Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-06-06
Educational Column.
GOOD READERS.

ers thump the piano until life be-
comes almost burden, and but sell
dom give thought, or make an at
tempt, to perfect themselves in con-
troll of the human voice in articula-
ton, meditation, and the art Of
reading. The subject is one greatly
neglected in the common schools.
We very much doubt whether our
modern schools, which claim such
improvement over the old methods,
produce as good readers or spoilers.
If we criticise the reading in the
schools, what shall we say OF the
public speakers, and ministers? To
have some beautiful hymn, full OF
poetic fire and melting to love and
worship, mangled and torn to pieces
by the lips, tongue and teeth, Of the
minister is just what you can hear
in more than one-half Of the pulpits
of the land. Sitting anxious and ex-
pectant in the audience-room OF q
nameless church, not more than one
half the distance back from the pull
pit, we saw the Bible read, we saw
the lips move in the opening prayer.
The announcements for the week
were read, and not a single sentence
was heard or understood. We have
no idea tho minister was aware Of
the fact that he did not open his
mouth. He might have read the
words: "He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear" but how can one
hear when the minister was but
whispering the blessed word to
few on the front seats? AS the same
minister warmed to his work, he
opened his mouth, and his eloquent
words and sentences reached every
part of the audience. We have a
reverence for Bible truths, and we
think there are but few ministers
who would willingly or knowingly
give clear expression to their own
thoughts in the sermon. while they
mangled and mumbled the reading
Of the Scriptures? To come back to
our text, we think that our educators
should see to it that more attention
is paid to the beautiful accomplish
ment of reading. The scholars in
the common schools, in the academy
and college. should have a drill daily
In this exercise. even IL Latin, Greek,
logarithms and music are in a
measure sacrificed. Dancing and mu-
sic, fancy work, and scholarship, in
the sciences are all right enough, but
let us be careful to not neglect this
much neglected accomplishment.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
Very is an adverb OF degree, and
does not admit Of comparison. 1t
signifies in high, great or eminent
degree, but not generally the highest.
The word veriest is an adjective, and
not the superlative degree Of very.
1t is now antiquated and is scarcely
used by modern writer's. Yet it has
distinctive meaning, and expresses
degree OF impetuous exaggeration.
WheE a teacher speaks OF scholar
as ~the verie:t Ounce" he expresses
the idea that he Is extremely stupid
or in attentive.
PERPETUAL MOTION.
The project of discovering what is
called perpetual notion" or a
machine which Of itself would never
stop, has always beguiled the atten-
ton of machinists who have not at
tanned knowledge OF the laws of
motion. But the attempts have
failed and will always fail, by the
very absurdity OF the endeavors to
work in direct opposition to the for
ces OF nature, and without taking into
account the continual loss OF pow
erby friction. In fact, such aperpetual
motion is nothing less than a ma
chine that will work forever. without
new-moving power, while yet, steadi-
ly losing power by overcoming fric-
ton and atmospheric resistance.
THOMAS PAINE,
Was an American political writer,
born at ThetforG. county of Norfolk,
England, JAM, 30, 1877, died in New
York, June, 8. 1909. In ITS, he
commenced his Common Sense"
which is said to have severed the
last link that bound the colonies to
the mother country" In 1765 he
published the second part OF the
age Of Reason" This work is de-
nounced as atheistical, but it ex-
pressly inculcates belief in one
God; in a hope for happiness be-
yond this life, that religious duties
consist In doing justice, loving mer-
cy, and endeavoring to make our
fellow creatures happy. Paine did