The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-02
EVENING SESSION.

~ A--'A-'N HA~'.ANf-'
Institute convened at p. m. After mu-
sic the Address of Welcome was delivered
BY w. II. Ruppel, Esq, of Somerset.
The response was delivered by ". c.
Berkley, of Meyersdale.
Both address and response We're well re-
ceived and they showed much ability on
the part of the speakers.
Prof Hall, of Lancaster was then intro
duced and sang Dear Little Heart, and
Song Of the Camp" both of which were
loudly applauded.
<0r. y. c. Schaefler, Principal of the Key
fstone State Normal. huIztown, Pa, was
next introduced and delivered q lecture on
"Pestalozzi We here give an extract;
In an obscure part of Ireland in the latter
part of the eighteenth century, stranger en-
tered a school room, where the teacher was
so unlike a teacher, that you would not
consider him as such. His hair disheyeled
and unkept; clothing unudy and the gen
eral appearance Of slOuchiness. This man
was Pestalozzi. the man who in after years
became the teacher of teachers. Many
fooked to him. and fingered long TO hear his
earnest words Of wisdom and to learn ofhis
teaching power. At the age Of twenty-iour
he married a daughter of a rich merchant,
and contrary to the ordinary result Of such
marriages. it was purely love match. With
his own wealth and that Of his wife, he
might have lIved life of ease, but on the
contrary he devoted his life and his money
to the cause so dear 10 his heart, and invest
ing his money poorly be lost it, and was
reduced to the greatest poverty, and indeed
sometimes 20 actual want. After losing his
all in speculating ventures he was advised
10 write. but his first attempts were not very
successful about the close Of the Reyolu-
ton ne published his first book on teaching.
which met with unbounded success, and the
poor man of Zunich, Switzerland, who was
heretofore considered a fanatic, Is now
loaded with praises His book had all the
charms Of a novel, contrary to the character
Of most books of the kind. The King Of
Germany wisely concluded that education
was the only means of restoring his destroy
ed power. He accordingly sent number OF
Young men to this renowned teacher to learn
his ways These men instilled into the
schools Of Prussia those methods which
have made her the mistress of education.
This won in the end what her wise King
expected. and all her later victories are
traced 10 this cause The education Of the
Iaboring classes caused them to take the ma
jority OF the prizes at the worlds fair. Only
as a nation educates her masses, Is she sue
cessful. Our education as a nation makes US
compete successfully with other nations.
Cur first schools were reading schools; j
took three 70 four years 10 learn 10 read by
the olden time methods. These methods
made the active children restless, and the
teacher tyrant. IN olden times parents did
not Try to frighten their children to obedi-
ence with threats Of spooks as they now do,
but By telling them of the school and the
school master Instead of the children be
inc driven TO schooLas they were then, they
known 70 the unknown, instead Of from the
unknown TO the unknown. In conclusion,
Pestalozzi realized $1,000 from his books,
but his great love Of the cause and Of suffer
ing humanity, made him give his all and
die poor. His entire life was one OF struggle
and constant privstion, but the good he ac-
complished eternity viii tell.
The Committee on Programme then
reported. after which Prof Hall sang anoth-
er Of bis entertaining songs. Institute then
adjourned the people going to their homes
well pleased with the evenings entertain
menr and instruction.