office,
that he felt he was personally responsible to
formance of his duties, and that every child
had right to make complaint directly to
God for his failure to discharge his duty to
them, and that the same feeling Of direct
responsibility rested upon himself.
Mayor Kelley, In the opening OF bis re-
| marks, said the gentlemen who had pre-
coded him had eloquently exhausted the
subject, except on one point, to which he
desired to cali their attention, and, while
it might not be rs pleasant as the subject Of