The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-02
Oration-"The Present Age" John

Oration-"The Present Age" John
F. Parsons, of Marshall county. Essay
Footprints OF the Right" Belle N
Steele, OF Ohio county. Oration-"Firm'
ness of Character" John Churchmanr
OF Brooke county. Oratiou-"Nation-
al Scenery" Frank D. Beck, OF Brooke
county. misunderstanding Power
of Principle" G.. C. Smith. of Ohio
county. my Last Will and Testament"
Ella +. Curtis, OF Ohio county. Ora.
tion-"Fatality Among our Statesmen,
]. P. Trussell, of Washington county
Pa. Essay-"Beyond the Alps Lie;
Italy," Virginia F. Rickey, West Mid
dleton, Pa. Valedictory-J. Challen
Wayman, of Marshall county.
In this whole series OF orations anC
essays there Was nothing very remarka
bic; nothing astonishiOgIy good no'
startlingly bad. The performances were
in the usual style. Nearly all preach
ed; nearly all had religious turn; Gnc
nearly all were of the class usually de-
nominated heavy. When wiH young
mea and women learn to write natural
" what they themselves thiuk and fee
and so get out of the ruts in which coll
lege essays and speeches usually run
aud when ,CW that exceedingly YEA!
valedctory" be abolished !? 1t ha!
been for many years most lntoleraolt
bore; almost always 20 to the studen
whe delivers it, and quite Away
20 TO the class and tie teachers anc
the audience who are compelled to lis
ten TO it and who are expected to cry q
the proper time. The whole thing is 8
humbug and ought to be discontinued
at least in its traditional and unvarying
form. Give us something new in tht
shape OF valedictory next year, gen
tlcnien students, and don't let it weary
out OF all patience an audience that =
already tired to the brink OF open re-
volt.
The West Liberty school seems tc
hare been accomplishing a good work
The pupils are enthusiastic in It's sup
port. An annual esprit d,t corps ha:
been begotten and every boy or girl whC
has attended the school is Jealous o
its honor and good repute. 1t is the
very life OF the hospitable town il
which it is held and the citizens viz
with each other in devotion to its inter
ests. Instead OF its being merely high
school for the locality, maintained a
State expense, it finds its most libera
patrons 10 other neighborhoods and il!
pupils are drawn in almost equal mum
hers from Hancock, Brooke, Ohio
Marshall, and Tyler counties. IRt
.expeuses of tuition are from Sc to $lC
per year, and excellent boarding may
be obtained in the village at the rate o
SO so per week. These terms make the
Eahool practically free and place within
the reach OF almost any young mar
or women in the State the advantages
which q course Of normal instruction
affords. The salaries Of the teacher!
are paid by annual appropriation from
the Stale treasury, the receipts from III
i;ion being applied exclusively 10 tht
payment of contingent expenses aHl
keeping the building in repair.
The building itself is g handsome
brick structure occupying a command
ing and conspicuous position in tht
landscape. The view from its upper
stories is magnificent. Its horizon EN-"
braces some OF the best improved Of the
deserved!y famous Short Creekifarms,'
and presents q view Of fertility and
thrift and agricultural wealth that
can scarcely lie equalled in'the country.
The house was built IN 1871 to take the
| place OF the old Academy, which had
been burned in 1910, an academy hag-
ing bael established in West Lihcr'y
ard attained considerable sUsce2g and
celebrity a8 early as 1886. IL 1891
Professor Ross, then recently rom Bsih,
any College, took charge OF 'he sen oI
and rev building WAS projected IN
this he was warmly seconded by Dir.
Dunlap who eventually sacrificed his
! private for;uae, soId his farm aad de-
voted all its proceeds to the erection Of
the Academy binding and the maintain
ance o! the school. He IS stii! tie
most ac;ivr friend of the Institution IN
the S,.ts and, in the a0scrce G. "-
| lost mopey, reflects upon the vast good
that has come TO the youth Of this and
other States from the Influence o. the
edpcation impaired at the school. That
irduence is spreading rapidly; !lS c.rc.c
is widening year after year; aad 18th
every year the number Of those 70
whom Mr. Dunlap has been . bcne!&c-
tor is largely increased. No pecunisry
compensation can ever be male to him
for all be has spent and all he has cn-
dured in behalf OF the cause o' educa-
ton, but at some time and in some way
he will cert ainly reap MS reward.