Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-16

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stances under which the school opened in
| September were so uniavorao.e that j look
with unusual gratitude and pleasure on the
/ number OF dear pupils present. Last June
/ bade adieu 10 charming school and
FASTENED TO New York on my way TO the
Msrtha's Vineyard Summer Institute, where
had before studied methods Cf teaching
Bot most painful and protracted illness
prevented the continuance Of my journey,
and l returned to Memphis in September,
disabled and thoroughly di.heartened. Uu
able to sit up all day / wrote few notes TO
former patrons, mentioning my unfortunate
illnesp, but stating that / felt myself
able 10 teach il entrusted with the
education OF their children. No higher
| compliment could have been paid
me than the RESPONSE my communication
met With. Before the LIST OF October thirty
| pupils had been enrolled, and, with the ex-
cepiion OF two, the membership ia the same
to-day. And never during the seventeen
years | have taught have the results been
more satisfactory. The interest m anifesied
by punctual and regular attendance, aod
willing labor when present, has been pro
ductive of excellent results Intelligent and,
therefore, happy effort has been N sde by one
and ALL There have been no drones in this
hive OF busy workers, il evinced by the
stores Of knowledge acquired. But correct
inform atlon is really Ihe Least nALi of adm
C1IIon. The knowledge oil fundamental
truths is essential; habits of accuracy most
be formed; mental di.ci Pline NUT marshal
the resources; but, above all, the habit Of
reading must be acquired, "for this habit"
says a deep thinker, strengthens the heart
and the brain of the worker in his life
struggle; it enables him TO do his daily work
without losing the glow of his humanity"
Books are men of higher stature
And the only men who speak for future times to
hear"
Believing this, it has been my chief aim to
cultivate love of study-reverence for wisdom
and the wise. My patrons are men and
women of position and influence, but teach
their little ones that the true aristocracy ia
that of character snd ability. / have spoken
of my intention of enlargiug my school
another year. Do not fear that l will en-
trust the training OF the children to tyros, or
indeed rehnquisn the instruction of the little
ones, which Is my delight. l owe it 10 my
children as well as 10 myself 10 increase the
number of my pupils sufficiently TO enable
me TO live without such arduous labor. A
larger patronage would enable me to employ
specialists 10 teach a few of the branches,
thus diminishing nay duties and increasing
the advantages of my pupils. No one knows
better than l do, that there is no more ser-
GUS evil than that of overcrowdiug
In schools. Glasses should, by all
means, BE- kept email enough 10
insure personal attention but they should be
large enough to excite emulation. Class-
work Is more important than it is deemed BE-
most parents. Caildren taught at home
rarely have the faculty OF attention. Too
many parents think anyone can teach bsgin-
uers. l wish l could show them my expert
ence IN this matter. Anyone can teacb
them the alp abe, and II does them 30 harm
even whsre the word method Is used, as j,
ls, partly at least, by all good teachers.
Atlerward, beg you eutrust them 10 40 ex.
p riencsd teacher. Let whoever will put
manssrd roof on their education, let au in
telligent and conscientious builder lay the
foundation. At the instance of one OF zay
patrons offered two gold medals for excel
lence in lessons and department. Emulation
was excited, which 1 desired; but jealousy
and strife ensued, which 1 deplored. Tue
object was defeated and one medal with
dawn from competition. One of The
prim sries having competed successfully
fifteen or twenty times one medal was award
ed to her by unanimous consent. Where so
many have labored diligently ii is hard 10
Observation-Disclosures impossible tn decide
between candidates for superiority. These
considerations have Influenced me TO give no
other prizes, knowing that the wisdom aC-
quired aud the discipline gained will be to
the pupil its own best reward. In closing
would warn my dear children against seek
ing amusement their chief good. Re-
member that
Pleasures are like peoples spread --sz--=-
You seize the stalk the bloom is shed.
Or like a snowflake on the river,
A moment white, then gone forever"
The u6llment of duty constitutes a noble
life, and
mot many lives but only have we:
one, only one, how precious should that one
life ever be.
Day after day made up of blessed toll,
Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil"
l cannot end my address without COM
meDding the conscientious aud enlightened
manner in which Miss Smithwick has per-
formed her duties So teacher of music. Her
gentleness and patience have endeared her
10 the youthful musicians, while the thor
ougbness of her instruction has commended
her TO their parents. Prof. Saxby taught
the class in dancing during the winter
| mouths, anC no one who witnessed his patient
endesvors in behalf of the little folks could
doubt his fiithfulness or ability. The sue
cessful candidate Tor the medal in the pri
mary class is Miss Florence Miller.
/ hope that none Of the roses in my gar
den of girls will fade or be gathered into
another's garland, but that they will sgair
unite TO form my crown of happiness and
| usefulness