The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-07-17
SPARTA CONVENTION.

with star, some points of interest
were Doted and some thoughts flashed
through our mind in our journey thence
Spent the (Monday1 afternoon in She
boygan Falls and visited the school there,
now under the able management of Prof.
Clinton, who is assisted by his wife and
Mr.. Benjamin. formerly student at the
Oshkosh Normal School. Took the
evening train for Milwaukee, ria Ply
mouth, and arrived at the Kirby House
about 10 F.. took our evening meal and
rolled, with the paniment of horri-
BILE dreams, while the midnight hours
were gliding away. Starting from the
NJ & St. P. depot at A. NJ, we first
passed through Milwaukee Co., then
through the north central part of Wau.
kesha Co., through the northeast corner
of Jefferson Co., arriving at WATERFOWL,
situated On the line of Jefferson and
Dodge counties. This town is noted
r Il. center, having direct routes to
Milwaukee, GAINESVILLE, Madison, Por-
tage, and Green Bay through Fond du
Lac and Oshkosh its population is
largely German. We then passed through
the southwest part of Dodge Co. arriving
at Columbus inthe southeast part of Co.
lumbia Co., knowing this town to be the
home of the Hon. g. w. Hazelton, whose
carly life was spent insthe East, but who
later has represented his County, Dis
trict and State in many official capaci-
ties with honor, respect and satisfaction
also the home of ex-Gov. Lewis. After
travelling over twenty miles from here in
northwestern direction we arrived at
Portage, seeing for the first time the
Wisconsin River, feeling sure from it's
size that it had already gathered its
waters. Passing along or near the
bank of this river until we arrived at
kilbourn City, we crossed the noble
stream little above this place at the
junction of Juneau, Adams, Columbia
and Sank counties. still admiring in our
Imagination the picturesque grandness
of Wisconsin S beautiful river, with its
canon-like banks, resembling in small
degree those Of the Lewis, Platte and
Colorado. After passing through the
southern part Of Juneau Co. and the
central part of Monroe Co. we reached
Sparta in the western part of the last
named county, observing in many places
after crossing the Wisconsin, Struggling
representatives Of the Winnebagoes,
having picked, probably, for the last
time their blue-berries before they must
needs make their g. forced march ~ toward
the setting sun according to the decree
of their White Father. Judging from
the natural features of the country last
traversed, we thought that the city soon
to be reached was very appropriately
named Sparta. However, we never heard
that ancient Sparta had Artesian Wells,
tunnels cut through her hills or Teachers
Conventions, while the Sparta of Wis
consin during the past week certainly
gave no particular evidence of superior
military discipline or especially healthy
children.
On reaching Sparta we learned that
meeting of Principals and Superinten-
dents was held in the High School
building, and repaired there to find Prof
Graham President, and A. o. Wright,
of Juneau Co., conducting class in U.
s. History, having for his scholars Pres.
G. S. Albee, B. NJ. Reynolds, A. j.
Cheney and several smaller ones whom
we did not know This was followed by
an exercise Iii Decimal Fractions by |.
n. Stewart, whose critics were ID. Nc
Gregor, A. Salisbury and Supt. Terry,
of Sank Co. The afternoon was spent
in general discussions of several useful
topics, particularly that respecting the
attention to be given to natural science
in schools and institutes. The chief OBJ
ject of this Institute seemed to be to
adopt uniform system of work and dis
cipline for the conductors of Institutes
to be held in this State, especially for
the Institutes to be held this summer.
Committees were appointed to draw up
programme embracing the method and
amount Of work to be followed in each
branch the programmes reported by
these committees were adopted after
more or less discussion, and it is expect
ed that such course of proceedings will
tend to secure greater uniformity and
better results in this kind Of work. 7h.s
meeting of Institute conductors was
something independent of the Conven-
ton proper. and had its peculiar object;
at this We were present but single day.
The Association began Tuesday even
ing in the Opera Hall After introduc-
tory exercises, Pres. G. H. Fowler, of
Evanston, ILL.,, delivered the opening
lecture. 1t was about an hour and
forty minutes In length There was a
large audience IN attendance, and al
though the address was delivered with
considerable pleasantness and ease of
manner, his voice was quite harsh which
deteriorated somewhat from the impress
sion which it would otherwise have
made. Moreover along with the easily
observed happiness in his countenance,
he frequently resorted to slangy speeches,
containing some wit of course, but very
improper for one estimated so highly
and standing, as DR.. Fowler does, at the
head of a sectarian institution of learn
ing.
The Presidents address by Prof. Nc
Gregor was an able production and de
hvered with that solid earnestness which
convinced every one present that he be-
lieved every word he spoke. He pointed
out with great clearness the defects in
our system of education, as it now is,
and apologized that want of time pre-
vented him from suggesting, to any
great extent, proper remedies for these