The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-05-29
A Day in the Country.

attempting to enjoy outdoor exer-
else, and taxing the brain at the ex>
pense of health and muscle in direct
ing the ways and means of an honest
living,a day in the country is not only
refreshing to ones enjoyment of the
occasion, but invigorating to both
MUD and body, in dispelling for the
time the cares incident to providing
the wherewithal OF to morrow
comforts.
In this frame Of mind, your cor'
respondent, at about half past 10
O'clock a. M, on yesterday, found
himself an invited guest, ut the clos
ing exercises Of Furnishing public
school, superin tended by one Of Alb
erdeen's most cultured young women
Miss Blanche Simpsou,at Pine Grove
Academy, and within miles DIS
lance of the onca furnishing capitol
of the county.
The exercises of the occasion were
well on the way when your cores
pendent reached the appointed place.
Fathers and mothers, grand pas
and mas, stout young men and
rosy cheek maidens, nurses and
pratling children were there in
strong force, to share Of the anxiety
incident to the animated contest be
tween thel manly boys aud modest
girls, for the appropriate prizes pro-
vided by and to be award at the dis
erection Of the highly esteemed, &C
comphsbed and successful teacher,
But a short while had elapsed at
this place OF gentle discipline and
thorough instruction, until we were
translated to a period in our own
history, when it required five times
the amount OF labor to work sum
in fractions, when it took rules and
examples almost numberless to &C.
quire a passibly correct understand
ing of our own vernaculer, memory
inexhaustible to comprehend the
links of geographical connections
and definitions, to say nothing of 9th,
er insurmountable obstacles besetting
the ladder of educational progress,
The exercises of this most excel
lent school had not closed until We
were more than satisfied that Aber>
deem is not The only place in the
county where the young are being
properly cultured in the art of letters
and refined civilization, and by no
means the only place where the lm>
press Of gentle manners, amiable tenn
pr, accompanied with firm discip-
line are working out thsir reward
in the school room.
The average attendance OF this
chool,as we were informed, is about
thirty pupils for the session, and
consisting of boys and girls ranging
from the tender age of six to
sew taen of both sexes. These dear
children for the greater portion have
but little or nothing of worldly en-
dowment, other than the good name
and frugal habits Of their fond
parents. How laudable, then, is
their thirst for such knowledge as will
support and comfort them through
the battle of life, whether able to
perform manual labor or not. Deep
ly impressed with this fact, as was
manifestly obvious to a disinterested
spectator, we feel entirely safe in
venturing the premise, that the day
is not far DISTANT when the old
town OF Athens and her immediate
vicinity will bebl essed with p, pu-
lation worthy the classic name she
bears.
Would that l could say that every
neighborhood in the county and the
Stale were so fortunately blessed
with the means of encourag ement to
knowledge and future useful
ness, II so, thespeculative fate that
awaits government made and nd ,
ministered by the people would be
shown of much of its uncertainty as
to durability, and all Of its thorns to
those who must soon give place to
the rising generation, on account of
dear ones left to fill our places,
Education mot. in books alone) is
indispensable to the lot awarded
every man and woman in a free gov
eminent. Away, therefore, with the
narrow minded parsimonious policy
of a grudging support to those who
are unable to educate themselves.
At the close of the examination
premiums were awarded to the sue
cessful contestants, and forcble
speech delivered by Major David
Gilleylen, enthusiastically advocating
the demands of more thorough edu-
cation, and appropriately eulogiaing
the qualifications OF the faithful
teacher, who seemed to be u universal
! fovoriIa with patrnns as wall as