The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-06
Middlebrook Items.
Reported for the VIRGINIAN.

wish to say ii few words in regard to on
county roads. They are nearly impassabl
and we see various suggestions offered b
members of the General Assembly and eli
liens. Now, this matter needs no Difficult
legislation or lavish expenditures of money
but little common sense on the part {
our road surveyors. Many of our count
roads have been open for fifty years an
few of them exceeds three miles to on
surveyor then, if each surveyor woul
thoroughly work but los yards of roa
with stone each year, the entire lengt
would have been graveled. When we COZ
slider it, only one-half of that length woul
need anything but aslight working tokee
it in order. Instead of this the whole NAL
population is called out from sixteen year
to sixty, and the whole length of the roa
run over with Il plow and sh0vels. Wha
little solid earth remains is stirred up 70
the next rain and converted into mud o
swept to the bottom Of the hill. lnstea
of the road being elevated so as to b
easily drained and dried with the sun,
resembles a huge ditch or canal. Ii ever
farmer, when hauling stonefrom his fields
would hanl them on some bad place on tn
road. beat them up and cover them wit
earth there would be less to do at publ
expense. for with the farmers virtual
rests the right TO make the roads.
Mr.. G. T. Palmer has traded his farm
near this place. to Mr.. Jno. w. Mish TO
his farm near Arl,or Hill, known as tn
Beard place. Mr. Mish pays 5000 differ
ence. Mr.. M. sold a portion of his farm
known as the Matte Ewing farm. to hi
brother VIM. Mish.
Considerable changing in town lots ha
taken place recently in orr borough. Thu
house and lot owned by Mrs. Brown is s0lt
to Mr.. Boiling. q wagon maker in the EN-
ploy of J. S. Garrison.
Mr.. VIM. Steele has purchased the I'm
! finished house and lot of Mr. j. p. White
The lot owned by H. B. Payne is sold tt
Mr. Samuel Giles. This was a part of TIT
old lanyard property.
Rev. S. l.. Whitmore is erecting par
sonage Oh Grace church property. Th'
new Lutheran church will soon be com
menced.
! Mr.. j. Frank Argenbright has sold hi
splendid property to Mi. George Wise
man for twelve hundred dollars. He goes
| to Lexington to carry OH his business, viz
Tin and sheet iron. Mr.. Argenbright was
formerly partner in the concern of Mar
tin & Argenbright. Although we lose hin
as citizen, we do not lose his services, as
he will be glad to visit his old friends any
where in the county and do their roofing
and guttering. We can commend MI. Ar
genbright to the citizens Of Lexington as
a thorough mechanic in taste and exeeu
ton, and a man of integrity. Mr.. A. is
the grandson of Mr.. Jacob Argenbright
who lived in this place. He rose from 9
very humble position and won for himself
many friends both mechanically and so
cially.
Mr.. Andrew Swartzel is moving to the
old home place of John Merritt, deceased
to farm the place. W. II. W.
| -
Teachers Institute.
The Teachers Institute for Riverheads
and Pastures Districts, convened in Mid
dlebrook, on Thursday last, the 28th, Su
perintendent Roller presiding. The insti.
tute was opened with prayer by Rev. Whit.
mer, and r. ]. Dyche was elected Sec'y
The privileges of the Institute were x
tended to Rev. MI, Whitmer and Mr.. Jor'
dan.
| The first subject introduced was the
Theory and Practice of Teaching, and
was participated in by j. b. Amiss, X. j
Dyche. Rev. A. Hoover, E. j. Montgom
cry, MI. Shutting, M. W. Butcher, and MI
Jordan.
Mr.. Shutting read an essay on Penman
| ship,
At the afternoon session Geography
was discussed by Messrs. Dyche, Bgeher
Keller, Amiss, Crosby, Calhoun, Collins
and Prof. Roller.
| Mr.. GilkersOn read an essay on Physical
Geography,
| Reading was the subject of an interest.
| ing.essay by Miss Ida T. Funkhouser. and
the subject was discussed by Messrs.
Hoover Dyche. Jordon and Amiss.
Mr.. Dyche offered the same resolutions
as were adopted at the WaynesbOrO InSti.
tute in regard to the classification of
scholars. &C., and after some discussion
they were adopted.
| At the night session, after prayer by
Rev. Whitmer, Miss McGilvray read an
essay on Common Sense in the School
Room,'' and good essay it was. Miss
Lucy Turk read an essay, the title OF
which was IA Few Glimpses, which was
well received. A good essay on ''Knowl-
edge is Power was read by Miss Mary
Smiley. The subject of "School Disci-
pline'' was introduced by an essay by Mr..
Wine, after which the subject was dis
cussed by Messrs. Dyche, Jordan, Whit
more, Amiss, Butcher and Prof. Roller.
The question box containing forty five
questions was opened, and all Of the cues,
lions except four involving mathematical
manning were assigned to MeSSrs. Dyche
Jordan and Calhoun, for solution.
| The session for the day closed with mu.
sic, Miss A. B. Wilson presiding at the
organ.
The proceedings Of Friday were opened
The subject of Arithmetic was dis
cussed by Messrs. Dyche, Calhoun, Jor
dan, Amiss, Butcher and Prof. Roller.
Grammar was discussed by Mr.. Mont
| gomery, and Prof. Roller delivered some
/ Interesting remarks on the subject.
| Attic afternoon session, the question Of
ssSclool Laws, &c." was discussed by
Messrs. Jordan, Farrar, pyche, Butcher
Amiss and WhitmOre.
Miss McGilvray's excellent Essay OF
Common Sense in the School Room,
was read second time by request.
The following resolutions were present
ed and adopted by the Institute:
Resozved. LIST. That vote of thanks be ex
| tended the people of MiddlebrOOk and it's yini
ty for the hospitality aHd courtesy exfenaed t
the teachers and visitors during our BRIEF sta,
| in their midst.
ed to R. J. Dyche, of Beverley Manor, for seryi
ces rendered as Secretary of our Institute, an(
for valuable information OH arithmetic, &c.
! RESOLVED, Sd, That vote of thanks be given t.
Mr.. J. NJ. Calhoun, principal OF school at Mid
Resolved, 4th, That vote of thanks be extend
ed E. J, Montgomery for an essay and lecture OF
Resolved 5th, That vote of thanks be extend
ed to Messrs. J. b. Amiss r. ]. Dyche. II. Hooy
and E. j. Montgomery and others. for their val
liable remarks on the theory and practice o
teaching.
ed to teachers of this Institute who have hon
ored us with their presence; with music ant
several valu able essays, viz: Common Sense II
the Schoolroom, by Miss s. B. McGilvray Pub
lie School, by Miss Lucy Turk knowledge j
READ, by Miss Ida Funkhodfser: Discipline
School, by Mr.. Wine, and Physical Geography
by Mr.. Gilkerson.
Iesolred, 9TH. That a vote of thanks be extend
ed to Fl. Sheffey Roller fol the interest and yea
gusta county profitable to the teachers ant