The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
EVENING SESSION.

EVENING SESSION.
After a chorus by members of the Iustl-
tute, Stephen DeWolf, ESQ, was intro
dueed by Supt. Hardenbrook. After very
delicious extemp0re introduction, III which
he disclaimed the character of lecturer,
he introduced his lecture on Reading a.
Method of Education" Our fathers had
a few books-the Bible, "Baxter's Saints
Rest" Fox Book of Martyrs" Then
novels began to DO wrltten-trashy, light,
worthless. With our increase of books we
haye better books. The novels of the past
would not be read to-day. They served II
transient purpose and then gave place to
others. The mottOes read rapidly, and
read much, will accomplish no good results
without something else. The mind, like
the body, must digest or give no nutri-
ment. Many read much ana fail; many
read fast and fail; again many read aimless-
ly and make of their minds au OLD Curiosity
Shop. There is as much genius in select
ing what one must leave unread as in read
ing. We must read from oar standpoint;
must strive to gain from each something to
aid us in our life. All history, all philoso-
ply. all fiction, all poetry is CT use only rs
1t aids man to better understand his duty
and relations TO other men. Napoleon never
had his life written in Il way to make book
worth reading. Scott's life of Napoleon, is
simply an agraignment and no true history
Macaulay says of Hume, she is a skillful
advocate, but no historian" And ia return
it has been'said that Mavaulay's history was
but splendid Wing trash. One of the most
noted late works is the history Of Froude.
But he can see NO wrong in Protestant,
aud no right in a Catholic, He secs his
facts only from puritan standpoint. All
Is perverted. What is the Use then, Of
reading if We cannot RELY on what is read !?
We must think. or must choose for our
selves. We must drill ourselves 70 select
the false from the true; pathos from bathos.
We must. sur ,euder ourselves to the ideas
of the novelist, mist give over to the pic
ture of the airy poet that makes glories
ont of nothing, if We would win for our
selves what we ought from our reading.
Mr.. DeWolfs lecture was very finely
written, and showed thorough familiarity
with general literature The audience gave
undivided attention, and it was received By
the teachers as a real treat.
Miss Hutchius and Mr. Reed then sang a
duett, and Miss Alice Crossmau, of the
Butte schools, read an essay on :. The
Future of our Nation. What Yankee
pluck cannot do there is no use in trying to
do. Oar country is rich, is strong. She Is
awake. Yet 200 per cent. of our popula-
ton are ignorant. Why is it? Our land
has not yet come up to her high des
tiny. Look at the street Arabs in our
cities; at the tramps; What shall we do
with our waits? What shall we do with
onr tramps? | would have free school
laws. | would have truant officers to bring
into our schools every child of every race,
condition and parentage. Thus must the
reform be brought about. Germany can
excel us in scholars. The French Napoleon
dictated to Germany. After thirty years
of compulsory education Germany was
ready to dictate 70 France. and did it. My
friends, stand by your teachers and by your
non NAL INSTRUCTORS"
The essay was thoughtful and earnest.
The exercises were closed by chorus.
There was a very large audience present
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
TUESDAY, March 49,
The meeting was called to order at 10 a.
m. by Prest. HaTdenbrook. There was
singing and responses to the roll call with
maxims. Miss Emma Butcher held rpci-
tatlop of class in Word Method. The
little fellows investigated apd found ont
what CAT stood for. They concluded that
"cat" and tho cat they had at home we're
not the same thing. They affirmed cat
runs. plays aud jumps, and proceeded to
make their board cat do so. They then
Introduced the dog, add after putting him
through some gymnastics, turned the cat
and dog together without the customary
quarrel, and led them off together In sue
cessfal little story. They fiaally concluded
that it was better TO learn to read in three
months than to spend three years In learn
ing their letter.; that it is better 10 learn
from the beginning to read as they talk
than by a laoorious process, learn to read
like drawing machine. and then by still
mere laborious process, II at all, learn to
uniearn what was before known. Miss
hatcher Immediately followed the Word
exercise with an Object lesson. The little
fellows found ont more about piece Of
leather than ever tanner knew. They
said they knew how to find out things by
their sight, touch, smell and other senses,
and they showed that little folks are only
big folks grown small.
Mr.. j. NJ. Anderson then read an essay
on Incentives to study There are
ppper and improper incentives. Prizes
and emulation are improper. Their future
good aad usefulness are proper ones. Ernu-
lasion creates tendency ~ cultivate the
memory only. IL calls all the blood 70 the
organ OF memory and takes the blood away
from the Other organs If we allow one
bump to BE- cultivated at tho expense Of