Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-10
For the Free Press and Times.
4 Day Among the Educators.

Nh. EDIToR 1t was my good fortune t,
be at Montpelier, III attendance upon the
meeting Of the American Institute of In
struction, and give your readers my i'm
| pressions.
1t was most enthusiastic gathering Hap
pening to be at the depot Tuesday afternoon
when the trains came in, | was astonished at
the multitudes that canie pouring in, until
every available space was full to Overlooking.
never saw hundredth part of as many
school "marn,s," before, and jolly set they
were too | was told that an entire car load
came from Providence, Rhode Island. The
committee Of arrangements were taken by
surprise, and seemed to be at their wits end,
and to have taken in more grist than they
could grind" They did not expect half as
many. Every hotel and boarding house was
full, and yet they came until the Capital
was completely flooded.
But the people of Montpelier displayed
noble and generous hospitality, worthy OF
all praise A; and that made me proud OF my
native State. Every latch-strng was out,
and they gave the multitude OF strangers
most cordial greeting
The Union School Building Hall in which
the Institute held its sessions was not well
adapted to the occasion, being too long and
narrow, with unsuitable facilities for egress
The president and presiding officer of the
Institute was the right man III the right
place, alive, prompt, business like, patient
and full Of good humor. The papers read
were able, and well delivered, with scarcely
an exception. The discussions were lively,
and practical and to the point. Probably so
large u number Of highly educated. ladies
and gentlemen, people Of high intellectual
and moral tone, were never assembled IN
our Capital before, since the State was found
ed. And the sautary influence of their
presence, l trust, will not soon pass away. |
was more strongly impressed than ever be-
fore. with the conviction that, III these Chris
tian teachers We may, under God. recognize
the Saviour of our country.
! was informed that there were some 800
or 600 teachers present, perhaps two-thirds
of them ladies'. Large numbers OF them
went from the meeting to the various places
OF resort amo:-g our mountains and green
valleys, and they cannot help but exert an
influence for good ON the educational inter
ests of our State May God protect and
bless them.
| was sorry to see SO few teachers from
Chittcnden county present. q. j. Agcr,
Esq, Superintendent of the Queen City
schools, was there, -ponderous, sedate. and
grave as any Judge an the bench seemingly
with BRAINS and muscle enough TO run all the
schools in the State and more too. There too
WAS Prof. hartley, Principal of the Burling-
ton High School, wide awake, active i'll pro-
noting the cause, and i'll making arrange
ments for pleasure trips to accommodate the
members of the Institute and others from
abroad, after the close of the meetings, with
II smile, and pleasant greeting for every one.
His genial, sunny cOuntenancc was IL bcne-
nicuon never 10 be forgotten. Blessed, III
deed, are the children and youth who come
under his inspiring influence. Excepting
those gentlemen, and some of Prot. Bartleys
teachers, | saw no others from the county
that knew.
Yours, in the cause Of thorough, Christian
EDUCATION.
Charlotte, July 18th, 1877.