Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-09-03
OVER IN WATAUGA.
THE CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE
BOONE NORMAL.
Interesting Talks From Maj. Bingham,
Prof. blair, and Mr.. CiaXton, a Stu
Special Correspondence of tie Sentinel.

Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.
W@AUrAUGA COUNTY, Aug. o.
The Normal at Boone closed with the
unanimous verdict that it must have
been one Of the most successful in the
State. We had things "goodly to look
to" iii nature surrounding us, air un-
surpassed by any on earth, free-heart-
ed, opeH-h -handed hospitality, what
mere could be asked? On the whole
it was delightful.
There WAS no monotony school ex-
egcises were constantly being varied
by talks from visitors, talks of differ
ept kinds ''from grave to grey, from
lively to severe
Among the visitors was Major
Robert Bingham, who read US an.ad-
dress once delivered by himself to
northern audience. Lis subject was
"The New South;' perhaps some Of
you have heard it and were interested
in the outset by his plain statement
that he was a Southern Democrat,
southern by birth, southern by blood,
and by education, one of the southern
men who surrendered under Lee at
Appomattox. Remembering that he
was originally addressing northern
autlience for the purpose of securing
educational aid for the South, we were
forcibIv struck with his soldierly bear
ing as he stood III his trim military
suit.
How exhausted we were one day at
losing part of u deeply interesting ad-
dress from Prot. Blair, of High Point,
graduate of Harvard. Ii happened
thusly: Oar lecturer on Physiology
and Hygiene was tarIy, the Superin-
tendent invited Mr. Blair to occupy
the time. That gentleman arose, an
nouneed his subject, american Liter
ature," a subject well worthy any
speaker and any audience. He began
with Cotton and Increase Mather,
touched On several old writers, came
on to Holmes and then to Longfellow
Here he was fclicitous, looked and
talked as tho he mi ght keep on all
afternoon, and we hoped he would
, who can tire of Longfellow? Just
, while he was repeating that beautiful
Little poem, Footsteps of Angels" in
q manner that made one almost hold
} his breath to hear the footsteps, 10! the
t Prot. Of Physiology enters, and our
good Superintendent, who clings as
faithfully to his watch-word, duty
as did the "noble six hundred" arises
to warn the speaker that his time is
f up. OF course he was right and wise,
system must be preserved, bnt it took
5 us the rest of the day to realize that
: 'order is Heaven't first law
g We also had the pleasure of listen
: ing to a talk from Mr.. Claxton, stu.
dent of Johns Hopkins University
f Found that he was inclined to scien
: tific education as a hobbyism he Ger
: taialy presented Herbert Spencer in a
5 more interesting light than we are ac
e customed to viewing him through.
: On the last day Of school We had ar
5 address from Maj. Finger; we dare
Y not comment on that, we occupied al
: uncomfortable seat that morning The
i school formally closed the night o.
e the 9th with an entertainment giyeI
r to crowded house. The program
V was one Of great interest, among 9th
J. er good things, we especially enjoyed
: recitation by Miss kirkpatrick
5 ''The Ride of Jennie McNeill;" read
;. ing by Miss Jurney, the 'tJiners :
charge Of the Light Brigade deliv
cred by Mr.. Eller; "Oid Mother
Hubbard" by Mr.. Councill, and reel
= tation by Miss Councill. 1t would b
a too tiresome to my readers to give tht
:. entire program and the amount 0
k praise due the whole affair.
e All things terrestrial must have al
&c end, (be patient. reader and tax
Is heart 50 the last words were said b,
t. the uperintendens and the school de
is clared closet. There was one univer
r. sal feeling of sadness somewhat "akil
is to PAIN as a whole, the pupils, teach
lie ers an1 lookers-on were sorry it Wa
,e sall over. The next Normal at Boon
II will, we venture to prophecy, be bel
e ter attended than this one.
1t 'Twould be superfuous, to under
d take to tell of the breaking UP, of TIL
1t lingering farewells, of the brave word
,e we employ to hide our feelings q
Of parting with friends All that is be-
IA ter left to the imagination.
Walkin !. is the rage up here; i
order to have something in that lii
(which to boast, we decided to wal
to Meat Camp, a distance of five an
re a half NILS. Oar friends in Boon
al were loath t2 have us start afoot, "
lg decided that they thought we had a
ne economical fit upon US, we would nt
p have been surprised had they take
e. up a collec.i.n for our benefit. For
&c unately for t.leir interest in our we
ss fire, tho rain interfered and we wer
pit forced to give up our darling projec
E.nd of all conveyances we had tt
prize one, a hack that might oompal
IA with the coaches of the Scotch Higl
Sc lands two hundred years ago. No
r. withstanding many a hard knock OF
RI 4 party of three, beside the driver, ma
- aged to keep u, constant rattle
IS. talk and laughter that brought Il
al echoes s.thin and clear from the su
he rounding. hills. Up and down, aero
Al streams and hollows we finally reac
Ita ed our destination, one of the lovelie
81 i meadow farms it has ever been o
it fortune to look upon. Here we nee
lie must close lest re drift into person;
tiles. Fly. III.