Smyrna times., 1877-12-19

secret, but, judging from outside appearan-
ces, they had pleasant time BY vote,
we learn, the Secretary was instructed to
furnish the TINES with certain proceedings
intended for publication, but no communi-
cation has yet been received from him.
TEACHERS INsTITUTE.-The third annual
convention of the teachers of the public
schools of Kent County met in the town
hall in this town last Wednesday, the 18th
inst, and continued in session till Saturday
morning.
Theweather throughout was very fine, and
though Smyrna is in the extreme north of
the county, Sc teachers were present in all,
beside many others who came to assist in
the exercises.
| The Institute came to order at halfpast
three on Wednesday, and first in order,
after singing and prayer, was the election
of officers, which was as follows: President
| (cr.obicio) J. II. Groves; Vice Presidents,
Herman Roe. j. w. Knapp aud d. S. Els :;
Secretaries, Gamaliel Garrison and Urania
Burr; Committee on Finances, A. d. Postles,
Hester Longiellow and Annie n. Griffith :;
Committee of Arrangements, \. II. Smith,
a. d. Harrington, j. W. Whitaker, Geo. d.
Redden and |. ID. johnson. Mr.. Garrison
not having arrived, Mr.. Roe acted as Sccre-
tary pro tenn. After thus organizing, the
time was spent until five o'clock in appoint
ing the teachers to their homes, when the
meeting adjourned till 7.30
The evening session was greeted with
very large audience, and opened with an
anthem by the choir, composed Of ladies
and gentlemen Of our community. Rev.
Mr.. Umsted then offered a prayer, which
was followed by song from the Irma
Quartette. Rev. j. NJ. Williams, of Dover
made some good remarks on reading, and
read two selections, "Over the Hill To the
Poorhouse," and cover the Hill from the
Poorhouse," both Of which were rendered
in his usual fine voice and style. After
another song lay the choir Mr. Herman
Roe favored the audience by reading two
selections, Somebody's Darling" and
Barbara Freitche" Mr.. j. Ed. Hof.
| fecker then sang a fine solo, and Rev. Mr.
Williams read another selection, followed
10y a song from the lrma Quartette. Mr.
Roe then brought down the house by read
ing " The New Church Organ, and "Curtew
must not ring tonight" was rendered in
fine style by Miss Sallio Ilohecker Of
Smyrna. This very delightful meeting
closed with another ringing song by the
| lrma.
The Convention came to order on Thurs.
day morning at 9 o'clock with song, "Oh,
where are the Reapcrs," and prayer by
| Fred. a. Williams, OF Dover. The roll was
then called and minutes Of previous meet.
ings read. The subject of Geography was
| then opened by Mr., John c. GOOden, who
read very comprehensive and ably written
essay followed by the subject of map
drawing, upon which topic Mr.. r. NJ. Rosin
made some instructive remarks, using the
blackboard for diagrams. The subjects
were discussed by Messrs. Fred. Williams.
Il. NJ. Cooper, Harrington, johnson, Clark.
| Col. Geo. III. Raymond and Supt. Groves.
DR.. Collins then gave short address on
| the important subject of ventilation in the
| school-room followed by a short discussion
by Messrs. Groves, Roe, Raymond and Will
liams. The meeting adjourned at l2
The afternoon session Openedat o'clock
with singing by the Institute and prayer by
Rev. f. Stubbs The subject of Geography
was continued, and short addresses were
made by Messrs. F. \. Williams, II. Roe
Harrington and Prof Groves. Miss Alice
Z. Cowgirl then read well written essay
OH English Grammar, followed by remarks
on the same subject by Mcssrs. Williams
Lewis, Clark, Knapp, Rosin, Ellis, Grouse
and others Mr.. a. Harrington read an
essay on spelling and the various method:
Of teaching it. followed in discussion by q
number of the teachers; and a very practi
cal address by F. a. Williams.
The evening meeting opened at 7.30 with
a song from the choir, prayer by Rev. Mr.
Lewis, of FELTON, Seminary, and another
song. Miscellaneous exercises were ther
called up, when Mr.. Roe stated that hc
had a question box containing a number o.
questions which had not been discussed
during the day, and proceeded to give out
several amusing conundrums, the first anG
last OF which we will give: Why is thi
Institute like a Summer picnic?" Answer
-" Because it is held under Groves. ,
What is the difference between this meet
ing and schoolmaster's pocket book p
Ans" This meeting is very full" Mr.
ii. Z. Conrad gave Il fine select reading
followed by q song by the Irma Quartette
after which the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, o
Dover, delivered an extremely entertainin!
lecture on Father Marquette" historical
subject full of keen interest especially tt
the teachers. The meeting closed will
music from the lrma Quartette and tn,
choir.
On Friday morning the Institute came [,
order at o'clock with singing, and praye
, by IIefman Roe. The minutes were reaC
|
of Mental Arithmetic was discussed by
! number of the teachers. Written Arith
metic was then taken up and debated a
some length. The meeting was favore,
with solo by Miss Elva Carrow, and due
by Miss Carrow and Prof. Groves. At |
r o'clock began one of the most amusin
t features OF the Institute, the spelling match
! which having been previously announced
= had attracted large number of visitors
t The match, not being finished, was he'll
over for the afternoon session.
In the afternoon, after opening as usua
the spelling match was resumed. Th
i teachers exhibited some very fine spellin
} indeed, but fell one after another until onl
/ three were left out of twcuty-six. Mr.
| Rosin's AUoirdupOiS was too heavy; FREQ
Williams was MarshaLiei out, and HERNIA
! Roe stood like Sphinr but went at last
and footed his own horn A very friendl
. paper from the State Grange was read t
I the Institute, accepted with thanks, an
q ordered on file. The subject of Schoc
j government was introduced by an essay b
Q Mr.. Jos. S. Bradley, well written and yer
! instructive. The topic was discussed fc
an hour by several members of the conver
ton.
!. In the evening the house was crowde