The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-04
Our MOundsyIIIe Correspondent on the
WADsrowN, March /, 1870.

WADEsTowNi March !, 1870.
Editors Intelllgrncsr;
Yesterday l left Moundsville on TN
noon train, my destination being the plac
from which l now write. Atl:l5p. NJ,
reached Burton, wherc took passage OF
horseback, and after a ride OF six mile
over very muddy road found mysel
comfortably seated before the blazin,
gratc OF the hotel kept by Major j. II
Showalter, our. former townsmen. Meet
ing old friends, passed the evening very
pleasantly. The Major is at Parkcsburg
attending the U. S. Court, rs n witness IN
the celebrated ThompsOn.Ice case, hence
| had not the pleasure oi meeting him,
but his wife and daughters know how "a
make Il pleasant for their guests.
This has been a gala day In Wadestown,
The yearly examination OF the graduating
class OF the schools OF tho Battelle Dis.
trict, was held here to-day, and this is
why left home and friends to dwell for q
day or two away out among Old Mononga.
lia's hills.
The exercises were held in the Baptist
Church, and were somewhat as follows:
First after the enrolment OF the class
was spelling. Prof. Wade pronounced
some thirty or forty words which tho
members OF the class spelled by writing.
The manuscripts were then taken up and
examined by the teachers OF the district
all OF whom were present forming the
committee of examination. Then follow.
ed geography, reading, English grammar,
history and arithmetic. The examination
was practical throughout, and was con.
Quoted as-follows: Each pupil drew from
the hand OF the examiner a printed slip
containing some three or four questions,
which they were required to read and an.
swer alter being allowed few minutes to
examine the topics. 1t is considered hon
orable to rise first, and often there was
considerable trouble to decide who had
the floor. The class consisted Of fifteen
young gentlemen and two young ladies'.
They all passed the ordeal and received
their diplomas. The exercises were held
in the Baptist Church and the building
was crowded with interested spectators
throughout the entire day. At night the
aisles and every other part OF the church
were densely packed, while many failed to
secure an entrance ut all and were forced
to leave.
The exercises at night consisted of an
Grafton by ]. Milton Hall, OF tho class Of
1878, and an essay by Miss Cora Spragg, OF
the same class. Your unworthy cores
pondent then had the pleasure Of talking
short time to the audience, after which
Superintendent Wade distributed the dip.
Tomas with appropriate remarks This is
thesecond time have had tho pleasure OF
attending the district examination ut this
place, and | think am prepared to speak
knowingly rs TO the workings OF Superin-
tendent Wade's system. think il is n
great success. ! find less opposition here
now than two years ago. We had larger
audiences, larger class, ana one that will
compare very favOrably with it. One ex.
cellent feature ] notilo Is that many OF
those who have graduated In former years
are still attending school pursuing higher
branches, and are in attendance at the ex.
animation, ready and willing TO express an
opinion whenever called on 10 do so.
give it as my opinion that Prof. Wade's
plan Is the plan that is to revOutionize
our free school system. 1t is attracting
attention all over the land and ifourschoOl
system is made thoroughly effective some.
thing Of this kind must do it.
The citizens OF West Warren and vicini.
ty arc all alive on the subject OF educa.
tlon, and thQy tell me that the young
ladies and gentlemen who lIavG graduated
in former years are the very best young
people Of the community. 1t is making
men and women Of them, and so it will DO
in every community where they have
good schools.
forgot to mention that the exercises
were enliVUd both day and night with the
very best Of vocal and instrumental music.