Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-23
TEACHERS MEETING.
DIR. Purnen on History aud DIR. Enub on
Spelling Books Colonel Bans Lecture

NEW CASTLE, Del. Nov. 3.-Yesterday
afternoons session Of the fourteenth
annual meeting of the New Castle county
Teachers Institute opened Mt . o'clock
The secretary read the minutes of the
morning session, which were accepted
Superintendent Honck then spoke a few
moments and announced the hymn: IAN
Hail the Power, which was sung by the
teachers, after which DR.. William H.
Purnell spoke on History. He said
that there was wrong impression that
history was teaching Of the past only, OF
kings, wars. etc, and not the present
time. lie said that there were scholars in
schools which he had visited that were
well yersed in the history Of the PAST
who did not know the features Of the
present administration and some did not
even know the members Of the Presi-
dents Cabinet. At first he said in teach
ing small children history they should be
told interesting historical stories before
they begin to study from the books and
this'would make the children anxious to
study from the books. He approved Of
very short lessons for small children He
thought that literature should be asso-
ciated with history and that they were
both helpful to each other. The children
seemed to think that the heroes Of the
history were hardly human beings
and that they were so far
superior to the mass Of the people.
Besides this interesting speech on
History the learned doctor made sew
eral miscellaneous remarks
DR. A. n Raub Of Delaware College
was the next speaker his subject being
Spelling He told OF the difference be
tween the way the Canadian, English and
American way Of spelling such words as
music, almanac, wagon. etc. The English
or Canadian adds to such words as
music, etc and uses two rs in such words
as wagon. He said there was difference
in the way of spelling Of between two
and four thousand words in Webster's
and Worcesters dictionaries. He showed
that spelling books we're carefully writ
ten and that the writer's had three things
in view, viz. To write a teachable book /;
to make n better book than anyone else,
and to make a book which will not be
criticised. He read list of words not
contained in the first or second readers
which are in daily use by the younger
/ children and showed that they could not
be taught to spell very well from a
reader He said that names Of the vali-
Gus veget ables, furniture and other com
mon things should be taught at an
/ early period. The scholars in the primary
rooms often spell words when
1 they have no idea of the def
1 milton Of them. He thought that
the children should be made to give
definitions and then use the words in a
sentence He highly commended the
practice OF writing words as better than
! spelling them orally. The Importance of
/ it was not SO much the reciting MS the
preparing Of the lessons. The roll was
then called by the secretary, Miss
! Withers, after which an intermission OF
about eight minutes was given.
The teachers led by Superintendent
Houek and accompanied on the piano BY
Miss Flora Lunt of this city sang How
Gentle God Commands, and There:
a Good Time Coming, which was fol
lowed By an able and highly appreciated
address by Snperin tendent l.. Irving
HANDY His subject was Essentials fol
q Good Recitation, which he handled il
a mastery style He said after few
other remarks that there was broad diff
ference between reciting to q teache
from book and having a teacher maxi
lessons attractive and clear. One o
was proper place to teach, a properll
heated and lighted place, and that tn,
pupils should not be made to stand il
their recitation but should have recita
ton seats. MIR. Handy was fayorabl,
impressing the teachers on importan
subjects when he was stopped by Mr.
Houck, who said that his time was up
Mr.. Houck then went on to tell Of Colone
BainE ability as a lecturer, saying that
he had heard him hundred times. Mr.
Handy inquired II Mr.. Houck expected
to hear Mr. Bains in the evening, and oil
being answered in the affirmative Hand,
quietly remarked, cone hundred and one,
which brought down the house.
/ Professor William A. Reynolds was tn
] last speaker His subject was ETY.
mology" After Mr.. Reynolds's speeel
the meeting adjourned.
A large and intelligent audienc
greeted Colonel George w Balm last nigh
III the Opera House to listen to his popu
, lar lecture. "The Pendulum of Life
! DR.. Purnell made the opening prayer
Senator Gray lot being present Alexande
Fulton, ESQ, Of Dover, filed his plac
and made short speech and then ia
: troducad Mr. Balm 1t would be imp0ss
bic to attempt To describe the beautiful
lecture by the eloquent speaker TIA
audience was enraptured and seemed t
! regard the speaker as more than huma
{ being The professors ministers nm
) others declared that they had hear
nothing to compare with it. After tn
lecture was over people hocked to shak
hands with the speaker and showers o
fattering expressions Of delight wer
rained upon him. MFR Bain's name Wi
D live long in the city Of New Castle
Mr. Bessey thanked the audience *
e their presence and invited them to lste
I to lecture this evening on "Womanhoo
in Shakespeare, by Wallace Bruce (
r Poughkeepsie N. Y. Professor Tharp
/ MiddletoWn moved that a vote Of thanh
be extended to Mr.. Balm for his presenS
+ and lecture, which was seconded by
majority OF the audience and carrie
unanimously. Mr.. Bessey deserves
great deal Of credit for furnishing Ne
!. Castle with lectures by such distinguish,
orators. To-day's program contains vel
interesting features.
Harlow II. Curtis of the Morning New
> of Wilmington was in this city yesterdl
and to day
s Hiett Graham has placed new sign
n front Of his hotel on Pearl street. II
g name Of the place now is the Atlant
House
d The following teachers, members
! the Institute are present. a number
Is whom are quartered at the hotels 81
I others in private homes: Anna II. Rega
4 Mary E. Regain, Sophie Simmons Ma
u Shaw ANNA Sifnnnrs Sallia