The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-19
Teachers Association.


Reported for tie Democratic Idrocaie.
The Carroll County Teachers Association
assembled in the new central Ache y house in
this city, on Friday, Itch Of February, and
was called to order Ut ten o'clock, by Prof.
Newson. There were present about one hun
dred teachers, besides visitors from Penn
sylyania, Virginia, Kentucky and Frederick
city, together with a number Of the ladies aud
gentlemen of Westminster. do not suppose
there was ever, anywhere, a moro harmonious
or pleasant meeting OF equal magnitude. Mr..
Isaac Wright, principal of the Westminster
Grammar School, after prayer aud music, in
augurated the exercises by reading an essay
on oHistory and Biography Il is due to
Mr.. Wright to say that the essay contained
ample evidence OF the research and care be
had been at the pains TO give 1t, aud was in
every way worthy OF the occasion. Mr.. Jacob
Christ, Of Uniontown in arising to read an
essay on "Politeness and its Uses," remarked
that he had only to deplore the great mistake
the programme committee had made in as,
signing this subject to him, but all who heard
the essay, and the frequent applause that IN
terrupted its progress, will agree with me IN
the conviction that the committee chose wise
ly The essay was beautiful, and what is
better, il was sound. The essay OF Mr.. Chas.
H. Baughman on ,frhe Memory and IFS
Work." satisfied all the high expectations
concerning il, aud was an able and excellent
consideration of the subject.
After each Of the above, Miss Mary John
son, or Miss Lucy Hobson, or Clinton H.
Spurrier, or all together with Others to help,
entertained the association with most eloquent
music.
The president at the close of the last piece
announced that half hour was leh for mis-
celaneous exercises before a recess would be
taken. At this juncture, Miss Mettie Miller,
of Manchester. approached Prof Newsou,
the Examiner, and with few appropriate
remarks in behalf Of the association, presen.
ted him with a gold watch worth about $500,
as small token Of the esteem in which he
and his services are held by the teachers.
Miss Mettie's little speech was as sweet as Il
could be, and the Prof. was very visibly ai'
feeted by the whole circumstance. SO iumul-
tuous indeed were his feelings that they
choked his utterance and dimmed his eyes,
and il was feared they would overcome him
entirely, beginning, however with ''pshaw,h
he did at length succeed in forcing out few
broken works of acknowledgement and then
sat down amid loud stamping Of feet and clap
/. ping of hands
This pleasant episode methinks viii bring
many grateful feeling to the kind hearted
| Examiner, and the beautiful gift itself, with
its own musical voice, as it registers the ap.
proach Of the fastening evening Of life,
| shall whisper to him that there is-eyen on this
side Of the grave haven where the storms
| of life break not, or are felt only in the gent.
lest fluctuations of the unripplcd and mirror.
| ing waters--an oasis, not ~ the desert, but
beyond it. This haven, this oasis is a serene,
u useful, an appreciated old age.
When quiet was restored, Mr.. James II.
Difienbaugh arose TO read petition he had
Just drawn up to the County Commissioners,
praying them to raise the school tax 10 fifteen
cents on the hundred dollars. The petition
was unanimously adopted, engrosscd, signed
by every teacher, and ordered to be trans.
mitted to the County Commissioners. Miss
Hobson then sang in q bewiiching manner
''You naughty, naughty, Man, and was re-
warded by tumulous applause, amer which
the association took recess Of On hour and
a half
At two o'clock vice president ID. b, Fleagle
called the meeting To order. The reading Of
the minutes and Of the roll was dispensed
with, and Miss Marion Lord read humorous
sketch Of ''tHer) first DAYS experience in
teaching country school, which was full
of fun aud was loudly applauded. Miss Laura
| Poole rehearsed "a visit to u Mother grave"
and did it well. She succeeded in bringing
out the meaning of every line and was listened
to with marked attention. Mr.. Geo. Batson
read an essay on "Kindred Spirits" which
be it said gained him much credit and gives
much promise forthe fu,ere. Mr.. McSweeney
handled Synonyms and their Value in an
able and entertaining manner aud Mr.. Lauyer
also made few remarks on the same subject
I r. Al
April, was read by Mr.. BaughmAn. Mr.
I Nutting desired TO have his name placed on
it as he had been unable to get TO town in
time to perform his share of this days exer.
cises. His name was added. After more
delightful music the meeting adjourned.
hope | have omitted no one, though 10 men.
ton all the warm hearts, all the extended
hands, all the devoted servants in the meet
ing, 1t were necessary to record the names Of
all present. A gentleman from Kentucky,
who has travelled much and attended teachers
associations almost without number, told me
that he never witnessed so great degree of
fraternity, and warm fellowship among any
other band Of teachers as he did here in Car.
roll. ! heard another gentleman say, not a
teacher either, that our association pre-.
sehted an array Of finer looking ladies than
he had ever seen before. These utterances
did my heart good, and | am sure they viii
do good to the hearts Of all my brethren and
sisters who read them. And let me say to
the people of the county: Ifyou wish to see
an evidence Of the prosperity Of your school
system, come up and witness the pleasant ex-
ercses OF our next association; and, If you
wish to bring gladness to the hearts Of much.
enduring, much-abused, yet faithful and will
ling class Of public servants, occasionally say
an encouraging word to the public school
teachers.
st is little thing to speak q phrase
Or common comfort, which by daily use,
Has almost lost its sense yet on the ear
OF him who thought TO die unmonrned,"
/ (Or possibly to work nnheeded) civil fall
Like choicest music.n
ONE OF THE NUMBER.
| Westminster, Feb. II, 1876.
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