Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-01

THE NEW SCHOOL
Judge BaiIy's D~edicatory Address
Last Evening.
Judge Dav E. Baily was chosen as the
orator Of the dedicatory services Of the
new school house last evening, and al
though he had but a short time in which
to prepare for the occasion, he did honor to
himself and to those he represented. Upon
taking the stand he said:
Mr.. SUPERINTENDENT, LADIES AND GEN.
LEMEN One OF the most eminent think
ers and writers our country has produced,
in referring to our free institutions, and
desiring their perpetuity, said: "We must
educate; we must educate or we perish"
No n who has ever considered the SUBJ
ject can doubt the truth Of these words,
and the present proud building, which re
are here tonight to dedicate, bears evil
dence that the spirit Of them has taken
strong hold Of the popular mind, and its
fruits are seen and felt in our common
school system.
To popular education must we look, not
only for the preservation Of our liberties,
but for the redemption OF our race from
error, depravity and crime. / know these
are strong words and may provoke criti-
cism, but l venture the assertion, without
fear of successful contradiction, that rever-
ence and obedience are the result Of cult
walton, and religion itself but a higher form
Of education.
Crime and ignorance 60 hand in hand,
and our hospitals, our jails and our peni-
tentiaries are filed from the ranks Of those
groveling in ignorance and sunk in big
otry and superstition. Yet I may be asked
If the educated and the cultivated are never
guilty OF violations Of the moral or civil
law? And l must admit that such is the
fact, but the instances we see only go to
establish the truth Of what I nave asserted,
as exceptions only prove a general rule.
| would that l had time to amplify this
theme. but as / have not I must content
myself with o reiteration, in which I am
borne out by history, that virtue, liberty
and independence, morality, good order
and good government find their surest
foundation and firmest support in the edu-
cation Of the masses.
A short history of the growth and pro-
gress of our schools in Eureka may not
prove uninteresting.
: The School District was organized in
1870 by the election Of Messrs. Lansing,
Titus and Skillman as Trustees, who ably
discharged their duties. The last named
gentleman now occupies the position he
did then, and now as then gives his care
and time to q labor OF love, without COM
pensation. The first teacher employed by
them was a Mr.. Taylor-a competent gen.
tleman in many respects, but who failed to
give satisfaction by a lack of discipline.
The next teacher was a gentleman still
in our midst, afterwards County Superin-
tendent, and DR.. L.. G. McKenny, Mr.. W..
s. Reyes and your speaker constituting the
first Board Of Examiners, and of testing
this gentleman as to his proficiency to teach
the young idea. The examination took
place in a tent, which was then the SENTI-
MEL office. We sat on him and found him
worthy, although l have had grave doubts
since that time whether the positions Of
Examiners and Examinee should not have
been reversed. But we met the situation
bravely we looked wise /; we talked pro-
foundly ; and, of course-granted the GER
~tifcate.
The school taught by this gentleman was
an eminent success although l have a
faint recollection that some complaints were
made Of his discipline being a little too
strict-that he was rather too mindful of
the wise mans injunction of sparing the
rod and spelling the child; in other words,
that be labored a little too hard and perse-
veringly to impart knowledge, ga poste-
rium." But success crowned his efforts,
and the result indicated the means he
adopted.
After him followed other teachers, and
other Boards of Trustees were elected. But
time will not permit me to follow in detail
all that might be said in this regard; suf-
a IA - En- m v @1ak fro-. n honIf,1 ~ paho1
ars at first, the number increased to 100
and closing the present year with 1872,
while the average attendance during the
past year has been 224.
The first school building, if l may be
allowed a Hibernianism, was a tent, whose
canvas walls enclosed perhaps as unruly a
set of urchins as ever gathered together in
pursuit OF knowledge under dffncuities /,
but this tent being found entirely made
quate in size and unsuitable for winter, in
1870 an election was held, at which it was
voted that the sum of So, 900 should be APP
propriated for a schoolhouse. With chat
sum the house was built, which has been
used and occupied up to the present time.
This, in its turn, was found to be too
small, Notwithstanding additions from time
to time were made to it, and seeing the ne
cessity, our able Senator, Mr.. Cassidy, at
the last session of the Legislature, intro
duced a bill on the last day Of the session,
had it passed and became a law, by which
our present Trustees were enabled to erect
the beautiful and commodious house which
we tonight dedicate to the purposes for
which it has been so well designed.
To our present Board of Trustees, who
devised this structure, to the architect who
planned and the builders who executed, be
all meet and proper honor and credit
given. We are proud of their work, and
we heartily congratulate them on the tri-
umphant success of their labors. Nor need
we doubt that our efficient and competent
Superintendent, here present, ably sec
onded as be has been and will be by his
corps of teachers, will in the future, as in
the past, SO conduct the schools under his
supervision that they will be an honor to
himself and a credit to the community who
built this stately and beautiful edifice.
/ would gladly, did time permit, speak a
word for our friends of the Mob Hill Hose
Company, under whose auspices the fes-
~tivities of tonight are to take place; but
they need it not. You are becoming impa-
tient, and they are here to speak for them
seves.
In conclusion, then, let me dedicate this
building with mirth and festivity, it is
true, but hone the less to the noble, the
glorious cause of education and intelli-
gence; dedicate it with harmony and good
will dedicate it, feeling certain that in so
doing, we are promoting the best interests
of society and advancing the cause of hu
manity thereby, that we are securing to
those who are to follow us the boon of free
thought and free speech, the blessings OF
civil and religious liberty.
Pay Days.
The Richmsnd will pay its furnace and