Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-06-26


siS words ont Of possible one huudred-a
Worces,er's Unabridged Dictionary.
Sid. To Noryai Wiisoa GalIaher, Junior
Glass. for Excellence in Composition, Gold
Smiths Works
DEBATING SocIETY PElzEs.
lst To David J Howell, a CycIopadia Of
Eoelsh Poetry, as best Debator
2ud To Ezekiel Davenport, Life and Let
;ers Of Lord Macanlay, rs second best Debater.
3rd. To Juuius Davenport, a Gold Pen, as
best Dcclaimer
4Jh To W. DeIIertburn Washington, Goid
Medal, as second best Deolaimer
Hon. Daniel B. Lucas presented all The
prizes, except toe frst.-each with a short ad
dress 70 the recipient in lis own peculiarly
happy style, miugiDg dry humor with force
ana logic, aud always containing more or less
good counsel as to the future course Of the
young gentleman. II the Academy boys
will. ouly lay to heart. and profit By all the
good advice that was given them on Thurs
day evening. forming their conduct for the
coming year thereby, Capt. Rabies path will
be sirewa with roses.
Afier the presentation OF the prizes, Capt
liable, 10 a few appropriate words, introduced
tie orator Of the evening. Mr.. Wilson COM
menced by saying that The Principal Of thc A.
ccJcmy, after a number Of unsuccessful APP
polls to distinguished speakers at distance.
al q whom made excuses, bad. like a certain
master q old, sent out and secured gentle
uan who appears scarcely provided with the
Indispensable wedding garment. lie said lie
GENE before them. not with any polished peri
oas os classic illusions. bet 20 make a plain,
home'y tails, not intended for the audience
who had bis fall permission % 90 10 sleep il
they felt so inclined, but for The young gentle
m,n Of the Academy. Before proceeding
however, he wished to Try and dispel the clouds
dot rested on their youthful faces, showing
flat % them this was anything but a welcome
occasion. that deep down 10 their hearts was
q iccliog cd melancholy a. having 10 turn their
backs ou books aud school and 90 through
ilo long weary months Of vacation lie hopei
they would solace themselves By a day work
&C picnic, or perhaps. occasionally en- eve
ming talk on the doorstep with some bright
E.ile dams-l But be would remind them of
che Oh proyerb, variety is ,be spice Of life,
and as the oli song has it
Spring would De but gloomy weather,
u Te hss nothing else but Spring"
The ld-mshioacd style Of teaching vas % re-
tress ana rebuke tbo TeSt.lssuess OF boyh0oi-
;-rmiog Tie love q sport friyohiy. Sc. Mod
GRO science hos taught Giii.rcutly. nature wiser
ll..r science haS shown us Tia, all this frolic-
some. 50 tive disposition Is only the natural
tendency 10 ch.,1ser, making them grow into
robust ,.en and women Its bis opinion that
these two months play ale lust as much part
Of tlc cjuclt.0u u these boys ls The ten months
at s-hool-mr they develop ihc muscles and
powers cf Che body, while the others train The
bowers of the mind He wished % consider
he question What constitutes IA educated
ma0 g'-uot 90 enter the wide Geld Of debate
on ;lis subject, bys only 90 give lis own ideas
oft. Education consists 20 several parts
acquisition e knowledge Of the world, the race
and i,s families. % speech, thoughts. numbers,
-mstlor, its properties; OF tie kingdom Of
nature and SO ou. There are many subjects
ofkrowlcice-to acquire these is the pleasant
ESQ part of cjCcai.ao, the continual opening
uD u new sources of Information, aiorliug
ever new delight. There ore two WAYS u ac-
Qlring buow.,lgo-by personal observation,
auG through books or teachers. This 0cQuisi-
ton, however. Is not education, but only the
frs; stage cfit-it is the enjoyment but not
tio use Of knowledge. Al she Intellectual
faculties must De- trained 10 order TO their full
Development, just as tie muscles Of the body
base o. De exercised, aud all equally, not sim
p'y cce pant, as 90 tsaiu tie right arm and ne
g,e-t Tie other members Of the body would re-
SAT- 10 unequal growth. 50 with the mind
reason. imagination, memory. all tue mental
hounes should bs 50 developed as to produce
symmetry auj harmouy q the various parts.
Iais IS the second step Of educa.jou-to train,
lovcllre and harmouile he mental powers, so
that n. emory may not Re q ueIc lumber room
illll viii odds and ends Of knowledge, but
treasure house stored with useful requirements
Is a pure tas.e and cLaste Imagination. The
.lirl step Ia e1ucation Is the mos, difficult
md is more rare than the otbers-mauy fall
short of lit is TO acquire such dominion over
he mind as TO apply, concentrate ITS powers
ID the purposes needed Those who stop short
q Ills fail 20 gather is best fruits All me-
hluical forces act by bringing power 10 bear
ipon a certain needed poi:t This firm mas /
ery Of the mind and ability 10 concentrate Is (
BE iaai test nd criterion Of educated men
ou,h is the sesd-tjme of life, the tine for cul- (
WAITING the moral and physical as we'll as The /
Intellectual faculties. Opportunities wasted (
.ow can never he recalled. I; the past ses- I
ions work coau,s only q vulgar fraction or
nit, regrets avail nothing guo8 scriptum /
-riph~ But ,he future is before you. rs .
.olt is not done. lou must attain TIE yicto-
3 u.s. yoGr orn cxeriols: teachers can only
ss,si sn3 guide yon in q two lower stages
De- browning victory zoo must work or, vcur-
ED ilcA Us iuct, sappiag ara mining. iie
a-l Wondered tlat 10 tie Diyire economy e