Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-11
AMERICAN RUGBIAas.

Ninth Commencement of Rugby
Academy Last NlGbt-Dr. McKen
zie's Address-''ROll OF Honor
The ninth commencement of Rugby
Academy was given in the Opera House
last evening. The faculty, DR.. W. II
Purnell, President Of Delaware Col
lege, r. Shelton Mckenzie, L. L. D.,
and the graduates were seated upon
the stage. The attendance was very
large.
Edward H. Erkel recited "The Fam
ine," by Longfellow, with much cor
rectness and effect.
Clarence s. Robb read an essay upon
tramps, depicting in no gentle terms
their wiles to lead the erring youth
from the care Of a loving father to the
life of vagabond.
Malcolm McLear recited "Somebody's
Mother" and was loudly applauded.
Percy Nields recited "The Palmetto
and the Pine" very nicely.
Walter L. Butler read an essay on
'Dresms. The young man drew q
comparison OF the Importance attached
to dreams in olden times and the
dreams Of the present period. He re-
ferred to Joseph and his interpretations
Of dreams and concluded by alluding
to young men who were happy when
dreaming Of pretty young ladies.
Frank D. Carpenter gave a rscita-
tion and was loudly encored.
George II. Price recited 9TH 9 Color.
Bearer" with much ability.
Edward II. Eckel read an interesting
essay on the cages of Creation The
composition and rhetoric were excellent
and the entire production exhibited
careful and studious research. The
essayist reviewed each days work dur
ing the creation, and said that God
performed the work in six days which
he could have done in one moment.
The reason OF doing this he concluded
was that the inhabitants Of the earth
might have the various phases Of the
creation brought more minutely to their
minds. He concluded by referring to
the first Sabbath day and said "ms-
thinks no sounds save praises unto
God were heard upon the earth"
Reginald II. Murphy recited "Little
by Little" in manner that was high
ly creditable.
The orchestra next rendered Ringel-
ben's "Potpourri Chips"
Twenty boys, dressed in sailor suits,
composing class in calistherics, anus.
ed the audience very mach by drill
and an exercise with dumb bells. The
applause at the conclusion was echoed
through the audience.
The orchestra rendered "Sounds from
the North Waltzes" by Zikeff."
DR., II. SHELTON MACKENZIE
of Philadelphia was then, introduced
and made the address before the Rugby
Literary Society.
The address was very Interesting and |
instructive and dealt with the rise,
progress and condition Of education in
Great Britain. II was full of facts and
figures, and the whole thing was given
in very comprehensive shape.
In Scotland, said the speaker, a law
was passed shortly after the Retorma-
tion providing for schools and masters.
In the schools the lower branches were
taught and the people became we'll
versed in reading, writing and arith.
matte. In addition to these schools in.
stitutions of learning of a religious
nature sprang up, and private high
and normal schools were also founded.
Scotland now has four universities.
1t was not until the closing OF the
asst century that education became ,
general in Ireland. The cause of
earning not taking q foothold sooner
vas the fact that people on certain con-
litions were prevented by penal laws.
About the time that enlightenment be- /
,an to spread the people were instruct
ID by "hedge teachers" These were
who hold schools in the
pen air in the more pleasant part of
he year and in the Indictment seasons 1
n some farmers barn. These hedge
eaohers taught with great skill and a
7ere thoroughly versed in their call c
ng. Through the country they COM
handed much respect, and made de- S
ent livelihoods, commanded much au.
hority and were given great hospitality. d
At this junoture DR.. Mackenzie re- o
tied an instance of young Irishman
, the homely and peculiar costume Of
10 country people, who applied and
,cured the position of "sizer," in II
rinity College, Dublin. He showed "
reat correctness in trans lating the p
reek, and the professor asked him a.
by he translated SO slowly. He re- ci
lied that he had learned the Greek
ON "hedge teacher" who had
ught him to translate it first into -,
ish and then again into English. This mas m
as cited to show how thorough the o. o.
aching of these instructors was. The
'or scholars used to walk long be
stances to colleges chiefly in Munster, 'e
hich abounded in institutions oflearn
& to such a degree that 1t was said
at the infants there talked in Latin. of
In lS40 only about $3.50, 900 had been pa
ent on Schools in Great Britain, and fol
is was for the education of 13, 900. 900 on
ople. In 1879, when the population
Is %, 100000, and the pupils 5,000.-
0, the annual expense was $2e, ,000'-
0. In England education is in the cla
nds OF q school board, which is used
tn great power. Some of the number pa
, women. The fair sex since their cl en-
trance into the Board in 1870 have 10
own much good sense and no tenden-
to garulousness. To work and not ,
talk is their motto. O.
The anniversary Of Oxford, which Nv, uT
the leading school contains thirty w, =.
. colleges and FIVE halls. It has had
/ thousand graduates. Cambridge, ne'
most equal to Oxford, has eleven l