The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-25
ENCOURAGEMENT OF TEACHERs.y
ESSAY READ DE FORE TEAcHER's ISsTI-
'TUTE, JULY 18th, 1870
Ar,,o zr,&.,.,,,

ESSAY READ dsEEORII TEAcHER's INsTI-
'TUTE, JULY 12h, 1917.
.DT MISS MINNIE EDWARDS.
ltts discouragiDg to young teach
er when4entering an institute for the
purpose of obtaining information and
increasing the small store Of knowl-
edge alrsady;in in pqssessio5 to hein-
limidatod on the very threshold by a
summons to contribute what-how
OF why-it is impossible'to know.
1t is more discouraging TO young
teacher who has in store the agrcca-
BILE prospect Of several pic-nics, three
weeks accumulation of periodicals for
perusal, the composition Of "a thrill
ing serial for the press, and whose
taste finds expression in brief
sketches, like angel visits, few and
far between-it is more discouraging
Irepeat, for!the attention to be forced
from its Legitimate channel and fixed
upon 30 gloomy subject as the one
just announced, and upon which an
elaborate essay is probably expected
when the notice given is too short
even to compose euiogyto spring
in this oppressive climate.
But it is most dIscouraging, Mr..
President. to be expected to rise af-
ter the distinguished members Of the
Institute-journalists, professors, and
well known authors of forensic elo-
quence-have exhausted the themes
under discussion today by the flow
of their beautiful rounded periods and
the advancement Of thoughtful, earn
est truths, and read before this au-
gust assemblage the few pitablc lines
hastily produced when fairly on the
way to the dread tribunal.
Having survived other discourage
ments, however, I suppose hope l
will survive these long enough 70
attend similar meeting when the
committee has allowed longer time
for preparation, because, at present
have DO suggestions or ideas 10 offer
to older and wiser members, and can
only furnish 81, a..
a BIT OF Mr.. JoTHAM.s s EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. lothian was nice young man,
an exceptionally nice young man, !
may say, and not altogether ob!iviousI
Of that fact himself. Besides, he was
possessed Of more than ordinary in
telligences for which Le found employ
ment in the arduous vocation of u
teacher. He was engaged several
years in his immediate locality and
succeeded very we'll too, but Mr.. Jo-
than was ambitious, did not like this
monotonous, plodding experience,
and longed for broader horizons and
higher opportunities.
Rejecting that teachers as well as
prophets arc Of more Importance
abroad than at home, he determined
to- leave his native place. Accord
ingly he accepted situation far re-
moved from the scene of his former
labors, and in the year Of our indie
pendence when the public schools
were in an unsuccessful state Of ope-
ration, found himself domicied in the
rural districts. .--,-----------..,,
The style OF architecture of the
Academy over Which he expected to
preside was not one to elicit very
high degree of admiration when it.
loomed up before Ills critical eyes.
1t was cold morning in December
when he arrived at his destination,
and grouped around straw fire in
the open air were several farmers en-
gagged in conversation which suffer-
ed little from his interruption, and
tiuctuated from the intricacy Of politi-
cal Vaccinations to the present state
Of the weather.
Seeing that Tho morning was far ad-
vanccd, Mr.. lothian introduced the
object of his coming and ascertained
the number of pupils. An inspection
Of the interior Of the building follow
ed, resulting in considerable tlissatis-
faction. The winds of heaven were
free to sport with the clustering curls
OF the tiny maid, or toss the clfin
locks of the coming man, but in the
winter season one cannot grow poeti-
cal on the gentle zephyr.
"Gentlemen," said Mr.. JoLham,
"this will never do. Repairs arc