Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-08-22
Letter from Mrs. Sue F. Mooney.


To the Chronicle:
/ snatch a second in which to per-
form long-delayed duty. I am sure
that none of your readers enjoy the
CHRONICLE more than myself 1 do
not write for it so often as in days of
yore, because am so differently stu
ated.
am glad to note the pleasant proph-
ecies of prosperity for GAINESVILLE; for,
though no longer citizen, retain a
home feeling and home interest.
sojourned Il short while this week
at that pleasant summer resort, Estill
Springs. There l met Rev. T. L..
Moody, pastor of the Methodist church,
GAINESVILLE, Tenn. The meeting was
as pleasant as it was unexpected. /
heard through him of many Clarks-
vile friends, and felt almost as if / had
taken my place once more with the
chosen circle at the Franklin House.
l can always recall a pleasant picture
at mention of that favorite inn-one
OF the best at which weary traveller
ever refreshed himself.
On entering the car the genial face
of Rev. J. B. Shearer, D. D., beamed
upon me- The Doctor is charming
conversationalist, and SO pleasantly was
I entertained that the distance to nay
destination was very much shortened.
He was en- route from Monteagle, where
learned lights do most congregate.
He gave graphic word picture of the
sayings and doings of some of the wise
men there, in session or attendance.
The travel to Monteagle and inter-
mediate points seems rather to increase
as the summer slips by. Don't look
awry at that figure. know none that
better express our American idea of
time, work and workers. Still, if in
some things beside dress we adopt the
Mother Hubbard style, it is satisfac-
ton to know that in graver matters we
are not slipping backward.
Summer Normal schools have null
tiplied in Tennessee and vitalized So
cial life, as we'll as quickened mental
activity.
1t was my privilege to visit Win
chester, one of our Oldest towns, and
one now claiming to be in the front of
the fight for temperance and education.
There is no installing the earnest
ness reaching to enthusiasm, of her
people on these two vital subjects A
magnet OF this sort will draw and does.
| attended there Teachers Institute,
and saw some OF the work done in the
Normal School. Twas specially struck
with the workers. do not mean
teachers, but the taught-men and
women, some of whom have been en-
gagged in teaching. With material of
this sort in the school, the new ele-
ments are easily incorporated and the
old idea OF instruction illustrated both
in planning and executing. [ will
not follow the figure, but | like the
Roman method of a camp of instruc-
tion-befOre that the forces are led out
While on schools, would go back
a little to your own University, with
the excellent work of which am we'll
acquainted. The special work of that
school, which I now wish to commend
and recommend, is its Bible course.
l am more and more impressed that
if Christianity be the ruling religion
in this land, the Bible must be taught
in our schools, as we'll as from the pull
pit. The pulpit cannot reach people
who never go to church. That man
or woman-I care not what else he
may have-is not worthy to fill the
place of a true teacher, if he be ignorant
OF Gods book.
The Southwestern Presbyterian Uni
versity has always made this work
prominent, and is now well prepared
for systematic instruction. The syl-
labus prepared by DIR. Shearer, graded
for class-work, is thing of beauty in
every sense of that much used express
sion. The mechanical work, l was
to learn, was done at the |
CHRONICLE Office. 1t is highly credit
able. / ought not to say that l was
surprised to learn that the CHRONICLE
could do such work, for you res
cued for Latin dictionary and made
it almost new, saving for me not only
the money that must have been expend-
ed for new book, but preserving a
rich store of precious memories.
Miss Lou Lowell, of the GAINESVILLE
City School, now at Chatauqua, has
kept us well supplied with reading
matter from that literary centre. This
supply includes charming commune
cations from herself, and the CHATEAU !