Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-12-22

EDS. CouRrER:-Hoping that you
will forgive me for intrading upon
your valuable time and space, | will
venture brief letter to you and trust
that If you do not consider it worthy
OF publication you will not cheat tho
|editors' friend--the waste baskct--of
its dues. 1t is my desire to write
something that will be interesting, at
least, to you and your many patrons,
and do not know how l can better
interest all than by giving you a brief
history Of society that now exists in
our county.
Tho society Of which | wish to
speak is no other than the ono that is
known ne the Maple Grove Historical
Society. This society was organized
early in the fall Of 1870 aud was then
known az the Gonrd- Head Heading
School, but on the following year the
given name was adopted excepting
the word Historical" which was
added year or two later.
For the government of this society
La code Of laws have been adopted
which stipalatc that the officers shall
consist of President, Vice President,
Secretary. Treasurer, Janitor and two
Editors, who shall be chosen month
ly, by ballot. The membership of the
society varies very much, all ladies
and boye under Ia years of age are
admitted az members gratnitously, but
a small membership fee is required OF
all others. All members are expected
to participate in the programme ofex-
ercises, which consist OF reading his
torical Rotations, declamations and
dialogues and finally the debate which
usually occupies about one-half of the
evening.
From the Inauguration of the
"Gourd- Head Reading School until
the present, the evening of meeting
has been Tuesday and the length OF
each of the seasons has not exceeded
b months, or the winter time, as the
patron are generally too busy during
the summer months to give their as
sistance, and consequently the long
winter evenings are chosen and not
the summer.
We nnintentionally omitted telling
you where our society meet !; the place
of meeting is at the Maple Grove
School building, abunt IL miles
southeast of Dahlonega, in Dahlonega
knWpabip pfthis roppty
For the skillinl management of this
society much praise is due tho pupils
and parents of the immediate dis |
trict as we'll as to the many friends
from abroad who have SO kindly lent
helping hand by their presence, if !
nothing more it would be USELESS in |
q brief article like this to attempt to
express the thanks that arc due 10
each individually, but we cannot for
bear to mention the names Of the
teachers who have been instrumental
of much good to the Society. They
are J. c. Shoup, (the originator Of the
Reading School,) ID. T. Miller, r. j.
Sloan, ID. l.. Cole, Geo. Ruckner and
-modesty forbids us to mention the
last.
As an appropriate suggestion
wonld suggest to the readers Of this,
that it would DO well for them to
profit by our example. Would it not
be well to have similar society in
every neighborhood in the State
There is not, surmisc, school dis
trict in our county that does not con-
tain efficient workers enough 10 or
gHnize and conduct society OF a sim
liar kind that will he credit to
the community. Who will make the (
first step in this good work How
else can your long, drearv winter eve
nings he better spent than in aiding
education The argnments in favor
OF snch step are too numerous to be
brought forward now.
Trusting that yon will bear with
me kindly for encrosching upon your
patience and good humor with this,
am respectfully yours,
EUGENE MooRE.