The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-26

The Convention reassembled yesterday a
"a. NJ, with an increased attendance, the hal
being crowded. The choir again sang "Ncar
or, Ny God, to Thee" and Rev. r. Il. Swopc
of ST. Mathews Church, led In prayer. Prof
DeGraff continued his instructions on the
teaching Of reading. 4.
Superintendent Pcaslec followed with ar
excellent lesson on mental arithmetic, its
proper place and use in the school room, and
the right and wrong way 10 teach it.
Ex-Snperintendent Smart, of Indiana,
talked for awhile OH "IIindrances 10 School
Work." giving many helpful hints to the
teachers present as to the why 10 avoid some
OF the lindrances uni to meet and overcome
others.
III. exercises yesterday afternoon were In.
troduccd by song by the school children,
and opened by Prof. De Graft with talk on
pennianship and how to teach it; talking with
by the black board work which should nc.
company the plan OF teaching, and the teach.
ers present were utilized us the class,
and 4 very interesting exercise indeed as well
rs 4 most profitable one to teachers resulted
After another songby the chorus of pupils
Superintendent Pcaslee occupied some time
with most interesting talk on the Life and
writings OF Oliver Wendell Holmes. Super
intendcnt Poaslce is an enthusiastic believer
in literary culture, and would have it begun
when child enters school. lie has vein Of
wit through his discourscs which serve, to
relieve the monotony OF any mere biographi-
cal sketch, MS well rs serves to fix in the
minds OF his hearers some fact OF interest
with which his sally is associated. His re-
marks on Holmes necessarily diverged fire.
Quently into facts concerning or illusions 10
other noted persons, localities or historical
events with which his life or his writings are
connected. The poem commencing,
."Ay, lear her tatteTcd ensign down,
Long has II waved on high,"
was thus taken as the basis OF brief sketch
Of the frigate Constitution" "Old Iron.
Sides" which his verses saved, and which is
now n training ship at the Annapolis Naval
Academy. The story OF the captain, whose
boy climbed to the top OF mast, and was in
imminent danger of falling and killing him.
self, when the father seized gun and ordered
his boy to jump into the sea or he would fire
which the boy did and was saved-was
also narrated. and the aforementioned that il
occurred on the same historic old shin, The
establishment OF the atlantic .Eonthly, and the
publication therein OF the "Autocrat of Tho
Breakfast Table, BY Holmes, was told. and
some beautiful extracts from the papers
named read with good effect.
His talk on Holmes was followed by The
reading of selections from the writings of
John Grcenleaf Whittier. Preparatory to
reading his an School Days" he described
the school house in which the great poet
went TO school. lie said he was born within
few miles from the Whittier homestead, an
old.fashioned. plain house almost surrounded
by woods; had gone to "mcetin' In the very
school house which figures in the poem, and
had looked In the brooks which reflected the
poets own face when in boyhood he wander
cd over the Massachusetts hills. The speak,
cr's style Of reading borrows its principal
charm from his sympathy with the author
whose production he reads. The effect OF the
reading OF "ln School Days" was greater than
the greatest elocutionist could have made /,
by any OF the arts OF the professional reader.
lie also read and taught tn those present |
beautiful poem from Whittier, having the |
whole assembly repeat concert line BY line.
after him, the poem selected.
After some announcements by the chair
man the audience was dismissed until half.
past seven:
In this connection We append list OF the
teachers In attendance whose names have
been enrolled since our first list WINS printed:
Mollie A. Poguc, Wheeling: Henry New
Mertz. Steubenvillc; Sarah E. Bradley. Graf.
ton; Olive A. Stout, Wheeling; Media White,
Martins Ferry; Walter Mitchell, Wcllsburr:
May G. Black, Wheeling; Kate Griflit6'
Martins Ferry; james II. Jones, Mounds.
vile; Alice B, Ackhart, Roney's Point: India
r.,Eynns, Moundsville; IIarrie Cunnincham.
Mattic J.sNilson, .Moundsyille:
Rachel Eliza Campbell, Pittsburgh; iWm, J.