Middletown transcript., 1875-12-11

school system is decided improvement
over the old one. In my humble judg-
.ment the books selected by the State
Board (with very few exceptions) are
far better than the old ones.
Miss Ella Simkins has charge Of our
school, and has proven herself to be
very competent teacher. She obtained
an excellent certificate from Mr. Groves.
and the commissioners were fortunate
in securing her services A public ex-
animation Of the scholars in their several
studies was lately held by Miss s.. and
it was truly creditable affair, both to
teacher and scholars. Many IF the
scholars showed marked Improvement
in their studies during the quarter.
The examination in grammar and geo.
graphy was especially good. Three
boys sketched from memory. on the
blackboard. an outline map Of the three
States, Maine. Vermont and Massachu-
setts, which was very exact and neatly
DONE
am glad that our people are begp-
ming to understand the value Of educa-
ton. OF all the blessings which it has
pleased Providence to allow us to cul-
tivate, there is not one to my mind
greater than education it is an enemy
to vice, it directs virtue, and in society
an ornament. II is said that bar Of
iron worth SIS. worked into horse-shoes
is worth $40. so made into needles is
worth $3.50; made into penknife-
blades, it is worth $32 85; made into
balance springs of watches, it is worth
$3.50, 900 Therefore. you see how its
value was increased by being hammer
ed, rolled and polished. The different
processes in which it passed through
was necessary to draw out its finer
qualities and fit it for higher Offices
So children. all the drilling and train
ing 10 education they get in youth.
serves to bring out their nobler and
finer qualities and ct them for more re-
sponsible posts and greater usefulness
10 the world. Pope says.
IT'S education forms the common mind,
Just as the twig is bent the trees inclined.
Dr. Beaumont beautifully compares
the necessity Of education to the plant
ing of an orchard and its cultivation. be
says, '.Do we leave it to the chapter of
accidents, whether or no the fruit trees
shall come into the orchard land whether
or no they shall bear the delicious fruit
which We desire ? No, We have the fruit
trees selected, we have the land pre-
pared, and we have them placed there
and we watch the young bud and the
young shoot, and we take away the
caterpillar and we favor the develop
ment and growth of the tree. and by
cultivation and care we obtain our de-
sire and gather harvest Of rich fruit.
Then should not the mind be cared for
and cultivated when the harvest to be
reaped, is spiritual beauty, moral ex-
cellence, eternal advantages"
l was very much astonished lately in
reading extracts of lecture by Wong
Chin Foo, an eminent scholar Of China.
delivered in Concert Hall, Pbiladel-
phia. to find how highly education and
morality is priced in that country. He
said all men are equal there as they are
here; but we distinguish between the
ignorant and the intelligent. Learning
is SO highly regarded in China, that a
man with blue button on his cap can
travel all over the country without a
penny in his pocket. and when he
passes all must stand aside and respect
him as one from whom they have some-
thing moral and intellectual to learn !;
for no seminary in China dare issue a
diploma to man of known immortality
The Chinese appear to properly ap-
preciate education. and l think it would
be we'll for US to take few lessons from
them. If every friend Of education in
Delaware will wake up the necessities
Of the hour, our little Diamond State
will, l believe. at the end of the next
decade. become the home of a highly
cultivated and intellectual people.
There is a great deal of talk here
about the Moody and Sankey revival in
Philadelphia, some think them crazy
fanatics, others think it money con-
sideration with them, but let us not
form hasty conclusions or indulge in
foolish remarks about these two truly
remarkable men I think we should as
sensible persons calmly watch the
movement, and if we see it is the aim
of these men to make people better,
then encourage it. Philadelphia needs
something to lessen crime in her midst,
and l think Mr.. Editor, if we had a
few Moodys and Sankey's in Delaware.
mans life would not be in SO much
danger as it now is. A person that
steals chicken (and hunger may have
caused him to do it) is whipped and
forever disfranchised and disgraced, but
man can kill another. then be put
through mock trial. be set at liberty
and congratulated and lionized by bis
numerous friends for his fortunate es-
cape from justice. PROGRESS
Towrsrrn Dac 9th l975