The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-04-10
The Republican.
Educational Column.
J. F. LANGENBAUGH.
HE ART OF DEBATING.

better instruction, and enemies quar-
rel to destroy one another" In free
country like ours, it is the proud
privilege or every citizen to dispute
upon any question, either political or
social, provided he does it within
reasonable bounds, the principle be-
ing the very corner stone OF the re-
public. How important, then, where
the voice OF the people IL the sover
eigp, that there should be wide
spread instruction In the forms OF
reasonings, and in the principles and
practice Of public debate. Every
American boy inherits the inalienable
right to the Hottest position his tai
ents will bring him. either as states
man. lawyer, preacher, etc. Daniel
Webster was an illustration OF what
great powers an orator and deba-
ter could achieve, and the enduring
fame Of Henry Clay, the mill Boy OF
the Slashes." may he cited in the
same direction. 1t is worthy ambi.
ton for any American boy. whose
hopes are directed toward the great
scenes Of controversial encounter. to
wish to rise to distinction in public
life. But to succeed, the ability to
agure advanta ,eously in a delibera-
tive body is thing VI the first i'm
portance. Debating clubs should be
formed in every village and hamlet.
and the long winter evenings be spent
In discussing practical questions.
Nothing tends to enlarge a persons
stock Of general information so much
as the candid discussion OF interest
ing subjects before a well conducted
literary society.
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
Notwithstanding the free text book
question has many very good argu
ments to advance in its favor, 1t is in
general disrepute. which we believe
" owing to the fact that the subject
Is not generally properly understood.
We see no reason why the purchase
Of school books should not be met by
. common tax, as well as the expense
Of erecting school houses, hiring
teachers, &c. The custom is com
mon in the cities, most OF che large
ones having adopted the free-book
plan, and there is no reason why il
cannot be introduced in the country
schools with equal adya tage. After
a careful and impartial study OF the
text book question during the past
six years, We have the fullest con
victiOn that the plan OF free books
combines more practical and substan-
tial advantages, from both the eco
nomical and pedagogical stand points,
Than any other solution yet offered
The free plan OF course Involves the
plan OF district purchase at low
wholesale rates; but il human tesii-
mony has any value. il involves a
large additional saving through the
more careful use OF the books, and
their continued use 10y different
classes until worn ont. 1t involves
also the total absence Of ally unau-
shorized changes OF books by seach-
ers. 1t involves, from the education
al side, % a larger attenda' ce OF pu
pills. none being kept from the schools
by the cost OF the books they are I'M
able to purchase: 90 the loss OF NJ
time at the beginning of a term from
want OF the books promptly furnished
81 absolute and constant uniformity
OF books In the various classes; there
fore az the best classification, the
minimum number OF classes, aad the
best maximum amount OF time de-
voted to each by the teacher; (5) con
yenience Ia making transfers; 90 reg
ular graduation. and the educating in
huence over the pupils OF the require
ment to care for books.
MYSTERIES OF OUR LANGUAGE,
A fast man on fast day took his
fast horse and went to the end OF the
fast land, and there tied him fast, and
as fast as he could he broke his fast
Then be rose and took eff his hose
and went with his hoes along the
rows. and put the rose on the end oil
his hose-which, as every one knows
is nose. though hear some noes
and like a fisherman. rows for the
shad With roes, or hunter goes fol
the forest roes. So his hose waters
every rose in all the rows. Now O.
me who knows how a foreign wight
q do not mean white) could learn
very fast the meaning OF hoes and
rows or nose and noes. or TO perform
any rite right, or even to write wrigh,
right, IL his living depended on get
ting some right Which involved the
right writing OF wright, right, write
or rite.
PRINCIPLES MT RULES.
1T by no means follows, il person
has done nothing notable until be
has reached middle age, IL at his char.
acter lacks strength, or that his life
is a failure. Some natures ri,-er
slowly: their real failure would con
from forcing themselves to do prema.
tnre work. There are plants which
open their flowers with the first rays
OF the sun: there are others that wal