Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-14
INSTITUTE DOTS.

Yesterday was rather gloomy with some
rain that dampened the clothing but not the
ardor of the members of the institute.
The membership is still on the increase.
I said at the commencement we should reach
200 by the end of the term, but from present
appearances it will overrun that number
largely, from the fact that there are some
are unable to attend and another class that
do not wish to attend until the last week,
and then their only object is TO brighten up
for the examination, as all they want is q
certificate and they are not particular as to
the grade, for they can always find school
directors that are as indifferent to the re-
quirements of good school--fer every one
knows, or should know, that a school re-
quires the best Of everything, teachers in
cluded.
Yesterday the class in arithmetic were
still working away on the old, old question
of fractions.
Reading was well attended, and Mr.. Pence
is bound to make reading success.
In physiology the subject of absorption
was well discussed and descriptions given of
the different parts and functions of each, by
the Misses Cummings, Flowers, Gibson, and
a number of others whose names have not
learned. The location Of the heart seemed
to be the most difficult thing 10 do, even the
young ladies that are supposed to know all
about such things did not agree.
History classes were at work on the war
of the Revolution. 1t was well presented
by Mr.. Fitzpatrick aid after quite an inter
esting amount of information was given and
after the subject had been put on the board
it Was found to be a very definite presenta-
ton of the principal facts connected with
the war. There are number Of methods
of presenting the subject, but TINS contained
many good points.
In constitution in Mr.. Gays room,t the pow
crs of congress was still under discussion,
the question of piracy, naturalization and
various other topics were duly considered
and explained BY various members of the
class, so that everything SO far is progress
ing finely.
Mr.. Hammond's class in philosophy had q
very interesting time. The six powers were
named and described by the most OF the
class. there were q number of new ideas ad-
vanced, one was that cord was . mechan-
ical power, and authority given, still it was
taken with some doubts. The young wo-
man that tried to prove that one pound at
tracted ten pounds the same as ten pounds
attracted one pound, did not make it very
plain, but Mr.. Hammond's cat quotations
seemed to settle the matter.
Mr.. Pence's class in bookkeeping had e
good exercise in journalizing. He has one
difficulty to contend with, that is the ten
dency of some to talk too much. Instead of
asking how to do, they ask if this way or
that way is not better and by so doing delay
the legitimate business. presume that he
will say, "Thus far shalt thou 20 and no
further"
In didatics Prof Fitzpatrick gave most
interesting and valuable lecture on thor
oughness in education incidentally to-day
upon the lamentable results Of so-called
teaching in the hot-bed schools. Culture
be compared to great hall with numerous
ante-chambers, and it msttered little
which the individual entered. This talk
was probably the most interesting Of P rof
Fitzpatrick's interesting lectures.
RKPoRrER.