The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-02-23
Pioneer Letter.
PIONEER, Feb. 18th, 1877.


EDITOR INDEPENDENT:
AS we have already stated, we have
a penchant for attending school exhi-
billions, or, in fact, any gathering
where an effort towards culture or
advancement is apparent. 1t is very
unfortunate that a neighborhood like
ours, possessing SO ''many gems of
purest ray serene," has not prosper
Gus literary society in existence. If
persistent efforts for permanent es-
tablishment of some means of mental
Improvement were made, it could
be surely carried to success. The in
cipient stages of such enterprises are
generally attended with discourage
ments and drawbacks. But such an
end is worth working for, and a
hearty Debating Club or Literary So
ciety, when conducted in proper
manner, should be, and generally
is, a stepping stone to some
thing better; nursery, almost, of the
church. But it should be unneces-
sary to rehearse these -honored
facts; so we'll are they understood by
people of intelligence, that they have
become axioms. We can count three
or four dozen young people who
could be induced to become members
of a Literary Society, and who reside
at convenient distance to a given
certain pointer example, the Nee
ker school house. We trust, as this
subject has been agitated somewhat
already, that at no distant day we
may be called upon to chronicle the
organization of some society for men,
tai improvement in the community
But we are DEPRESSING from our orig
maj lnIeHtlOH.
Mr.. H. NJ. Hathaway closed very
successful term Of school in District
Is, on Friday, February 9th. Two
prizes were offered at the commence
ment of the term, first, for the great
est improvement in penmanship, and
second, the best penmanship. A
committee of three, consisting of j.
II. w. Stallcup, Mrs. Stallcup and G..
l.. Lindsey, were chosen to examine
the specimens. After careful consid-
Grafton, Mary Merry received the
award for the most advancement dur
inc the term, and Miss Sarah Rich
artlson for the best penmanship. A
few pieces were spoken, some essays
read, and remarks made by Hon. NJ.
r. Hathaway and others, when we
were dismissed.
The exhibition was held in Hines
Chapel, as furnishing better audito-
rum and greater conveniences than
the miserable, dilapidated pile of logs
that District Is honors with the name
of school house. The weather during
Tuesday the 18th was very stormy
and unfavorable, but late in the af-
ternoon the rain ceased, and thus a
respectable audience was gained. At
7o'clock the curtains were rolled back,
and after few remarks by Mr.. Hath
away, a greeting glee was sung.
Among the more meritorious eff
forts we would cite Miss Matte
Hathaway's recitation of ''Love that
waivers not" Miss II. spoke distinct
lv and did not exhibit such mad haste
as too often characterizes the average
school speaking. Miss Katie Mean
drew recited the "Burial of Noses -
correctly and clearly, but somewhat
hastily. Miss Sarah Richardson re-
cited a poem, entitled "Dear mother,
l must co. in full clear voice, but
somewhat lacking of expression. She
was heartily applauded. Miss Ida
Hurt repeated ''The Sacrifice of Abra-
ham" in a very acceptable manner.