Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-12-08
EBENEzER NEWS.
Teachers MISUNDERSTANDING Contest
-BsliOon Ascension whIsh "a Leo
ture by Geo. washington. Esq.

ture by Geo. Wnshtngion. Esq.
EBENEzEa, TENN, Nov. %, 1875.
TO the Editors of the Chronicle.
The 18th inst. was the day appoint
ed by the County superintendent for
the purpose of organizing a Teachers
Institute at this place. After few ex-
planatory remarks, by the Superin-
tendent, permanent organization was
effected by electing the following Of
ticers, viz w. II. Murphy, President,
and q. l.. Price, Secretary. The
teachers present were ~ follows:lProfs.
Perkins and Cooper, of Powel's Station,
5. p. Brown, Will Russell, Mr.. Nor
man, G. A. Price, w. f. Sterling and
Mr.. Broomer. A good sprinkle of the
citizens were out, so that the audience
was all that could have been reasona.
bly, expected at the first meeting.
Several class drills were conducted by
the different teachers in the various
branches, which resulted in profita-
bic and instructive lesson. We antici-
pate lively time the second Saturday
of December, and il is believed the
citizens will bring their baskets and
encourage the institution by their
presence and good things" We ex-
tend cordial invitation to teachers
and friends to education all over the
country, and guarantee them hearty
welcome, some shortened" bread and
probably, something interesting for
the literary man. Come on, Professors!
Saturday eve of the 18th inst, brought
the spelling contest, and by 7 O'Clock
p. M, the house was jammed with an
excited and eXpectant crowd. The
spelling was under the auspices of the
Lyceum, but by motion all were in
vited to participate in the exercises,
and quickly a class of forty-five
was formed, all eagerly awaiting
the coming shock. Prof. Murphy was
chosen to pronounce the words, and II.
Nj. Brother, County Superintendent,
referee. The ranks were gradually
thinned by the "hard-uns - of McGuf-
fy, until "A of the class had fallen in
the field, and Miss Mary Seaton was
awarded the prize, which was a beau.
tiful chrome given by the President,
Mr.. Murphy. Prof. Perkins present.
ed the prize.
The balloon ascension, although not
in this immediate vicinity, has been
the subject of much wild speculation,
and prior to the 2Oth inst, the "curi-
Gus" aud excitablen have been sub
ject to want of sleep" Connected to
the " balloon company is as grand a
set of scoundrels and swindlers as ever
trod sofia perfect imposition On the
v nnu trxT
" balloon stOIyn was simply bait to
get the citizens together that they
might rob them of the last cent OF
hard earnings. We noticed one young
man who had earned his money stand
ing before an eight-horse thresher at
the rate of shilling per day, spend IL
days labor for one small brass chain,
which broke Immediately after he re-
ceived it. His face was sorrowful, and
he refused to be comforted. Whisky
and its Internal results were prominent
throughout the day. Drunkards filled
the gutter and hellish shrieks of wild
men filled the air.
/ now come to the most pleasant and
interesting item of this article-the
lecture by Geo. Washington, ESD, of
Knoxville. My pen becomes made
quate to convey to the reader even the
slightest conception of the beauty, the
symmetry, the simplicity, the eloquence
and the history that is embodied in
this ramble among the field of let
ters." Were it possible for me to pro-
nounce an eulogy that would do the eff
fort justice, / would willingly do so
but L am conscious that the attempt
would only be an effort to add lustre to
the sparkling rays of the MONDAY
sun. The lecture to be appreciated
must be heard, otherwise there is void
which the pen of the reporter can not
fill.
In behalf Of our Lyceum and the
community in general, L warmly and
sincerely thank Mr.. Washington for
his visit and fine lecture.
Respectfully,