The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-06-18
From Lebanon.


To the Editor of the Standard:
Thinking that some of my friends who
read the Standard would be interested in
tional Normal University, and National
Soldiers Home near Dayton, / send you
few items for publication, hoping you will
grant the space.
Lebanon is beautiful little town of
about 5000 inhabitants, moral, intelligent
and prosperous. Its surroundings are
well calculated to inspire in the human
heart honor and reverence for Him whose
magic fingers framed the universe with
its manifold beauties for the pleasure of
man.
Lebanon has many objects of historical
interest. 1t contains the home of DR..
Scott the author of the famous Scott Law
which has played such an important part
in the politics of the State. The elegant
residence of Gen. Durbin Ward, the great
Democratic soldier and statesman whose
claims upon the party have so frequently
been ignored, is here. A room in one of
the chief hotels of the town is said to
have been the scene of the tragic death of
G. l.. Vallandigham the noted Southern
sympathizer. Here the illustrious
Thomas Corwin began and ended life
that elevated him to the highest place in
the hearts of his countrymen. He sleeps
quietly in the beautiful green cemetery
Among the resting places Of the loved de-
parted is that of Lucretia Clay, daughter
of the Great Pacificator. The wild rose
and well-kept surroundings bear evidence
that both nature and the people appre-
ciate the great trust confided to them so
is Ft. Ancient, celebrated earthwork
built by the Mound Builders. This I
have not yet visited and so can not give
description of it. But what has made
Lebanon known througout the land is the
National Normal University, founded by
Prof. Alfred Holbrook in 1852 It's emil
nent success is generally recognized, but
especially by the thousands whom it has
sent out into all parts of the United
States, and even across the ocean.
Some of the leading principles are that
the human mind is a growing activity;
that study is simply the mind in a state
of growth and as the mind naturally
grows, love of study is natural to a
healthy mind; that the object of teaching
is to follow the growth, to clear the way
for it, to train rather than to inform the
mind; that the three phases of mind
growth are acquisition, the out-side-in
process, reflection, the inside process, and
expression the inside-out process that the
mind must expand in liberty, true gov
eminent in education being self-govern-
ment; and last but not least, that the
mutual influences of the presence of both
sexes is essential to the most thorough
and symmetrical growth of the mind and
morals.
One of its many advantages is the very
able corps of teachers, whose love for the
work and hearty enthusiasm inspire even
the most careless pupils with new ideas
of life and of their own abilities.
The attendance during the past term
was about 700, and will doubtless be great
ly increased at the summer term. The
Annual Commencement will take place
July 3Oth. The graduates of the Scientific
course number eighty-nine, of whom
Jackson county can boast two, Miss May
Handley and Mr.. Morgan H. Jones. The
Classical graduates are twenty-five. AS
the graduating classes are large all can
not speak at the Commencement. From
the Scientific class thirty of the most pop
ular members were chosen by the class to
deliver the graduating address, among
whom are both of Jackson county's rep
resentatives
AS my article has reached rather
greater length than 1 anticipated 1 shall
defer my description of the Soldiers
Home, and if agreeable send it for an
other issue. Very respectfully,
T. f. RTATR