Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-27
THE NORMAL INSTITUTE.

All eyes are now turned to the Peabody
State Normal, which is announced to meet
in this place July 18th, and close August
9Th.
For full particulars see the appended
CIRCULAR
Already more than forty cities and coun-
ties, embracing about one-half of the entire
State, have been heard from, each one prom
Using to contribute to the common stock,
its fair quota of teachers.
Whilst the scarcity of money, and the
Poor pay accorded to teachers heretofore,
will, doubtless, keep some away, and en-
barrass others who intend to come, vet
there are, notwithstanding, many and par
amount reasons why Teachers generally
ought to attend these State Schools.
| LIST, Respect to the memory of George
Peabody, Esq, Ohrough whose success in
business, whole-souled munifcence, and
wise concern for the educational interests
of the impoverished South, the funds were
given to run these Institutions), demands
that, as far as practicable, every one in any
way entrusted with the management of the
Public Schools of the State, should avail Of
this opportunity, thus given, to make these
schools as efficient as possible.
| 2nd, A real literary treat is promised to
every one, from such prominent educators
Of both National and State repute, as Hon.
j. L. NJ. Curry, Gen. Eaton, R. R. Farr,
s. Supt., and course of eminently practi.
cal and polished lectures, upon subjects
pertaining to the usual routine of actual
schOOl-room work, will be delivered by
PrOfs. Chas. 81. Winston and McGilyray Of
Richmond, and Painter of Roanoke College,
as we'll as by other well known and compe-
| tent instructors.
Bird, Who can estimate the benefit de-
rived from social intercourse Hundreds
of teachers hailing from all parts of the
State, bringing together in one place the
united wisdom of the Profession, forming
new acquaintance, renewing old friend
ships, seeing, hearing, conversing one with
another, &c, &C., must, of necessity, be a
never-falling source of interest and instruc-
ton to all.
| The teachers here at home and the citi.
zens, acithout exception, should throw vida
! open their hearts and their doors to make
their visit to them both pleasant and prof
table. Let us do, as we would be done by,
in case we were the guests and they ''our
host" Let them, each one, go back to
their homes and carry with them, not soon
to be forgotten, the remembrance of the
happy Normal held in the beautiful noun
tain city. Rather make it for them an
COASTS in the desert Journey of Life, to
which, in the pensive hours of coming days,
they may ever and anon recur with evident
and always increasing delight. We must
not forget, that among all the envied but
unchallenged virtues of ''our old mother"
in her better days, there was none more
striking, and to which we may refer with
pardonable pride, than the genuine ''Old
Virginia hospitality" of the days of yore.
AS the offspring of so pre-eminent an an
cestry, surrounded by the culture and re-
finement, which centres here in Staunton,
blazoning forth from every hill and noun
tain-side, let US not be insensible to trait
of character, which, more than all else COM
bined, made the civilization of Virginia I'M
equalled and unapproached by any other
people of any race, or any age, or any cline.
| Let US extend thrice hearty welcome
to the repres sntatives of, it may be, an
humble calling, but one whose members if
united in one aim under single banner,
and in one common interest, scattered as
they are everywhere to the remotest corner
of our borders, could WELD an influence
second to no other profession in the State.
| As it is, let US neither overlook nor I'M
derestimate silent power, that is steadily
but increasingly moulding for good or for
evil, the destinies of the Commonwealth
and of the nation, and whose impress is be-
ing indelibly stamped upon the history of
the age in which we live. s.